As is usual, such a simplistic view of history obscures the true facts. Although slavery was a factor, it was never presented as a reason for the war until the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which, ironically, was carefully crafted so that it did not free a single slave. It only proclaimed freedom for slaves then in Confederate territory, and left those in United States territory, including areas of the Confederacy under Union control, still in bondage. So much for Lincoln’s humanitarian emancipation. Lincoln even admitted to certain associates that the proclamation was nothing but a war measure, designed to encourage slave revolt in the South. But, even with the vast majority of white males away in the army, there was never any semblance of slave revolt during the war, which casts a shadow of doubt over the concept that Southern slaves were the victims of universal cruelty.
Coming more to the point, though, here is a piece of trivia: who said, “I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is a physical difference between the two, which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality; and inasmuch as it became a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position. I have never said anything to the contrary.” Jefferson Davis? John Calhoun? Some virulently racist Southern politician? Does it surprise you to know that the answer is Abraham Lincoln? So much for the great proponent of racial equality.
In Thomas DiLorenzo’s classic book The Real Lincoln, he demonstrates that racial prejudice against Negroes was as great, or greater, in the North than in the South. Most Northerners, Lincoln included, opposed the extension of slavery in the western states, not because of moral indignation, but because they feared competition with free white labor. Lincoln himself said in an 1864 speech, “The whole nation is interested that the best use shall be made of these territories. We want them for the homes of free white people.” And, as regards Northern prejudice against slaves, please be aware that free Northern states deprived blacks living amongst them of all legal and civil rights, prevented any competition by black labor, and, in the case of Lincoln’s home state of Illinois, banned blacks from settling in the state altogether. Only some 2% of Northerners belonged to the abolitionist societies, which in many cases seemed much more interested in punishing the whole South for the alleged crimes of a small minority of slaveholders. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, in Democracy In America, “The prejudice of race appears to be stronger in the states that have abolished slavery than in those where it still exists; and nowhere is it so intolerant as in those states where servitude has never been known.”
As regards slavery, please note that neither President Lincoln, nor any other Northerner ever alleged slavery as a reason for making war. Notice that, when General Beauregard’s forces at Charleston fired on Ft. Sumter, only the Deep South states, where slavery was so strongly entrenched, had seceded. The border states were struggling to achieve a peaceable reconciliation, which probably still could have been done, until Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to suppress the “rebellion”… a rebellion he had helped occasion by sending munitions to Ft. Sumter, which he knew would instigate hostile Southern reaction. He admitted as much when he wrote to Captain G.V. Fox, “You and I both anticipated that the cause of the country would be advanced by making the attempt to provision Ft. Sumter, even if it should fail; and it is no small consolation now to feel that our anticipation is justified by the result.”
So why did Lincoln make war? Let the architect and conductor of the United States war effort speak for himself. In his First Inaugural Address, made after the Deep South states had already seceded, Lincoln announced, “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” This was perfectly in line with the Republican party platform in 1860, which, though it included many Abolitionists, was not an Abolitionist party, because extreme abolitionism was anathema to most Northerners. Eugene Berwanrger wrote in The Frontier Against Slavery, “Republicans made no pretense of being concerned with the fate of the Negro and insisted that theirs was a party of white labor. By introducing a note of white supremacy, they hoped to win the votes of the Negrophobes and the anti-abolitionists who were opposed to the extension of slavery.”
Lincoln even promised to strengthen the Fugitive Slave Act, which required free states to return runaway slaves to their Southern masters. Moreover, in 1862, Lincoln wrote a famous letter to the New York Tribune, whose editor was famous Abolitionist Horace Greeley, “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union.” This, then, explains the Emancipation Proclamation, and every other war measure taken by the president. Even as late as the Hampton Roads peace conference of February 1865, Lincoln spoke of allowing the Southern states back into the union with slavery still intact. The South refused. They wanted no part of Lincoln’s emerging dictatorship. Lincoln’s primary object was to establish the supremacy of the National government over the State governments. In this, he was terribly effectual, as Constitutional rights in the North crumbled under a harsh war administration, and the South was brought into subjection through force of arms.
So then, we have a reason for war. Lincoln believed the National government was supreme over the State governments, and the states must submit to Washington in everything. This the Southern states would not submit to, not over slavery, or any other issue. They wanted no war. As President Jefferson Davis said, “Our true policy is peace.” They even refused to re-enter the union when a proposed constitutional amendment to establish permanent protection for the institution of slavery, wherever it existed, was passed by the House of Representatives, and endorsed by Abraham Lincoln in his Inaugural Address of January, 1860. This was the original 13th Amendment. Perhaps I will write an article about it at a future date. Just think how different the Constitution, and our history would be if that particular amendment was enshrined in law. And remember who we would have to thank for the said amendment-the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln.
Encore!