|
Here I go bad mouthing the United States....
As much as I respect Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, the fact that they held slaves is a blemish on their records. And to say that it was just the times diminishes the records of my two favorite founding fathers: Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin. Alexander Hamilton grew up in a Slave Holding society (in the Caribbean - where the entire economy was dependant on slaves) however, no matter how wealthy he got, he never had a slave and he was involved in abolition movements most of his adult life. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams also didn't hold slaves and were involved in abolition societies. Both were wealthy men.
So to give TJ and GW a pass does not give ample credit to these other founding fathers.
When Lincoln ran for the Republican nomination against Seward and others, he was the conservative nominee. In other words there were more "radical" candidates that were for the abolition of slavery - completely. Lincoln's argument that he would not alienate the rest of the country because of his own conservative stance, where his opponents "radical" views might tear the country apart, turned out to be wrong.
There were Republican radicals that believed that not only should all slaves be free, but also they should be treated equally under the law. These type of Republicans ended up controlling congress under Johnson's administration.
I think you need to give credit where credit is due.
|
Threaded Mode