Abraham Lincoln’s status as one of the America’s great leaders rests in large part on his role as “The Great Emancipator.” But his ultimate success in bringing about the end of slavery often overshadows the dilemma he faced in achieving that goal. Lincoln’s dilemma was how to end slavery without doing irreparable damage to the Constitution and the foundations of the American Republic. He took his solemn oath to preserve and protect the Constitution seriously while harboring a lifetime commitment against the moral evil that was slavery. Resolving this dilemma required Lincoln to draw on his own moral convictions for motivation and to utilize his considerable political skill to challenge the Constitutional realities that stood in his way. A look at Lincoln’s religious background, the observations of friends and colleagues, and the steps he took as President, provide important insights into the principles and the inspirations that contributed to his ultimate success in destroying slavery while preserving the integrity of the Constitution.
The Abraham Lincoln Center for Leadership & Policy and Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences presents both Dr. Michael Toomey, who recently retired from Lincoln Memorial University after 15 years of service, will join Dr. William E. Hardy, Assistant Professor of History and Lincoln Scholar at LMU for a discussion of “Lincoln’s Dilemma: Slavery, Morality, and Politics” on Friday, April 19 from 2:00-3:00pm in the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum Auditorium. This event, which is free and open to the public, will offer brief presentations, engage each other in conversation, and answer audience questions.