Trina Lavery

History 1700
10/16/2016
Document Analysis: Abraham Lincoln vs. Frederick Grimke

Preceding the election of Abraham Lincoln, tensions were running high and rising fast.
Disagreement occurred frequently between the slave-holding South, and the free states of the
North, as both had different ideas and opinions on the expansion of slavery. The election of
Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, was the tipping point for the South and would soon lead to the
secession of several states and the start of the Civil War. As the new President of the United
States, Lincoln wrote his first Inaugural Address, an attempt to soothe the unrest throughout the
country and discredit secession from the Union. This Inaugural Address has been compared
against the writing of Frederick Grimke, a retired Supreme Court Judge. The two men had
entirely different opinions on the legality of secession, to which the question has been asked
Who had a more compelling argument? Through the study of both documents, it is apparent that
although not enough to stop the Civil War, Lincolns arguments were the most compelling.
The first and largest disagreement between the two was opinion of secession. The top
priority of a new President should undeniably be to keep the country together, and for Lincoln, it
was. The idea of states seceding from the Union seemed entirely unnecessary, which Lincoln
states in his Inaugural Address. If, by the mere force of numbers, a majority should deprive a
minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify
revolution certainly would, if such right were a vital one. But such is not our case, (Lincoln
1861, online). At this point, there had been no move to abolish slavery, and no need (in his eyes)
for secession or war. The Southern states that had seceded did so in fear that with a Republican
president, their rights would soon be taken away.

Frederick did not see it the same way. He justified secession by comparing it to emigrants
coming from another country, to escape the power of government they did not agree with. They
are aware that as individual members of society they have no right to control the government.
Instead of assuming to do so, they quietly withdraw from it, (Grimk 1856, online). Which
would have been an appropriate argument, had the new Confederate states not waged an almost
immediate war, starting with the takeover of federal forts in March.
Another disagreement of opinion between the two was the idea that secession was against
the constitution. I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the
Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law
of all national governments. It is safe to assert that no government proper, ever had a provision in
its organic law for its own termination. (Lincoln 1861, online) Lincoln argues that the Union
and the Constitution are more powerful than a simple claim of secession. If one could break it
without the approval of all, then that would destroy the idea of perpetuity, therefore completely
going against the idea of the constitution. He declared that the Union could not be dissolved by
individual state actions, and, therefore, secession was unconstitutional, (American Civilization
2016, 204).
Frederick again disagrees. When the constitution was first written, the states of Rhode
Island and North Carolina were not in agreement, and for a short time were considered
independent nations. The states were not unanimous in the change which substituted another
ordinance and converted the government into the present confederation. (Grimk 1856, online)
From this line of thought, Frederick claims that even without the agreement of those two, the
Constitution was formed; Furthermore, why would the Confederate states not be in their legal
rights to secede without the approval of the rest of the states? Though it is clear where Frederick

is getting his reasoning, among the states that seceded, all previously agreed to the constitution;
Therefore, seceding without unanimous approval was in violation of the very constitution they
agreed upon.
The main issue with Fredericks arguments was the idea that secession was a peaceful and
quiet alternative to trying to change the government, but this secession was not peaceful or quiet.
The Union was not the first to wage war, the new Confederate states were. Lincoln even made
the claim that In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none,
unless it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided to me, will be used to hold,
occupy, and possess the property, and places belonging to the government, and to collect the
duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no
invasion no using of force against, or among the people anywhere. (Lincoln 1861, online)
Following this thought, the Confederate states forced the Unions hand with their invasions and
taking of federal forts. Lincoln never intended to have a civil war or participate in any bloodshed,
which he stated several times.
Though both Lincoln and Frederick had some valid points in their arguments, Lincolns
thoughts and arguments remain more compelling. The consequences of the secession of those
several states are sufficient proof of that. Hundreds of thousands of lives were claimed, families
and friendships were torn apart, and a nation was left with the task of completely rebuilding
itself. However, several great things did come after the devastation from the war, such as the
freedom of all slaves, and the beginning to what would be the civil rights movements that are
studied and appreciated to this day.

Works Cited Page

Frederick Grimk, The Nature and Tendency of Free Institutions, 1856,

https://slcc.instructure.com/courses/374960/files/59127308?module_item_id=4501181 14
October 2016
Abraham Lincoln, Lincolns First Inaugural Address, US History, March 1861,
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/lincoln1.htm 13 October 2016

American Civilization; A Brief History (Salt Lake Community College, 2016) 204