American History

Abraham Lincoln consistently expressed his abhorrence of slavery. He signed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution into law, ending slavery. However, labeling him an abolitionist is problematic. At the time, the term described a particular mode of opposing slavery, from which Lincoln consciously distanced himself. He shared abolitionists hatred of slavery but disagreed with their methods. This paper argues that Lincoln was not an abolitionist, as the term was understood in the mid nineteenth century, although he might be called a moderate abolitionist. Most abolitionists believed that the law could be broken, since slavery was immoral. Lincoln believed that the law must be respected. The Constitution permitted slavery, so only a Constitutional amendment could end slavery as long as some states chose to retain slaves.

Lincolns Anti Slavery Stance in comparison with Abolitionists
Lincolns writing and speeches clearly demonstrate his hatred of slavery. However, he also distanced himself from abolitionists. As early as 1837, as a member of the Illinois house, he voted against a resolution that said that owning slaves was a sacred right and abolitionists a threat to the Union, which 77 legislators voted for. Lincoln was one of only six who voted against. He then also placed on record that he was not an abolitionist. He believed that slavery was wrong but legal. Revering the Constitution, he believed that laws must be obeyed until changed. The law about returning fugitives and the system for apportioning state representation in Congress recognized slavery. In contrast, some abolitionists openly denounced the Constitution for its protection of slavery, repudiating its authority . Such abolitionists refused to return fugitive slaves, also helping slaves escape. Lincoln upheld the law, although he hated to see slaves hunted down and caught. He wrote about how he crucified his feelings from loyalty to the Constitution. Unlike abolitionists, Lincoln did not denounce slave owners as evil, arguing that slavery was part of the southern environment, so which individuals should not be blamed for owning slaves. He did not actively campaign to end slavery. With 15 slave states and 19 free, it would have been impossible to achieve the two thirds majority needed for Constitutional amendment, which also required ratification by three-fourths of all states. In his inaugaral address, he made it clear that preserving the Union was his priority. He said that he did not intend to end slavery. Lincolns declaration of war after the Confederacy seceded made no mention of slavery. He later said that he did not care if slaves were freed or not if the Union was preserved.

Yet Lincoln hated and did abolish slavery
Lincolns view was that, as long as the Constitution permitted slavery, and some states chose to retain this, the law could not be used to deny this legal right. The nations mood changed during the civil war 1861-65), which proved to be as the best chance yet to end slavery. Haven wrote, the civil war was fought both to preserve the union and to defend states rights but these issues only flared into war because underneath them lay the issue of slavery (xiii).  When the anti-slave side won, Lincoln mustered the votes needed to amend the Constitution, although this initially failed in the House. He distanced himself from abolitionist tactics and did not claim or use the label. Yet he hated slavery, spoke of its evil and wanted to see it abolished.  He was perhaps a moderate abolitionist. Unlike them, he revered the law, which many abolitionists chose to break.