LAD #20 - The Emancipation Proclamation

The reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to the Cabinet

Lincoln says the people held as slaves in the states of rebellion are declared free; the government and the military will maintain the freedom of these people. It must be decided by conclusive evidence whether a state is in rebellion or not. He lists the states that are designated as "in rebellion," including Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, etc., and declares that all slaves in those areas are free. He hopes that the people set free will abstain from violence except in the case of self-defense and recommends they labor for wages if possible. People in the right condition can also be received into the army. He closes by saying he believes this is an act of justice and invoking the favor of God.

LAD #19 - Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

Abraham Lincoln delivering his second Inaugural Address

There is no reason for this speech to be as long as the first, as there is little new information to be presented. Four years ago, the nation had been seeking to avoid war - the North wanting to save it without war and the South wanting to secede peacefully. But the would rather have war than have the nation die and the South would rather have war than stay in the Union so they went to war anyway. The slaves in the South were of interest - from the beginning, some saw they would have a core connection to the war. Neither side expected the war to have lasted as long as it has or that the goal of the war would change so much. Both sides invoke God's aid against the other, which seems a strange thing to ask God. But whatever God decides, so be it. Let us continue, meanwhile, with our work and heal the Union and strive for the peace we want.

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision

A portrait of Dred Scott

In the 1857 case Dred Scott v. Sanford, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sanford but didn't consider larger issues like citizenship for African-Americans and the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise. Justice Nelson was asked to write on these issues, but the rest of the court did not agree with his opinion. The court chose Chief Justice Roger B. Taney to write the majority opinion instead. By February, some people were aware that a conclusion was soon to be reached; James Buchanan found out the results beforehand and supported the Supreme Court in his inaugural address.

Taney questioned whether any African Americans - even free blacks - could be considered citizens and protected under the Constitution; as such, Dred Scott didn't even have the power to sue, as he was not a citizen, but was considered Sanford's property. He then reasoned that since the Missouri Compromise deprived slaveholders of property, it was unconstitutional, then ruled that Scott was still a slave.

LAD #17: Ain't I A Woman?

A photo of Sojourner Truth, who gave a speech, "Ain't I A Woman?"

Truth noticed that men, when referring to women, never included any woman but the white one. She asks again and again - "And ain't I a woman?" She can do things white men can't do; she gives birth just like a white woman, only her children are sold into slavery. 

Intellect should not be used to judge women any more than men, nor black people any more than white people. The idea that women can't have as many rights as men because Christ is a man is stupid; Christ was born from God and a woman; man had nothing to do with it. If the first woman could change the world all herself, her day's women together can turn it back and make it right again.

LAD #16: Fredereick Douglass' Speech

An artist's rendition of Frederick Douglass giving a speech.

Douglass asks why he is called upon to give a speech, for African-Americans were not included in the celebration of Independence Day. The day only shows the incredible difference between black people and whites. The blessings of freedom and justice are only shared among whites. He asks if they were mocking him when they asked him to speak when they know they "[dragged] a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty" to celebrate the day that black people didn't have. 

The troubles of black people are worsened now, knowing they must still suffer from the troubles of slavery on a day meant to celebrate liberty; the cheer is insulting. Douglass proclaims that his words will be full of anger, but always right and just. 

It should not be surprising that black people, who do all the same things white people do, should be considered people as well. He would not spend time arguing that the slavery system was wrong, but he asks, what was an Independence Day to slaves?

He answers: It is a day that shows the slave, even more than any other day, the injustices done to him. The United States' practices are the most shocking upon the Earth. Search through the world, and the nation will realize its own barbarism and hypocrisy.

LAD #15: The Gettysburg Address

An artist's rendition of Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address

Years ago, the Founding Fathers said that all men were created equal. We are now standing here where our soldiers are buried, dead as a result of a great civil war. We must honor the lives of the soldiers who fought for our nation. Just as important is the need for those still living to continue the work they started, to make sure their lives weren't wasted, to continue their efforts in order to preserve the order and existence of the country.

