The issue of how much and to what extent rights extend to slaves was a reoccurring topic in the political sphere leading up to and following the Civil War, especially during the debates of 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Stephen Douglas was strongly in favor of slavery and launched a series of inflammatory remarks to paint Lincoln as an abolitionist and a black sympathizer. Despite the fiery rhetoric, Lincoln speaks to the fact that slavery isn’t an issue of the federal government meddling in states’ rights, but rather defending the natural, human rights granted to all. Lincoln speaks on the Dred Scott decision, the tyrannizing effects of the majorities in terms of slavery being a state’s rights issue, and how although the Declaration of Independence does not speak in direct terms about the social and political equalities blacks possessed, they didn’t foresee blacks remaining in a static social state.
One of Lincoln’s main issues with Douglas’ arguments were that on the ground of states’ rights. He thought that majorities can dehumanize minorities by using their power to oppress and tyrannize them. Lincoln argues that it would be …show more content…
He is quick to discredit the notion that both Taney and Douglas bring up that the phrasing of the Declaration, although broad enough to include the “whole human family”, does not include blacks because at the time of the drafting of the document blacks were not seen equal to whites in any facet. Per Lincoln, the true intention was that men were not meant to be equal in all respects, but rather equal in the regard that everyone possess inalienable rights not to be stripped away by the government. He also asserts that moral equality is not something that can be applied differently to people, but is an ingrained natural right that should be granted to
One of Lincoln’s main issues with Douglas’ arguments were that on the ground of states’ rights. He thought that majorities can dehumanize minorities by using their power to oppress and tyrannize them. Lincoln argues that it would be …show more content…
He is quick to discredit the notion that both Taney and Douglas bring up that the phrasing of the Declaration, although broad enough to include the “whole human family”, does not include blacks because at the time of the drafting of the document blacks were not seen equal to whites in any facet. Per Lincoln, the true intention was that men were not meant to be equal in all respects, but rather equal in the regard that everyone possess inalienable rights not to be stripped away by the government. He also asserts that moral equality is not something that can be applied differently to people, but is an ingrained natural right that should be granted to