The Lincoln's First Inaugural reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Lincoln's First Inaugural

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, delivered March 4, 1861 was deeply conciliatory to Southern slave-holding interests. The list of promises Abraham Lincoln made included:

1. Protecting the Southern slave-plantations from more raids like John Brown's Harpers Ferry Raid
2. Strongest possible federal support for the Fugitive Slave Law (and Fugitive Slave Clause of the U.S. Constitution)
3. Should the Supreme Court rule slavery unconstitutional Lincoln promised to use his power to block the decision from taking effect

For the full text and other information on the speech:

• http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt039.html
• http://www.ukans.edu/carrie/docs/texts/19linc1.htm

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