Hands Off Slavery in The Border States

[Rick Smith]

It is interesting that Mr. Lincoln vowed to slave holders in the border states, which were being held within the Union by military occupation, that he would leave his hands off their slaves. This was due in part to the fact that many border planters / slave holders were Union men, and Lincoln supporters whom Mr. Lincoln did not want to alienate. One case in point was Zadock Jenkins, brother of Mary Surratt, who would change his political stance when slaves in Maryland were taken by force from their owners by federal soldiers. When Mr. Lincoln was presented with the situation, he simply ignored it. This would lead one group of Maryland planters to commission Patrick Martin to find them a man to act on their behalf in removing Mr. Lincoln from the scene.

Just something to think about.

Rick