Before even stepping into the white house, Lincoln was faced with a disunion crisis. The confederacy had claimed Fort Sumter, and Lincoln made the call for General in Chief Winfield Scott to prepare to hold or retake the Fort during or after his inauguration. In his inaugural address, Lincoln not only upheld the union’s indestructibility and appealed for sectional harmony, but also stated the Sumter Policy. The Sumter Policy stated, “The power confided in me, will be used to hold, occupy, and posses the property, and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion-no using of force against, or among the people anywhere”. Shortly after entering
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He believed that the injustice of slavery was completely monstrous, and enables the union to be seen as the enemies of free institution and hypocrites. Yet, Lincoln was hesitant to adopt an abolitionist policy. His hesitancy was based upon the fact that he had been elected onto a platform that pledged no interference with slavery, the possible difficulties of incorporating millions of African Americans into the country’s political and social life, he doubted the constitutionality of federal action given the circumstances, and he feared an abolitionist program would impel border states to the confederacy. In other words, his biggest concern was keeping the union united and strong, not to abolish or keep slavery. Meanwhile, Lincoln crafted his own emancipation in which the slaves were to be freed by state action, slave owners to be reimbursed, the government was to share the financial burden, and all freed slaves were to colonize abroad. Congress was willing to fund Lincoln’s plan, however the southern states wanted nothing to do with it. In light of this, Lincoln stilled willed for his plan to be put into action. Lincoln decided to issue his preliminary, and on January 1, 1863 his Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation justified the exercise of the president’s powers applied only to those under confederate control. This proclamation directly and indirectly brought freedom to nearly 200,000 slaves, and brought attention and support to the union cause (even from England and other European countries). This also became a symbol of Lincoln’s government’s use of freedom as a means of war
He believed that the injustice of slavery was completely monstrous, and enables the union to be seen as the enemies of free institution and hypocrites. Yet, Lincoln was hesitant to adopt an abolitionist policy. His hesitancy was based upon the fact that he had been elected onto a platform that pledged no interference with slavery, the possible difficulties of incorporating millions of African Americans into the country’s political and social life, he doubted the constitutionality of federal action given the circumstances, and he feared an abolitionist program would impel border states to the confederacy. In other words, his biggest concern was keeping the union united and strong, not to abolish or keep slavery. Meanwhile, Lincoln crafted his own emancipation in which the slaves were to be freed by state action, slave owners to be reimbursed, the government was to share the financial burden, and all freed slaves were to colonize abroad. Congress was willing to fund Lincoln’s plan, however the southern states wanted nothing to do with it. In light of this, Lincoln stilled willed for his plan to be put into action. Lincoln decided to issue his preliminary, and on January 1, 1863 his Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation justified the exercise of the president’s powers applied only to those under confederate control. This proclamation directly and indirectly brought freedom to nearly 200,000 slaves, and brought attention and support to the union cause (even from England and other European countries). This also became a symbol of Lincoln’s government’s use of freedom as a means of war