Tom's comments below fail to appreciate that Lincoln was restrained by
the Constitution, and could not legally touch slavery in the U.S. except
in those places that were in rebellion; as a war measure, issued under
his power as commander-in-chief he, in effect, could only free slaves in
places where the rebellion was on-going.  However, the Emancipation
Proclamation meant that every time the United States Army advanced, any
slaves that came under its protection became free.  Althought "skimpy"
in Tom's words, the E.Proclamation gave freedom to about 2.5 million
slaves, maybe more.  Furthermore, it set the stage for black troops
(oaver 200,000 in army and navy), and in the end for the 13th Amendment
ending slavery everywhere in the U.S., which Lincoln backed and
supported and praised.

As for being a racist, some of his attitudes would seem that way today,
although many would not.  But at the time he was clearly light years
ahead of most white Americans on issues of race.  He was the first
President, for example, invite a black to the white house, to dine with
blacks, to appoint blacks to offices (as military officers), and to seek
the advice of black leaders, especially Frederick Douglass.

--
Paul Finkelman
Chapman Distinguished Professor
University of Tulsa College of Law
3120 East 4th Place
Tulsa, Oklahoma  74104-2499

918-631-3706 (office)
918-631-2194 (fax)

[log in to unmask]

P.S.:  I have no idea what a "mercantilist" means in the context of
Tom's  posting.  Linocln was shopkeeper for a while; he went bankrupt.
Too busy talking to his customers to be able to sell them much.


>
> At 08:57 AM 2/25/03 -0500, you wrote:
>
>> Lincoln was no emancipator - he was a mercantilist that jumped on
>> succession
>> (a right the US was based on) and squashed states rights once and for
>> all.
>> He simply used the emancipation proclaimation to attempt disruption
>> (slave
>> revolt) in the Southern rear.  He had not abolistionist agenda and was a
>> white superiorist (aka racist).  How come the emanciaption
>> proclaimation did
>> not free a single slave in Union controlled territory  - kinda skimpy for
>> someone you want to label an "emancipator."
>> Tom McMahon
>>
>> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
>> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
>
> Anne Pemberton
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.erols.com/stevepem
> http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html