"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of white and black races and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality" (Gienapp, 57). This shows that he indeed belonged with any other white man in 19th century society that was just how America functioned at the time. Some of the harshest criticism of Lincoln comes from his use of the word "nigger" which is used as additional evidence of his racism. It is true that at least one of Lincoln's speeches is replete with the word "nigger" to which his constituents would not find that offensive in that period of time. However this idea can be contradicted by his stance that slavery was a morally wrong institution stating "You do not mean color exactly? – You mean the whites are intellectually the superior of the blacks, and, therefore have the right to enslave them? Take care again. By this rule, you are to be slave to the first man you meet, with an intellect superior to your own" (Gienapp, 42). These contradictions would be involved in Lincoln's evolving thoughts on how to come about stopping the expansion of the slavery in America as he thought them to be created equal, citing the Declaration of Independence, but thought it unrealistic as even opponents of slavery in the North were absolutely opposed to a full integration of freed slaves, or viewed integration, at least, quite skeptically. However, his decisions would not only be based on his stance on race, but also his political stance on the law which intertwined with his view on the institution of slavery.
Before tackling the slavery issue, one must understand Lincoln's political views with respect to the Constitution, which was the cause for Lincoln's idea of a gradual extinction of constitution and not an immediate emancipation, which separated him from abolitionists, and explained why he was a part of the more moderate Whig Party.
