University Puts Lincoln Archive Online

The University of Rochester (New York) has recently put its collection of 72 letters written by Abraham Lincoln online in order to share it with Lincoln researchers and enthusiasts.

One of the most interesting letters is one written by Lincoln on March 14, 1862 proposing the payment to slave owners of $400 per slave in order to achieve "gradual emancipation" so that hostilities might be ended. In the letter to Illinois senator James McDougall, Lincoln then proposed that in exchange for payment, slave-holders in Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Washington D.C., and Missouri would agree to gradual emancipation within 20 years. Apparently, this suggestion did not apply to the slave-holders in states which were in rebellion against the Federal Government.

Obviously the idea never took off. It took the 13th amendment to the Constitution, after the Civil War, to once and forever end slavery in the United States.

The Rochester University archive is highly educational and informative. I encourage my readers to take advantage of another excellent repository of information about Abraham Lincoln.

Should Jefferson Davis Be Honored?

200 years ago this year, a child was born on the frontier in Kentucky. He grew to become a tall, bearded man who became president of his country. Committed to principles he held dear, he led his nation into the Civil War, causing hundreds of thousands of his countrymen's deaths. He's a major figure in American history, so by all means, our nation should honor him, should it not?

For once, I'm not writing about Abraham Lincoln, but that other Kentuckian who rose to lead his nation, none other than Jefferson Davis, the first and only president of the Confederate States of America. This year marks the bicentennial of his birth, just as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. But should we as a nation celebrate officially the memory of Jefferson Davis?

There can be no doubt that Davis was an impressive and accomplished man. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and West Point, served honorably in the Army in the Mexican War, was a U.S. Senator and also served as a U.S. Secretary of War. Unfortunately, of course, he also chose to lead a rebellion against the very government which educated him at it's expense and sent troops into the field against the very army in which he served.

Today's Arizona Republic newspaper carries an interesting article detailing how descendants of Davis are trying to push for official recognition of his birth anniversary. The family has contacted the Defense Department (the successor to the War Department which he led) to see if it would at least commemorate Davis. No response has been forthcoming. The article also quotes the esteemed historian James McPherson who gives various reasons why that no official celebrations should occur.

Even after the Civil War and hundreds of thousands of deaths, Jefferson Davis was basically an unreconstructed rebel and remained so until his death. In his own words, Davis stated that he believed in State's Rights to very end. From his 2-volume "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, Davis wrote:

"...it has not been my wish to incite to its exercise: I recognize the fact that the war showed it to be impracticable, but this did not prove it to be wrong; and, now that it may not be again attempted, and that the Union may promote the general welfare, it is needful that the truth, the whole truth, should be known, so that crimination and recrimination may for ever cease, and then, on the basis of fraternity and faithful regard for the rights of the States, there may be written on the arch of the Union, Esto perpetua." The meaning of the last two words? "May It Persevere". In other words, may the struggle continue.

Therefore, no matter the desire on the behalf of his descendants to honor their famous (or infamous) ancestor, I believe that no official government recognition of the bicentennial of the birth of Jefferson Davis should occur, lest it become a celebration for neo-Confederates and revisionist historians. Why should the Federal Government honor a man who sought to destroy it?

Final Ax Used By Lincoln Discovered At Lincoln Museum

Today's issue of the Springfield, Illinois Journal-Register newspaper contains a fascinating article about a very old ax which has been tentatively identified as the final ax that Lincoln used, just one week before his assassination.

The ax is in the collection of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Prior to the opening of the museum, the ax was owned by the state of Illinois, which acquired in it 1955 from the family which owned it. The state and museum curators figured it was one of the many axes identified, but not proven, as a Lincoln ax. What makes this ax different is accompanying affidavits and other letters dating to as long ago as 1914, stating that this ax is the one which Lincoln used at a Union Army field hospital in Virginia. It was there on April 8, 1865 that Lincoln spotted the ax and showed off a little, holding the 7-pound tool by the end with it parallel to the ground. Even at the age of 56, Lincoln was able to hold the ax motionless for a full minute, something even the much-younger workers at the camp could not do. Makes one wonder about the supposed illnesses Lincoln had (Marfan's and cancer) if he was still so strong at that age.

Other axes supposed to have been used by Lincoln haven't come with such documentation, making historians feel that this might be indeed authentic. Of course, one never knows. If it's real, it might be worth as much as $15,000 according to the owner of the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop (a must-visit for the serious Lincoln collector or fan) in Chicago, Illinois.

Lincoln artifacts hold just as much, if not more, interest for me as does Lincoln's life itself. Let's hope that this ax is truly the real deal.

