Why does Lincoln say he is obligated to hold this position according to Lincoln, third debate?
In the third debate, Lincoln argues that he is obligated to hold his position on preserving the Union and opposing the expansion of slavery because it aligns with the principles of the United States Constitution. He believes that by adhering to the principles established by the Founding Fathers, including the preservation of the Union and the belief that all men are created equal, he is fulfilling his duty as a citizen and a leader.
According to Lincoln, the Union is not merely a political entity but a unique and vital experiment in self-governance that should not be easily discarded. He argues that preserving the Union is necessary to protect the rights and liberties of the citizens. Moreover, Lincoln believed that the founding principles of the United States, particularly the idea that all men are created equal, were incompatible with the institution of slavery. He saw the expansion of slavery as a violation of these principles and a threat to the unity and progress of the nation.
Therefore, Lincoln sees his obligation to hold his position as stemming from his commitment to upholding the core values of the United States and ensuring the preservation of the Union.
According to Lincoln in the third debate, he says he is obligated to hold his position on the issue of slavery because it is a matter of moral principle and human equality. He believes that the founding fathers established the United States with the principle that all men are created equal. Therefore, Lincoln feels obligated to oppose the spread of slavery into new territories because he believes it goes against the principles upon which the country was founded.
To understand why Abraham Lincoln said he was obligated to hold his position during the third debate, we can analyze his statements made during that debate. The third debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas took place on October 13, 1858, in Jonesboro, Illinois.
During the debate, Lincoln discussed his opposition to the expansion of slavery into new territories. He argued that the institution of slavery was morally wrong and violated the principles on which the United States was founded, particularly the idea that "all men are created equal." Lincoln believed that by allowing slavery to spread, the country was compromising its commitment to equality and freedom.
In his opening statement at the Jonesboro debate, Lincoln expressed his obligation to oppose slavery and hold his position, saying, "I have always hated slavery, I think, as much as any Abolitionist. I have been an Old Line Whig. I have always hated it; but I have always been quiet about it until this new era of the introduction of the Nebraska Bill began." Here, Lincoln was referring to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which opened new territories to slavery.
Lincoln argued that the extension of slavery was not only morally wrong but also a threat to the rights of all citizens, including non-slaveholding whites. He saw himself as obligated to oppose the spread of slavery in order to protect the values and principles on which the nation was founded.
In summary, Lincoln believed he was obligated to hold his position opposing the expansion of slavery due to his moral convictions and his commitment to the principles of equality and freedom. His opposition to slavery was rooted in his belief that it violated the fundamental values of the United States.