Stephen Douglas Statue TO Be Removed ?

[David Lockmiller]

(09-21-2020 02:15 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  We the People have experienced in previous national crises the Civil War itself, the Depression and World War II as a Union of States. President Lincoln described to John Hay this first major crisis in this national unity of States with these words as quoted from Team of Rivals at page 356: "I consider the central idea pervading this struggle," he told Hay in early May [1861], "is the necessity that is upon us, of proving that popular government is not an absurdity. We must settle this question now, whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose. If we fail it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves."

"We all agree that the seceded States, so called, are out of their proper relation with the Union; and that the sole object of the government, civil and military, in regard to those States is to again get them into that proper practical relation. I believe it is not only possible, but in fact, easier to do this, without deciding, or even considering, whether these States have ever been out of the Union, than with it."

(Source: President Lincoln's last speech - April 11, 1865.)

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(09-21-2020 06:58 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Here is one quote that I think fairly describes Abraham Lincoln's belief prior to becoming President:

"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything."

SOURCE: The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume III, "Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Charleston, Illinois" (September 18, 1858), pp. 145-146.

Going by what Lincoln said in his final speech on April 11, 1865, I think he had somewhat modified his views by that point in his life.

President Lincoln's "somewhat modified" views as expressed in his April 11, 1865 speech:

"Some twelve thousand voters in the heretofore slave-state of Louisiana have sworn allegiance to the Union, assumed to be the rightful political power of the State, held elections, organized a State government, adopted a free-state constitution, giving the benefit of public schools equally to black and white, and empowering the Legislature to confer the elective franchise upon the colored man. Their Legislature has already voted to ratify the constitutional amendment recently passed by Congress, abolishing slavery throughout the nation. These twelve thousand persons are thus fully committed to the Union, and to perpetual freedom in the state--committed to the very things, and nearly all the things the nation wants--and they ask the nation's recognition and it's assistance to make good their committal.

. . . Concede that the new government of Louisiana is only to what it should be as the egg is to the fowl, we shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it?"

. . . "I repeat the question, 'Can Louisiana be brought into proper practical relation with the Union sooner by sustaining or by discarding her new State Government?'"

. . . "What has been said of Louisiana will apply generally to other States."