During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the
pro-slavery South wanted to count slaves as part of their population so that they could have more representatives in Congress, and more Presidential electoral votes,
so they could expand slavery.
The
anti-slavery North pushed through a compromise of only counting slaves as three-fifths of a person,
thereby reducing the number of pro-slavery Congressman and pro-slavery electoral votes.
New lands were added to the U.S.:
-1803,
Louisiana Territory, 827,987 square miles;
-1819,
Florida, 72,101 sq. mi.;
-1845,
Texas, 389,166 sq. mi.;
-1846,
Oregon Territory, 286,541 sq. mi.;
-1848,
Mexican Cession, 529,189 sq. mi.; and
-1853,
Gadsden Purchase, 29,670 sq. mi.
Democrats wanted to force slavery into these new territories.
Prior to the Civil War, America was divided into 5 categories:
1.
Radical Northern Republicans: whose attitude was slavery is wrong--end it now.
They believed all human lives mattered, whether on or off a plantation, and all were equal, created in the image of God.
This group included abolitionists, the Underground Railroad, anti-slavery preachers, and, unfortunately, the fringe John Brown who shot at slave owners.
2.
Moderate Republicans: whose attitude was that slavery is wrong but the country should transition out of it gradually over time.
3
Practical Neutral Voters: who cared little about the value of human life. They were more concerned about their pocketbook, jobs, wages, economy and tax-tariff issues.
4.
Moderate Southern Democrats: whose attitude was slavery is wrong, but it was settled law and the nation should just live with it.
People should have the choice whether or not to own a slave--just treat your slaves nice.
5.
Extreme Southern Democrats: whose attitude was slavery is good and should be expanded into new Territories and States.
They wanted Northerners who were morally opposed to slavery to be forced to participate in supporting it through the
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Interestingly, these are similar to the categories America is divided into today:
1.
Pro-Life Republicans: whose attitude is abortion is wrong--end it now. They believe all human lives matter, whether in or out of a womb, and that all are equal, created in the image of God. There are also fringe "John Brown types" who shoot at abortion clinics.
2.
Establishment Republicans: whose attitude is to reluctantly agree to a gradual limitation of abortions.
3.
Practical Neutral Voters: who care little about human life. They avoid social issues, being concerned only about their pocketbook--"It's the economy, stupid."
4.
Pro-Choice Democrats: whose attitude is that abortion is "settled law" and the nation should just live with it, just have it be "safe, legal, and rare."
5.
Extreme Democrats: whose attitude is that abortion is good and that it should be expanded though nationalized healthcare and global U.N. initiatives.
They support the harvesting and selling of aborted baby body parts, and insist on forcing those who are morally opposed to abortion to participate in supporting it, even suing Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Ronald Reagan wrote in his article, "Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation,"
The Human Life Review, 1983:
"Lincoln recognized that we could not survive as a free land when some men could decide that others were not fit to be free and should be slaves ...
Likewise, we cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion."
The Civil War started initially as a States' Rights controversy, largely over tariff taxes on imports collected at Southern ports, over-burdening the southern economy--which unfortunately was dependent on slavery.
At the beginning of the Civil War, it appeared that the Confederate South would quickly win.
Lincoln faced draft riots, ruled by decree, enacted martial law and suspended habeas corpus--which allowed the Federal government to arrest anyone without a warrant.
In 1862, Confederate forces defeated Union troops at the
Second Battle of Bull Run, then crossed the Potomac River into Maryland.
On September 15, 1862, Confederates captured
Harpers Ferry, taking over 12,000 Union prisoners.
The impressive Confederate drive was suddenly halted when
Lee's "Lost" Order No. 191 was inadvertently misplaced and found by Union troops on September 13, 1862.
This "Lost Order" revealed the Confederate plans, allowing the Union forces to gain an advantage at
the Battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland.
The ensuing
Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest day of fighting in American history with over 23,000 casualties.
