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We were pretty much taught in school that the Civil War was fought over slavery, but like most things, the truth is a little more nuanced and complicated: "The war, congressional members agreed, was not being waged for “purpose of overthrowing or interfering with rights or established institutions of those [southern] States.” Instead, the single purpose was to “defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution . . . and to preserve the Union.”
The “established institutions of those States,” of course, was a reference to slavery."
Huh? What? Well there were northern and border states that remained in the Union but also held slaves, many were sitting on the fence, so at this point in the war it was necessary to tread softly. Later, when victory was more certain, Lincoln would issue his Emancipation Proclamation, but even then it only applied to the Confederate states.
The “established institutions of those States,” of course, was a reference to slavery."
Huh? What? Well there were northern and border states that remained in the Union but also held slaves, many were sitting on the fence, so at this point in the war it was necessary to tread softly. Later, when victory was more certain, Lincoln would issue his Emancipation Proclamation, but even then it only applied to the Confederate states.
TDIH: The Crittenden-Johnson Resolution
Posted from taraross.substack.comPosted in these groups: 
Civil War
American History
Civil War American History
Posted 9 mo ago
Responses: 2
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I believe Lincoln was said to utter "...if i could win the war without freeing the Slaves , i would..." as well as"... if i could replace the money from the South's taxes, i'd let them secede..."
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
He did indeed, however it is a fragment of a sentence written to Horace Greeley in response to an editorial in the NY Tribune. The whole sentence reads: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the union without freeing any slaves I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that." When you realize that a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was sitting on his desk as he wrote this, clearly Lincoln had already made up his mind.
The whole letter in context makes it very clear that he felt his duty was, first and foremost, to preserve the Union:
" Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 22, 1862.
Hon. Horace Greeley:
Dear Sir.
I have just read yours of the 19th. addressed to myself through the New-York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here, argue against them. If there be perceptable [sic] in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.
As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing" as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.
I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.
I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.
Yours,
A. Lincoln."
The whole letter in context makes it very clear that he felt his duty was, first and foremost, to preserve the Union:
" Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 22, 1862.
Hon. Horace Greeley:
Dear Sir.
I have just read yours of the 19th. addressed to myself through the New-York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here, argue against them. If there be perceptable [sic] in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.
As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing" as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.
I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.
I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.
Yours,
A. Lincoln."
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Nothing ever happens because of just one reason, but there is always a main cause to all events.
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