General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Abraham Lincoln WTF? [View all]coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)that the person doing it (Lincoln) was resisting the idea of emancipation. Lincoln had long pondered the question of slavery and emancipation, whether and under what terms it should occur, ALL THE WHILE LOOKING TO EMANCIPATION as the desired end point. It is true that Lincoln had to trim John Fremont's sails when Fremont declared escaped Missouri slaves 'contraband of war' (and thus not subject to return to their owners). But Lincoln had to rescind Fremont's order because Missouri was contested ground with two rump legislatures (one free and one slave) competing for the loyalties of Missourians and control of the Mississippi was part of Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan. I only took issue with the phrase 'kicking and screaming' as indicative of Lincoln's mindset when the reality is quite the opposite.