LAD #14: Lincoln's First Inaugural

Summary:

• In his First Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln focuses on the issue of slavery, that was a strong divisive factor between Northern and Southern states. Lincoln says his only goal is to preserve the Union, and therefore does not take a stance on the issue itself. He even refuses to interfere with the matter, resting ultimate authority on the Constitution. According to the Constitution, a person held to service in one state not is freed from this labor by entering another, which applied to fugitive slaves seeking the free North. It was a principle of the North to not return all fugitive slaves, but this action was countered by the South engaging in illegal international slave trade. Above all, Lincoln stresses the importance of maintaining the Union that has been together since before the Constitution was even created. He says the states must work together to achieve benefits, since secession had the potential for anarchy or even despotism. Lincoln reiterates in his conclusion, "we must not be enemies."Although the North and South are split over issues like slavery, to preserve the union, states must be friendly to one another.