LAD #14 - Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln delivering his first inaugural address

In his first inaugural address, Lincoln does not discuss any matters or administration, believing it to be unnecessary. He reassures the South that he has no intent to abolish slavery, believing it's not within his rights to do so. He points out the part of the Constitution that was essentially a fugitive slave law, saying they did not have to worry - the promise made in the Constitution would be kept. The Constitution also binds the states together, so the country cannot legally be divided; if all of the states do not agree on dissolving the union, no part of it can be dissolved. Any resistance from the South on this matter would be met by force. Mail would continue to be delivered to all parts of the country "unless repelled."

Also, although the Constitution doesn't answer the question of whether slavery will be allowed or not, as no law can define provisions applicable to every situation, it will be decided by a majority - the Supreme Court.

One part of the country is against slavery, and one is for it, but the two parts cannot separate. He asks why they are not confident in "the ultimate justice of the people," and he advises them to think long and hard about what they want to do. He assures that the government will not attack them, but if they become aggressive, they have to respond.

He closes by expressing his wish that the government and the people will never become enemies.

LAD #13: John C. Calhoun's Speech

A portrait of John C. Calhoun, author of The Clay Compromise Measures

Calhoun had believed that the issue of slavery would disunite the nation, but no one had taken any action until a point was reached where the union was in danger. He asks, how can the union be preserved? To answer this, we must know: what is it that is endangering the union? He believed that it was the discontent of the southern states, caused by the slave question and the dominance of the North in the government. The anticipated addition of more states to the North would give them even more senators and power in the government, but none were predicted to be added in the South. This would further destroy the equilibrium between the two halves of the country. The North also tried to take gained territory for itself, leaving none for the South, and took a greater portion of revenue from tariffs. If something isn't done to ease tensions between the North and South, the union will break in two. The only way to save it is to satisfy the South so they wouldn't decide to secede. The North must help in this by conceding territory, easing the agitation surrounding the slavery question, and restore political equilibrium. The South couldn't accomplish this by itself.

LAD #12: Polk's War Message

A portrait of President James K. Polk.

Polk wanted peace with Mexico and sent an envoy to come to a diplomatic conclusion, but the Mexican Government refused to listen and instead invaded the U.S. The envoy, John Slidell, was received by the government under General Herrera, but the revolutionary party overthrew them and Herrera was replaced by General Paredes, who refused to admit Mr. Slidell, even though the Mexican government had been bound to receive him. Mexico threatened to invade America if Texas was annexed, so Polk stationed a military force on the boundary. The troops were later moved to the Del Norte River in between Texas and Mexico. At Matamoras, Mexican forces demanded that General Taylor's camp be broken up and retreated, and on April 24, some Americans were killed as they tried to see if Mexicans were attempting to cross the border. Polk said these things had gone on long enough while the U.S. tried to reconcile all the while, so war with Mexico was necessary and it's the people's duty to ensure the vindication of the rights and honor of the country.

LAD #11: Seneca Falls Declaration

Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the Seneca Falls Convention.

The Seneca Falls Declaration starts off just like the Declaration of Independence, though it replaces "men" with "men and women" in the preamble. It then further parallels the Declaration by going into a list of "grievances" against men, listing things such as women's inability to vote; civil violations of their rights once married, like rights to property / wages; the denial of their educations; men's general power over women; and the destruction of women's self-respect to make them more dependent upon men. It declares that women will have the inalienable rights set in the Constitution and that they will make every effort to make it so, no matter how much they're ridiculed.

It resolves that men and women are equal and that laws that put women inferior to men have no authority and women should realize their situation is unsatisfactory, and advocates that women should have more freedom in general. There would need to be great effort put forth by both men and women to accomplish this. And since all people are created equal, anything or anyone that suggests otherwise is "at war with mankind."