what does this mean...?

Question

Lincoln said, "If i could save the Union without freeing any slaves, i would do it; and if i could save the Union by freeing all slaves, I would do it; and if i could save the Nation bye freeing some and leaving others alone, i would also do that."

what exactly does he mean? & do u agree with this statement?

thanx for ur help. u guys are really nice! i will deeply appreciate ur help on this...thanx :)

Answer 1

This was part of a letter written to Horace Greeley, the editor of the New York Tribune. Just ahead of what you have quoted, he wrote: "paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery."
Contrary to popular belief, the war between the states was not fought to remove slavery but whether state's rights or a central federal government should prevail as the dictator of rule and law.
The southern states succeeded because of slavery (cheap labor) and wanted states joining the union to have the right to decide for themselves whether to join as free or slave states. Officially, the north did not attempt to destroy slavery (remember it had been legal and considered 'right' for over a hundred years) and up until the Emancipation Proclamation, United States law stated that escaped slaves were returned to their owners.
The abolitionists, primarily what would be called the religious right today, were steadfastly against slavery and as such rallied, protested and wrote articles and editorials drumming up support to end slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation was a means to restrict slave ownership in the new states coming into the union as well as to prohibit it to the ceceeding states once they were defeated and forced to rejoin the union after the war. While it achieved the desired result of freeing the slaves, that was not the primary motive of Lincoln.
The meaning of your quote above was that Lincloln's sole aim was to preserve the union.

Answer 2

MEANING HE WAS ON BOTH SIDES ON THE FREEING OF THE SLAVES AND LEAVING THE UNION, THE UNION. HE COULD SAVE THE SLAVES BY FREEING THEM AND LEAVING THE UNION ALONE. BUT IT STANDS AS IT IS. HE WAS GOING TO BE DIGGING EITHER WAY.

Answer 3

I don't remember ever hearing or reading that statement before. I take it to mean that Lincoln would have done whatever he needed to to save the Nation.

Answer 4

For most of the 19th century, politicians didn't really care about blacks. Whenever the issue of slavery was raised, it caused an argument. Lincoln's primary concern was restoring peace. Actually, he didn't really like blacks, and wanted to send them back to Africa.

Answer 5

In my humble opinion, he was giving a priority to unison of US, though he was also being driven by human principles of the time...If you look carefully upon the stream of history, you will perceive it always took step by step progress towards improving of human life in general. The individual doesn't count that much in the process and if one generation is to be sacrificed, next should have better life...it had always been so !

Answer 6

It means that he did not want to see America divided. I do not agree with this statement. As sad as it was for Americans to fight Americans it was equally sad that human beings were treated like or worse than animals. Something had to be done.

Answer 7

um he was willing to change his stance//// he wanted to ship all black people away initially but later befriended influential black people and he grew as a person and... WP!!!!!