Comments on: Historians: Lincoln Best President, Bush 36th http://www.poligazette.com/2009/02/17/historians-lincoln-best-president-bush-36th/ Because Common Sense Transcends Distance Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:45:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michael Merritt http://www.poligazette.com/2009/02/17/historians-lincoln-best-president-bush-36th/comment-page-1/#comment-85372 Michael Merritt Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:20:41 +0000 http://www.poligazette.com/?p=10658#comment-85372 I like Lincoln, and am not saying he didn't pave the way, but to say he single-handedly ended slavery is a myth. The best he did himself was the Emancipation Proclamation, which outlawed slavery in Confederate states. Border states still in the Union were spared. He also advocated for the Thirteen Amendment, which was ultimately passed. You are right though about his goals during the war. I don't know it off hand, but in one of his more famous speeches, he declared that if he could win the war by ending slavery he would, and if he could win the war by keeping slavery, he would. Speaking of which, Lincoln is a perfect example of what never serving in the military and only spending two years in Congress can produce. Not everyone can be as gifted as him, I suppose, but it's something to think about. I like Lincoln, and am not saying he didn’t pave the way, but to say he single-handedly ended slavery is a myth. The best he did himself was the Emancipation Proclamation, which outlawed slavery in Confederate states. Border states still in the Union were spared. He also advocated for the Thirteen Amendment, which was ultimately passed.

You are right though about his goals during the war. I don’t know it off hand, but in one of his more famous speeches, he declared that if he could win the war by ending slavery he would, and if he could win the war by keeping slavery, he would.

Speaking of which, Lincoln is a perfect example of what never serving in the military and only spending two years in Congress can produce. Not everyone can be as gifted as him, I suppose, but it’s something to think about.

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