Abraham Lincoln is commonly praised as the greatest president in American history. He was the “Great Emancipator” who freed the slaves by leading the Union in a bloody war that cost 620,000 lives, not to mention hundreds of thousands more men who were maimed and wounded. Perhaps the most prevalent myth about Lincoln is that he engaged in war with the South for the express purpose of emancipating slaves and winning complete civil rights for blacks. Informed historians know, however, that Lincoln did not wage war to free the slaves, nor did he believe in equal civil rights for blacks. Abolitionists had no doubt about Lincoln’s real beliefs, nor is there any reason why they should, given how often he repeated them. Consider these remarks by Lincoln during one of his celebrated debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, as they competed for an Illinois Senate seat.
I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races,—that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will for ever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.
Lincoln never abandoned these sentiments, and they scarcely won him accolades in the abolitionist community. As Wendell Phillips exclaimed shortly after Lincoln had been elected president, “Who is this huckster in politics?” Abolitionists viewed Lincoln as a savvy opportunist who downplayed his opposition of slavery for political gain, yet many endorsed his run for president. They also supported the Northern cause in the Civil War, even though Lincoln repeatedly stated that he was not waging war to achieve emancipation. In his First Inaugural Address, Lincoln emphasized that he had no intention of interfering with slavery as it presently existed.
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. There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed, and been open to their inspection. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery where it now exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge that I had made this, and many similar declarations, and had never recanted them.