From: Anonymous Seven
Date: 4/19/00
Time: 12:43:12 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.175.29
Anonymous Seven History 67 Week Thirteen Primary Source Assignment When Lincoln gave his first inaugural address the Union had already began dividing. The South was growing impatient with the government. They clearly were not going to budge on any issues concerning slavery. Southerners were unmistakably attached to their beliefs and had no desires to see eye to eye with the North. Lincoln was committed to preserving the Union. He wanted to preside with the nobility of those before him, in order to uphold the values of the American government and the constitution. But with his strong approach, the South felt that Lincoln's tone meant that preserving the Union might consist of interfering with their precious institution. As reflected in the Richmond Enquirer, slavery was being threatened in the minds of many. The voices of Virginia expressed in the article expressed that they were for a constitutional Union, but they were not going to "abide by the Union upon all or any terms." By the time Lincoln gave his speech the civil war was undoubtedly inevitable. The South would only stay in the Union if slavery were not disturbed. This would mean that no changes would occur. Because the Southerners wanted to regain more power on the country and their society they were willing to do anything, including fight. No matter his actions or words, Lincoln was going to be manipulated into the spark for the eventual fire.