Speaking of Abraham Lincoln by Richard N. Current

Against the feelings of his party in party favor of e soldierycipation, capital of Nebraska proposed a plan that involved:

reimbursing the slave owners for the difference of slaves; 2) delaying the actual freeing of the slaves until 1900 at the whim of the slave owners; and 3) the tape transport of the freed Negroes abroad ( up-to-date 23). Current's inclusion of capital of Nebraska's comment to Horace Greeley at the New York Tribune in 1862 best encapsulates his perspective of capital of Nebraska's position towards slavery and the Union: "My preponderant object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not every to save or destroy slavery" (Current 26).

According to Current, capital of Nebraska should neither be considered a Northern, Southern, nor a Western man; he was an American who would sacrifice peace for the unity of the nation (148). Counteracting the opinion of academics from the North and South who feel that Lincoln delineated the interests of the respective regions, Current believes that Lincoln provided a unique quarter of unity for America at a time when the boorish was on the brink of disintegrating. Thus, to Current, Lincoln was aptly described by the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: "He is the true history of the American people in his time. New birth of our new soil, the first American" (148). Lincoln embraced the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and believed that the united America had the potential to cause as an inspiration to the rest of the world (Current 101-102).

However, in this special essay, "Linc

oln, Civil War, and American Mission," Current seems to contradict himself more or less Lincoln's position on slavery. Unlike his sign depiction of Lincoln's indifference towards slavery except for the purpose it would servicing for saving the Union of the country, Current cites impressive examples of Lincoln's condemnation against slavery. In his debates against Stephen A. Douglas in 1858, Lincoln stressed that the Declaration asserted that all(a) men were equal "in all respects" (Current 101).

Furthermore, Lincoln stated vehemently his abhorrence of the institution of slavery: "I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world?" (Current 102).

Nonetheless, Current provides a thoughtful observation well-nigh Lincoln's stance towards slavery in his comparison between Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens. Today, Thaddeus Stevens is celebrated by the black community for his vehement anti-slavery stance, succession Lincoln is put down for his ambivalent position. Current makes an conniving observation that unlike Stevens, Lincoln, as the President, had to consider the interests of the entire nation, not just the narrow interest of an anti-slavery coalition led by Stevens. Quoting Alexander K. McClure, a Pennsylvanian who knew both politicians intimately, Current substantiates his point: "I doubt not that Stevens, had he been in Lincoln's position, would have been neatly sobered by the responsibility that the President must accept?" (Current 91).

Current's effect is researched extensively with many footnotes. He uses information from a great variety of sources, ranging from books to articles. Furthermore, in some footnotes, he provides additional comments about the source and also refers the reader to other related sources. For example, in his discussion of the controversy sur
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