More Delusions About Bush And Lincoln

I began this blog a little over four months ago as a repository of information for those people who are seeking more knowledge about Abraham Lincoln, our nation's 16th president. Mostly I publish serious entries, but sometimes I publish funny (at least to me) photos, articles, or stories about Abe. I try to stay away as much as possible from commenting about current day politics because the last thing the Web needs is another ranting and raving political blogger. But this time, I simply cannot resist.

Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General forced to resign in disgrace, has become the latest current or former official in the Bush presidency to try to turn George W. Bush into the next coming of Abraham Lincoln. This campaign is eerily similar to those rabid fans of Ronald Reagan who push to have that president's image carved on Mt. Rushmore and declare him the equal of Lincoln. I digress.

According to Think Progress, Gonzales gave a speech yesterday at Washington University (St. Louis) in which he compared Bush to Lincoln, making the point that Lincoln was also highly criticized during his presidency but that history now reveres him. The inference of course being that eventually history will revere George W. Bush.

Gonzales joins a growing list of Bushies trying to turn their hero into Lincoln. Karl Rove thinks Bush can get to the "nub of things," just like Lincoln. And Bush himself in a recent interview with Fox News (who else??) pointed out that Lincoln was "hated" when he left office (wrong!).

Just a quick comparison seems to be in order. Lincoln went to war to preserve our nation and to prevent it from becoming "Balkanized." Bush went to war first with a nation which did indeed harbor terrorists bent on killing us, but then expanded that war into Iraq, which even Bush admits had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Lincoln had humility when dealing with his rivals, even incorporating them into his cabinet. Bush doesn't know the meaning of the word. Lincoln did suspend the writ of habeas corpus as did Bush, but Lincoln never advocated the use of torture as do Bush and his cabinet officials such as Gonzales.

The list could go on. I do not worship Abraham Lincoln, but I do personally believe he was one of the greatest presidents our nation has ever seen. It should offend any thinking American, those who don't worship Rush Limbaugh at least, that Bushies and Bush himself try to make him equivalent to Abe. Done with my rant now.

Nice Try But Abe Isn't On $100 Bill

You have to wonder about the intelligence of some people, or rather the lack of it. Interesting article about a crook who tried to pass counterfeit $100 bills in Mesa, Arizona while attempting to buy a watch. The shopkeeper tried to be gentle about it, telling the prospective "customer" that Abe isn't on the $100 bill. The customer then became irate and finally the owner tasered him. Police called, bad guy arrested, and the rest is history. I suppose if the thief was really intelligent, he wouldn't be trying to do criminal deeds in the first place.

The image I've included here is a true $100 bill which featured Abraham Lincoln, but it's a federal bank note from the year 1880. Now don't try cppying this at home, because I'm sure the note is no longer legal tender.

A Bad Lincoln Lookalike

Now I've seen some bad Lincoln lookalikes in my time, but this guy really wins the prize. In his defense, the gentleman in question, one Dave Van Hattum, is a lobbyist in Minnesota and does not claim to be a Lincoln impersonator. He was testifying at the time in the state house there about the tragic bridge collapse of last summer. Why he chose to dress up like Abe on Lincoln's birthday for something so serious is a little beyond me. I could find nothing about why he did so.

Honestly, he looks like a cross between The Cat In The Hat, the hillbilly moonshiners from a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon, with a tie more appropriate to The Men In Black.

"Katie" added a comment recently to this post stating that Mr. Van Hattum was testifying in support of improvement of the state's infrastructure. He was appearing as Lincoln to remind legislators how Lincoln supported improvements in that area as well, especially the transcontinental railroad. Katie claims the lobbyist was not meaning to be disrespectful, which is why I've updated this posting.

Lincoln Cent Redesign For Bicentennial

The United States Mint will be redesigning the Lincoln cent or penny in honor of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth next year. The image I've provided are the four finalists from over 35 designs which had been proposed.

The reverse (i.e. the back) of the penny will depict Lincoln's humble beginnings as opposed to his presidency. That's an unusual approach, but one which is highly appropriate, considering that Lincoln had the humblest of beginnings in life. The image on the upper left depicts Lincoln as a student in either a classroom or studying on his own. The image on the upper right shows Abe as an Illinois state legislator. Finally, the two images on the bottom show different variations of the log cabin in which he was born.

For my money (no pun intended), I like the legislator design and either of the log cabin designs. the obverse (i.e. the front) of the penny will not be changed. I'm not sure if this redesign of the reverse will be permanent or not.

Here's a link to Numismater.com (a coin collector website) which discusses the images in more detail, plus also shows 35+ other designs which had been considered.