[koop21]

I was really just looking for a few specific quotes or links to find them quickly for a debate. I will be sure to examine the books you mentioned for the exact wording.

[koop21]

I wasnt trying to imply that Dr. McClanahan was not right. I just am looking for a few specific places I can refer people that show major federalists obviously and explicitly taking the position that the Constitution would serve as a legitimate limit on government power.

I appreciate the various instances. Are there any that provide a brief yet damning indictment that would be persuasive evidence in a debate?

[koop21]

That’s my point. DiLorenzo has been repeatedly been citing “page 554” as evidence, but doesn’t quote it or say what on that page is supposed to be this conclusive evidence that Lincoln either 1.) was not influential in passing the 13th amendment, or 2.) actually opposed its passage.

I agree with his portrayal of Lincoln as a racist who was not on a mission to end slavery, but I am not finding this argument that Lincoln somehow opposed the 13th amendment to be convincing.

[koop21]

My dad would certainly say that people have “natural rights”. He just holds that those rights are God-given, and thus believing in God is a central component to liberty. Otherwise, he would argue, without God’s role in creation what separates humans from other animals? I guess he is skeptical of the idea that self-consciousnesses or self-awareness is what makes it wrong for one human to kill another human, but not for one wolf to kill another wolf.

[koop21]

I had emailed Thomas DiLorenzo this same question and he pointed me to a passage in David Donald’s biography, “Lincoln” on page 554 (the page is available to preview on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-David-Herbert-Donald/dp/068482535X )

After reading the page in context I don’t see much evidence in that to support DiLorenzo’s claim that Donald believed that Congress “forced” Lincoln into supporting the amendment. In fact the passages on page 554 actually explicitly quotes Lincoln saying positive things about the amendment and encouraging Democrats to support it.

Am I missing something here or is DiLorenzo off base on this?

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