The Mises Community
An online community for fans of Austrian economics and libertarianism, featuring forums, user blogs, and more.

Lincoln's views on the Black Codes

rated by 0 users
Not Answered This post has 0 verified answers | 2 Replies | 2 Followers

Not Ranked
23 Posts
Points 400
bowenj10 posted on Thu, Jul 30 2009 1:16 AM

Does anybody know what Lincoln's views on the Black Codes in the north were, particularly those of his home states of Illinois and Indiana?  The racists viewst that he expressed in the Lincoln-Douglass Debates might certainly be able to be excused away as products of his time, but support, if there was any, of the Black Codes wouldn't.

  • | Post Points: 20

All Replies

Top 75 Contributor
411 Posts
Points 8,565

Ah yes, the Lincoln cult double think- Lincoln supported Black Codes, deporting blacks, used the word nigger etc etc Because he was worried about his image! He didn't want to come of as PC and therefore lose support!  But then he was willing to fight a difficult, extremely risky, and very unpopular war to free the slaves because he cared so much about equality!

do we get free cheezeburger in socielism?

  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
23 Posts
Points 400

I don't mean to be nit picky, but is there proof that he supported the Black Codes?  I've certainly never come across any proof that he didn't, but I've also never come across proof that he did.  An absence of proof is not proof of anything.


It would be great if there was some kind of legislative record that showed him supporting the Black Codes of Illinois.  It would be great if htere was some kind of record of some speech wherein he expressed support for the Black Codes of Illinois or other states (that bit of his in the first Ottawa debate with Judge Douglas about blacks having the same right to eat what they produce while they were unable to legally live, work, or own anything in many states is priceless, IMO).

Also, I wouldn't necessarily consider his, or anybody's at that time, use of the word nigger to be indicative of any animosity towards blacks as it was customary at that time to refer to blacks in a way that many today would consider to be derogatory?  Unless I'm mistaken about the widespread customs of that time?

  • | Post Points: 5
Page 1 of 1 (3 items) | RSS

Ludwig von Mises Institute | 518 West Magnolia Avenue | Auburn, Alabama 36832-4528

Phone: 334.321.2100 · Fax: 334.321.2119

contact@Mises.org | webmaster | AOL-IM MainMises

Mises.org sitemap