Similarities Between Davis And Abraham Lincoln

This analysis looks into the speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas and Jefferson Davis and compares and contrasts how each viewed the American Constitution. Each of the three gentleman were highly respected for their position and greatly loved their country. Each individual also had a unique perspective on the Constitution and how it framed their beliefs. The first document analyzed is written by Abraham Lincoln. In his speech, he begins ch by addressing the Kansas Nebraska Act, which had just passed in congress. This Act allowed for the new expanding territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not to allow slavery into their borders. Lincoln highly opposed this act because it repealed the Missouri Compromise

However, on the other side, Lincoln did not have a concrete answers for the issue of slavery and go about it . He did believe slavery was morally wrong and if it was up to him he would ship the slaves back to Liberia where they were from. Lincoln did realize, however, that this idea was too costly and would involve loss of life. When he discussed the equality of the slaves, he agreed it would be difficult to make them equals due toward the majority of disagreeance from the whites. At this point of the speech, it is clear to the reader, Lincoln's battles amongst his own belief. He counties by asking everyone to object the Kansas Act and be clear on their stance. He expressed that a white man does not want to stand up for the Missouri Compromise and be considered a abolitionist; however, the nation must do what is morally correct. This is where Lincoln addresses the constitution and states we cannot hide from our beliefs like we did in the constitution; he says “ ….at the framing and adoption for the constitution, they forbore to so much as the mention of the word “slave: or “slavery” in the whole instrument…. Thus the things is hid away in the constitution, just as an

However, Frederick Douglass’s views were slightly different from the other two perspectives; since Douglas, himself, is a freed slave. He stressed everyone to read the constitution for what it says and nowhere does it mention that a man has the right to own another. Douglass mentions that words such as: person, property, men, etc. are perceived in various ways and that within these interpretations a person is transformed into property. As the constitution reads “ We the people of these United States in order to perform a more perfect union establish justice , ensure domestic tranquility provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Constitution of the United States of America…..” Douglass listed attributes of the Constitution are all great and do not include slavery; in opposition, many say the black population was not included in this declaration. He continued to say it is the slaveholders who misinterpret the declaration of what the Constitution says, not the Constitution itself . In other words there was nothing wrong with the Constitution, but was the interpretation of it that was wrong. Douglass concludes his speech by asking the head of the Northern states to step in and take over the South. Douglass says, “If the slaveholders have rule the American Government for the last fifty years, let the