Lincoln said he wanted slavery to be safe, rare, and legal.
What he actually wanted is anyone’s guess. He said enough stuff on the record to prove anything.
Many southerners felt Lincoln, if elected, would look for a pretext to attack and destroy the south. For some reason they did not want this to happen.
Lincoln said he wanted slavery to be safe, rare, and legal.
What he actually wanted is anyone’s guess. He said enough stuff on the record to prove anything.
Many southerners felt Lincoln, if elected, would look for a pretext to attack and destroy the south. For some reason they did not want this to happen.
I can cite any number of quotes in which he says he had no intention or authority to interfere with slavery. I’ve cited quotes that show he was willing to offer strengthened federal fugitive slave laws. He publicly supported the Corwin amendment. Nobody was under any illusions about him attacking the South or slavery had the Southern states remained in.