Lincoln:

The man behind the legend

by Dilshan Boange

‘The great emancipator’ is one of the reverential references that history has accorded to the late Abraham Lincoln whose legacy to the Western world stands tall through the abolition of the odious practice of slavery which was one of the pillars on which the economy of the USA saw its growth.

But what kind of path was is that President Lincoln had to take to realise his vision for the people of African origin in the USA who were bound to slavery?

The film Lincoln shows an account of the trials and tribulations the great emancipator had to face when tirelessly endeavouring to realise his dream for humanity.

The film shows how Lincoln expects to end the civil war in early 1865.

A great concern hangs over him that his Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 may be discarded by the courts once the war has concluded. Lincoln feels it is vital to pass the law soon and thus removing any possibility that slaves who have already been freed may be re-enslaved.

There is a formidable battle within the US legislature between the Radical Republicans and those who support Lincoln.

Even if all of them are ultimately brought on board, the law will still require the support of several Democratic congressmen if it is to pass. Dozens of Democrats have become incapacitated after losing their re-election campaigns in the fall of 1864.

Lincoln, however, remains adamant about having the law in place and the issue of slavery settled before the war is concluded and the Southern states readmitted into the Union.

Lincoln’s hopes the law will pass relying on the support of Francis Preston Blair, a founder of the Republican Party whose influence can ensure that all members of the western and border state conservative Republican faction will back the anti-slavery law.

With Union victory in the Civil War seeming highly likely and greatly anticipated, Blair is keen to end the hostilities as soon as possible.

Therefore, in return for his support, Blair insists that Lincoln allow him to immediately engage the Confederate government in peace negotiations.

This is a complication to Lincoln’s amendment efforts since he knows that a significant portion of the support he has garnered for the anti slavery bill is from the Radical Republican faction for whom a negotiated peace that leaves slavery intact is morally unacceptable.

Unable to proceed without Blair’s support, however, Lincoln reluctantly authorises Blair’s mission.

Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward work on the issue of securing the Democratic votes for the bill to pass into law.

Lincoln suggests that they concentrate on vulnerable Democrats, as they have already lost re-election and thus will feel free to vote as they please, rather than having to worry about how their vote will affect a future re-election campaign.

Since those members also will soon be in need of employment and Lincoln will have many federal jobs to fill as he begins his second term, he sees this as a tool he can use to his advantage.

Though Lincoln and Seward are unwilling to offer direct monetary bribes to the Democrats, they authorise agents to quietly go about contacting Democratic congressmen with offers of federal jobs in exchange for their voting in favour of the bill.

With Confederate envoys ready to meet Lincoln, he instructs them to be kept out of Washington, as the voting on the bill approaches.

At the moment of truth, Thaddeus Stevens decides to moderate his statements about racial equality to help the amendment’s chances of passage.

A rumour circulates that there are Confederate representatives in Washington ready to discuss peace, prompting Democrats and Conservative Republicans to advocate postponing the vote on the amendment.

Lincoln explicitly denies that such envoys are in or will be in the city — technically a truthful statement, since he had ordered them to be kept away — and the vote proceeds, narrowly passing by a margin of two votes.

The battle against slavery won and having fulfilled a promise that will echo throughout the ages, what President Lincoln sadly faces as the direst consequence for his progressive humanity is that he ends up paying for it with his very life.

The film is one that shows the man behind the legend and how humanly affected he was with the afflictions in his own life as he strode towards history.