A Tribute to Lincoln
Our own resident historian, Ben Martin, presented a tribute to Abraham Lincoln. He quoted a compilation of some of Lincoln’s statements on liberty that was put together by Walt Disney. Ben considers Lincoln to be the father of our country’s second founding. The day before this meeting was the 149th anniversary of the surrender of Lee to Grant. Ben covered two aspects of Lincoln’s greatness. He decided to concentrate today’s presentation on the Lincoln/Douglas debates and the Emancipation Proclamation.
A connection was made between the Missouri Compromise and Thomas Jefferson, who was still alive in 1820. Jefferson wrote about it, saying that has always been optimistic about the future of our country, but this act made him doubt.
Lincoln had a background that included being hired out by his father as a young boy, bringing to mind that term “rented mule”. At age 21 he left home and struck out on his own. He taught himself law and became an attorney. After serving as a Representative and a short time as a Senator, he left politics and became a circuit attorney. He came back into politics after the Kansas/Nebraska Act was passed which Stephen Douglas had championed and which modified the Missouri Compromise. He and Douglas debated seven times with an average attendance of 12,000. Lincoln lost the Senate election to Douglas, but these debates allowed him to hone his presentations of his opinions about slavery and other issues.
Lincoln determined that he could not free the slaves as President because it would violate the Constitution. However, as Commander in Chief he could do so out of military necessity. So he told his cabinet that he was going to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Attitudes changed among the soldiers. Lincoln waited until there was a Union victory to make the announcement of the Proclamation. Over 200,000 freed slaves fought in the Union Army.
There is no way that this poor scrivener could replicate the great presentation that Ben made. If you were not here, it is your loss.
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