Debbie O'Hara -- So, Who Was Really Emancipated by Lincoln's Proclamation?
The Truth about Lincoln
It's nearly that time of year again, President's Day, when children in the government schools will be taught about that "Great Emancipator", Republican President Abraham Lincoln. Obviously these schools don't actually have the children read the document or they would know better. I have certainly come to understand that when government schools put a lot of emphasis into extolling a particular person or cause, it is oftentimes a politically correct fairy tale. The truth behind the American Civil War and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation are no exception.
Children today are taught that Lincoln was a champion of equality and that the main cause for the War Between the States was to abolish slavery, but an honest study of history does not support that view. Lincoln in his own words tells us something quite different. On Aug. 21, 1858 in his first debate with Stephen Douglas, on the subject of emancipation Lincoln stated, " Free them, and make them politically and socially our equals? My own feelings will not admit of this
We cannot, then, make them equals." In that same debate Lincoln acknowledged the right of slaveowners to their property and said "when they remind us of their constitutional rights (to own slaves), I acknowledge them, not grudgingly but fully and fairly; and I would give them any legislation for the reclaiming of their fugitives". What Lincoln promised was that he would support the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which would put the full power of the Federal government behind making sure that slaves would be returned to their owners. Does that sound like someone who was against slavery? Slavery was already dying out in many places and would have most likely died a natural death if the Fugitive Slave Act was simply not enforced. Could it be that Lincoln changed his mind once he reached the presidency? No way. In his first Inaugural Address he says, " 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." In this speech he again promised to strengthen the Fugitive Slave Law. Notice that Lincoln mentions he does not intend to interfere with slavery IN THE STATES WHERE IT EXISTS. Like most politicians Lincoln talked out of both sides of his mouth, but generally if you heard him speaking out against slavery he was talking about the EXPANSION of slavery into the new territories. He wanted all new territories to be preserves for whites only. If you check it out, you will find that the North had a far more inhumane "Black Code" than the South did. Many Northerners actually feared emancipation because they did not want free Blacks moving up North to live among them.
, and they got pussy, don't have to get it, your probably right. Probably.
You, at least, should know this by now. If it wasn't for your sides name calling, I'd have to post with substance every time. Every now and again, fine, but every time?
