Now, imagine the people who would go to war with somebody who stated that publicly.
Lincoln was no saint, but among the universe of mid nineteenth century American elites, he was about as good as could be expected to win an election, and hell, in 1858 he didn’t manage to unseat Douglas because he was considered too progressive on the issue. From that same L-D debate, Number Four:
I say, then, there is no way of putting an end to the slavery agitation amongst us but to put it back upon the basis where our fathers placed it, [applause] no way but to keep it out of our new Territories [renewed applause]-to restrict it forever to the old States where it now exists. [Tremendous and prolonged cheering; cries of “That’s the doctrine,” “Good,” “Good,” &c.] Then the public mind will rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction. That is one way of putting an end to the slavery agitation. [Applause.]
Yes, he was a white supremacist that opposed slavery and his opponent was a white supremacist that supported slavery. He was still a white supremacist.
Now, imagine the people who would go to war with somebody who stated that publicly.
Lincoln was no saint, but among the universe of mid nineteenth century American elites, he was about as good as could be expected to win an election, and hell, in 1858 he didn’t manage to unseat Douglas because he was considered too progressive on the issue. From that same L-D debate, Number Four:
Yes, he was a white supremacist that opposed slavery and his opponent was a white supremacist that supported slavery. He was still a white supremacist.