ention ofending slavery, but was rather looking for his own personalgains, and by appealing to both ideologies; he gained thenecessary support to elect his president.From the beginning of his presidency, at Lincoln’s FirstInaugural Address, it is clear to see he was not the “GreatEmancipator,” but a man trying to maintain the unity of thenation. Lincoln believed that he had “no purpose, directlyor indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slaveryin the States where it exists.” Lincoln continues and says,“I believe that I have not lawful right to do so, and I haveno inclination to do so” (Majewaki, pg. 70). Lincoln was ahumble politician. He in no way wanted to endanger theunity of the nation. But it is important to see that hisFirst Inaugural Address was given in March of 1861, alreadyafter the Southern states had succeded from the nation. What Lincoln was trying to accomplish was to return theSouthern states to the union. Lincoln even goes as far asnotifying the South that certain Legislatures have beenpassed to ensure their state rights, and theconstitutionalism of slavery, “holding such a provision tonow be implied constitutional law,” and that “(he) has noobjection to its being made express and irrevocable.” (Majewski, pg. 75). Also, in a letter to Horace Greeley,Lincoln sates that unity of the nation is his primarilygoal, with or without slavery. “My paramount object in thisstruggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save orto destroy slavery. If I could save the Union withoutfreeing any slave I would do it.” Lincoln goes on and says,“What I do about the slavery, and the colored race, I dobecause I believe it will help save the Union” (Majewski,pg. 77). Thus, it is clear to understand that Lincoln’sprimary goal was to save the union and not achieve theemancipation of slaves.Even during the civil war, when the sl...