The North was able to quickly replace its ranks by drafting immigrants from the crowded northern cities, but the South was agricultural and did not have the population from which to draw new recruits. The war became one of attrition.
Five days after the Battle of Antietam, September 22, 1862, Lincoln met with his cabinet to draft the
Emancipation Proclamation.
Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Portland Chase recorded
Lincoln as stating:
"The time for the annunciation of the emancipation policy can no longer be delayed. Public sentiment will sustain it, many of my warmest friends and supporters demand it, and I have promised God that I will do it."
When asked about this last statement,
Lincoln replied:
"I made a solemn vow before God, that if General Lee were driven back from Pennsylvania, I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves."
The
Emancipation Proclamation had the effect of giving the
North the
"moral high ground," causing European support of the Confederacy to evaporate--as no country wanted to be perceived as supporting slavery.
The Proclamation stated:
"I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested
as Commander-in-Chief ...
do, on the FIRST DAY OF JANUARY, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three ... publicly proclaim ... that ... persons held as slaves ... are, and henceforward shall be, free ...
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence ... and ... labor faithfully for reasonable wages ...
And upon this act ... I invoke ... the gracious favor of Almighty God."
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On DECEMBER 1, 1862,
President Lincoln gave his Second Annual Message:
"In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free ... We shall nobly save--or meanly lose--the last, best hope of earth.
Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain ... a way which if followed the world will forever applaud and God must forever bless."
The
Emancipation Proclamation did not attempt to free slaves in Northern States as they were
not in rebellion and therefore Lincoln had no legal ground to overrule the legitimate governments in those States.
With his skill as a lawyer, Lincoln was attempting a legal maneuver.
If the
South was declared a "war-zone," the President, acting in his war-time role as
"Commander-in-Chief," could issue an executive order in the States at war, and this order would have the force of law.
Congress saw this as an
unconstitutional usurpation of power.
In fact,
President Washington, in his Farewell Address, specifically warned against the executive usurping power
:
"But let there be no change by
usurpation; for
though this, in one instance,
may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.
The precedent (of usurpation) must always greatly overbalance in
permanent evil any partial or
transient benefit which the use can at any time yield."
Though Lincoln considered his executive proclamation an
"instrument of good," it was deemed unconstitutional by Congress, so he worked another route.
Rather than ruling through executive orders and proclamations, Lincoln undertook to free the slaves using
the proper constitutional means of passing the 13th Amendment.
An amendment required 2/3's of Congress to approve it, as portrayed in Steven Spielberg's movie,
Lincoln (2012).
The 13th Amendment was passed in the
Senate on April 8, 1864, with
all 30 Republicans voting in favor of it, joined by only 4 Democrats.
The 13th Amendment was passed in the
House on January 31, 1865, with
all 86 Republicans voting in favor, joined by 15 Democrats, 14 Unconditional Unionists, and 4 Union men.
Voting against the 13th Amendment were 50 Democrat Congressmen, joined by 6 Union men.
Though not necessary,
Lincoln--the first Republican President--
added his signature to the 13th Amendment after the words "Approved February 1, 1865."
Though
Republicans were successful in their
efforts to officially abolish slavery,
Democrats in Southern States
passed Black Codes, Jim Crow Laws, and created
racial vigilante organizations.
Republicans responded by enlarging the Federal Government's power with the
14th Amendment in 1868, ensuring
civil rights for freed slaves in the States.
Republicans then pushed through a ban on racial voting restrictions by passing the
15th Amendment in 1870.
These Amendments were great
"instruments of good," nevertheless, they did have the unanticipated consequence of enlarging the Federal Government's control over the States.
Earlier in his career,
Lincoln stated at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, February 22, 1861:
"
The Declaration of Independence gave liberty not alone to the people of this country, but
hope to all the world for all future time.
It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights would be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that
all should have an equal chance ...
This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence ... I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it."
