As most stories begin, many years ago a child was born to a poor family. So poor were they that this child had to teach himself by candlelight. At a young age, he was moved and appalled at the sight of human affliction; so moved that he vowed it his life duty to free mankind from slavery. His campaign was now used to voice the wrongs of human oppression, and thus became a savior, even giving his life for their freedom. Such is the tale we know from history books of Abraham Lincoln.

Sadly, Mr. Lincoln falls so short of this Christ-like imagery. It is true he was born to poor parents, he was at one time young, and did die in what is now seen as a martyr's death; but Mr. Lincoln would be turning in his grave if he knew he is now called the savior of African Americans.

The stark reality of Lincoln's affection toward Blacks was this: do nothing to stop slavery and send the freed ones back to Africa, Central America, or Haiti, anywhere but in the United States. So popular was he tied to this concept that Senator Samuel Pomperoy suggested that they should call a colonization Lincoln wanted to set apart in Central America "Linconia." Mr. Lincoln fully encompassed Henry Clay's philosophy on the exportation of freed Blacks from the United States. One needs only to read Lincoln's eulogy to Henry Clay to see where his heart truly lay.

Before Lincoln even made it to the political realm he did nothing to salvage the dignity of slaves. As a lawyer he participated in many trials, but only one had anything to do with slavery. In this trial, Mr. Lincoln supported and represented the slave owner, Robert Matson. In 1847, Robert Matson filed a suit against his former overseer, a freed black man named Anthony Bryant, for smuggling slaves from Mr. Matson's property. In October of that year the state of Illinois found in favor of Mr. Bryant, thus emancipating Mr. Matson's slaves.

Lincoln's disregard for slaves went so far that he even supported the fugitive slave act of 1850. His own words in reference to this act were "when they [the slave owners] remind us of their constitutional rights [to own slaves],I acknowledge them, not grudgingly but fully and fairly; I would give them any legislation for the reclaiming of their fugitives." (This is from Lincoln's reply to Douglas).

It is truly amazing how America has swept under the carpet Lincoln's Cooper Union speech, which was given Feb. 27, 1860. In it he advocated a peaceful deportation of blacks in order that "their places be... filled up by free white laborers." He even urged his colleagues in the Illinois legislature to remove ALL free blacks from Illinois. In fact Illinois, as well as several other Northern states, amended their state constitution prohibiting the immigration of blacks within it's state borders.

As I could keep dismantling the man that is nearly hailed as the American god, I reside on two more points, and very important ones at that.

History has crowned Mr. Lincoln as the Great Emancipator, the hero of African Americans, the savior of slaves. They neglect to answer some very vital questions that turn Mr. Lincoln's limelight dark and foreboding. They breeze over the evidence that only America seemed to need a vast and bloody war over an issue that every other country (i.e. France, England, Spain, etc.) were able to resolve painlessly and, more importantly, bloodlessly. Do not mistake me, I am not saying the War Between the States was fought over slavery, it wasn't as is evident in simple research. I am, however, pointing out a serious flaw in this American fairy tale. Was America so primitive in its political stance that it could not resolve an issue such as slavery in a more genteel and simple manor? Even the South was trying to eliminate slavery years before the War; they had written up a proposition that would have dissolved slavery within its borders in ten years and would have brought the Southern states up industrially to match the North. James Buchanan vetoed it.

The other faux pas looked over is the Emancipation Proclamation itself. Most of us have read the bulk of the proclamation, but very few have read the appendixes themselves. If we actually delve into the back part we would see that Lincoln cleverly, and very purposefully, eliminated slavery in a Country that wasn't his own and then proceeded to keep slaves in his own territory. Every area possessed by Union forces or was under the Federal side of the War were exempt. This was to keep France and England from forming an alliance with the South, which was being seriously considered at that time. Therefore no one was freed and good ink and paper was wasted in that sense.

In closing, I will always say this of Mr. Lincoln; he was a very good lawyer.