"Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the Southern States that by the accession of a Republican Administration their property and their peace and personal security are to be endangered."
"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."
"Resolved, That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes."
What do you suppose Lincoln was trying to convey here?
2007-06-28 09:13:20 · 3 answers · asked by Jack P 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
He was trying desperately to keep the union together. A lot of southerners had said the soutern states should secede if Lincoln was elected. He was trying to tell them that they had nothing to fear from him.
2007-06-28 09:20:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is trying to hold the nation together and also to offer an olive branch of peace to the South. He is trying to be conciliatory and also he is trying to show that he is compassionate yet strong. He is saying that States rights, for example, are inviolate. He is desparately trying to keep the Union as one. But the South didn't buy it.
2007-06-28 09:20:13 · answer #2 · answered by John B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lincoln was for states rights... leave the federal government out of it, if you can. He wanted a peaceful settlement within each State.
2007-06-28 09:21:54 · answer #3 · answered by bwlobo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