Nibble on this: I think the best way to judge a president is to see who walked into the worst situation, did something about it and ended up making things much better. Several presidents began their terms facing big problems but none worse than Abraham Lincoln. Between Lincoln’s election in November of 1860 and his inauguration in March of 1861 seven states seceded from the union and more were threatening to do the same. Furthermore, states in rebellion were threatening to seize federal government property, such as forts and armories. So on day one Abraham Lincoln faced the worst constitutional crisis in American history up to that time or since.
Lincoln intended to preserve the Union above all. Most of his actions as president were in the service of that cause. The Constitution of the United States prohibits states from seceding from the Union. Lincoln’s position, therefore, was that the southern states did not leave the Union, as by definition they could not, but that they were in rebellion. When rebellious military units attacked Fort Sumter in April, 1961 and forced a surrender and evacuation of the fort the civil war begun in earnest.
Lincoln used some pretty innovative tactics to raise an army. An income tax was instituted for the first time in America as was the first military draft. He used strong arm tactics to ensure Maryland stayed loyal to the Union. He blockaded southern port cities. He suspended some civil rights such as the writ of habeas corpus. The western counties of Virginia were against secession and formed the new State of West Virginia. Lincoln accepted their request to be admitted to the Union. Ironically, the Constitution of the United States also prohibits parts of states from seceding from states, but there you have it.
Lincoln hated slavery but he was of the opinion that the Constitution of the United States, as it stood at that time, did not prohibit it. He felt he had no authority to end slavery in peacetime. The war gave him special powers, he felt, and so he issued the most famous executive order in American history. It became known as the Emancipation Proclamation. It freed slaves in rebellious states that did not return to federal control by January 1, 1863. None did, so the slaves in those states were freed in the eyes of the federal government. In another bit of irony the Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves in the states and areas remaining loyal to the Union; Kentucky, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. After the end of the Civil War the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States ended slavery everywhere in America and its possessions.
Before the end of his first term Lincoln saw the successful end to the civil war. He had preserved the Union and ended slavery. Sadly, his second term did not last long but Abraham Lincoln most assuredly left us a more perfect union.
