Douglass was not sure what to expect from Lincoln, a man who grew up in a region where gross bigotry was normal and racial discrimination institutionalized. Black people could not attend public schools or testify in court against a white. They could not marry a white person; they could not vote.
Lincoln had made it clear throughout his public life that he was strongly anti-slavery but only as far as the constitution allowed. The constitution allowed slavery in the original southern states and so would he, expecting it to end on its own eventually. Great Britain had only abolished slavery in1838. When the war began he favored a traditional popular plan of gradual emancipation with compensation to the owners and colonization of the freed slaves to another country, perhaps in Africa, the Caribbean or Central America. Lincoln had recently met with Black leaders to extol the virtues of voluntary colonization. He felt that as a political goal emancipation was completely dependent on colonization. When the Black leaders showed little interest in cooperating Lincoln lost his patience and considering the source said something incredibly hurtful. His words would become public and encourage racism. He said that Negroes were the cause of the war and by not volunteering for colonization they were exhibiting a lack of courage. Putting the blame on the slave, not slavery was highly insensitive and illogical. Questioning the courage of the black man was an insult felt personally by Douglass. He still felt the sting.
Yet Lincoln would not allow slavery to extend beyond the original slave holding states to the new territories and to this end he was leading the nation in a terrible civil war. In 1837 Lincoln wrote a paper as a member of the Congress of the State of Illinois. The paper was anti abolition, the popular stand but he began by saying that slavery was wrong which was a radical position at the time. Only one other congressman out of 95 would sign the paper. In 1849 while serving in Washington as a congressman from Illinois he introduced legislation to outlaw slavery in the District of Columbia where it was not protected by the constitution. Lincoln was not known to harbor prejudice against men of any race in his personal relationships. He was highly principled, intellectual and through his well publicized debates with Stephen Douglas, Lincoln was the spokesman for progressive slavery politics.
Lincoln had a well developed and strategically utilized sense of humor. It was well known that when he did not respect the nature of a visitor’s request at the White House he would embark on a long story rather than respond directly. Douglass also had an excellent sense of humor but he hoped that he would not have to listen to a funny story from Lincoln. His visit today, to be among the first Black men invited to the White House was too meaningful, his business too serious. And yet Douglass recalled a story about Lincoln the day of his marriage. On his way to the ceremony in Springfield, formally attired and appearing depressed Lincoln was asked by a neighbor boy where he was going. Lincoln replied, “To hell I suppose”. Douglass still smiled at that one.
Could Douglass work with a man of such contradictions? They both believed in the United States. Its way of life was unique and allowed them to escape the poverty into which they were born. They understood that, “All men are created equal” means that they have equal opportunity to do with their lives what they will. They had both suffered emotionally as children and craved respect.
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