After hearing Professor Foner at UAB I reread this anthology of recent Lincoln scholarship. Foner's piece on colonization is a seminal summary of an important Lincoln topic.
James Oaks tries to disentangle Lincoln's views on race, slavery, and rights. Stephen Douglas was right: Lincoln was inconsistent. If anyone can clearly explain Lincoln's views on "natural rights" vs. political and citizenship rights I would like to see it. Is it possible that Lincoln's views were in flux and he wasn't sure what he thought???
There are many Lincolns since Lincoln can be quoted in many ways and his actions can be construed in many ways.
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