Thomas Wright's Diary

Government

Well let's get this out in the open. For those that don't live in The United States. Also those that do, that may need a refresher course. So it's 1860 what could Lincoln do about Slavery? When he takes Office. First according to the Supreme Court ruling on the Dred Scott case. People could be owned. That left open the expansion of Slavery. Missouri Law said any enslaved person taken to a free state.
Automatically became free, even if returning to a slave state. They could not be re-enslaved. He won his case in Missouri lost in the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Roger Taney, wrote his decision.
The final Majority opinion on Dred Scott versus Sanford. Which said that all people of African decent, free or slave, were not United States citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. In addition he wrote that the fifth amendment protected slave owner rights. Because slaves were their legal property.

The decision also argued, that the Missouri compromise legislation passed to balance the power between slave and no slave states. Was unconstitutional. This meant Congress had no power to prevent slavery. Taney did not support slavery, he freed his inherited slaves, before joining the Supreme Court.

This information was found on History.com, to read more.

When Lincoln took office, the United States was splitting apart. His first thoughts were preserve the Union. Could Lincoln have abolished slavery?

First the Congress would have to put forth an amendment to abolish slavery. Both houses would have to pass this by 2/3 majority. Then that would be sent to the Governors of each state for them to pass on to the state senate for approval. He would of needed 3/4 of the states to approve it. Lincoln could only ask for the amendment, he couldn't do it himself. Most will agree, even with session he probably wouldn't have got the amendment.

Most States believed in rights to Govern themselves. The majority of states didn't have enough abolitionists to make the vote to change the Constitution. One other note, they could of called for Constitutional Convention, to amend the Constitution, no amendments have been made that way. You would need 2/3 of the States to call for it.

The South started leaving for States rights. The right to Govern themselves and to be fairly represented. Read the secession of South Carolina.
They talk taxes, Free and Sovereign State, as the Constitution says. That would include slavery.

It wasn't till January 1, 1863 that slaves were emancipate, then only the embattled states none of the border or neutral states has I was taught, or the parts of the Confederate states under control of the Union Army.  These areas were not in rebellion.  Warranted by the Constitution upon Military necessity. This is when the Union turned the War towards freeing the slaves. From 1861-1862 it was about preserving the Union. In 1862 Congress passed two acts to allow Blacks to enlist, but official enrollment only occurred after the emancipation proclamation of 1863.

This is fair an open statement from history, look it up, Learn!  History can come back to bite you.

Slavery was wrong, to learn we needs facts. Those I have gave you in simple form. I am not a teacher, I pass on the information, it is up to you to look it up.
Too learn more.

Dram12