The election of Abraham Lincoln was not a mandate for the abolishment of slavery in the United States. The people of the United States thought that if they voted for Abraham Lincoln he was going to get rid of all slavery. Lincoln never said he would get rid of slavery. He did think the abolishment of slavery would be a good intention. The South acted too quickly, they were not supporting Abraham Lincoln and they should have given him a chance. In this essay I will persuade on how Lincoln's election as President did not affirm that he would abolish all slavery, his election, as president wasn't a mandate for the abolishment of slavery.
The people thought that if they voted for Abraham Lincoln he was going to get rid of all slavery. For example in Document A, in 1837, Lincoln shows that he has no power to get rid of slavery. The President doesn't have the power to free slaves. The people didn't see it that way; they thought that by voting for Abraham Lincoln slavery was going to be abolished. Congress has the power under the Constitution, to abolish slavery in the District of Colombia. That is why they thought that President Lincoln was going to free all slaves.
Abraham Lincoln never narrated that he would get rid of all slavery. In Document B, 1855, Lincoln's political question was if all together as a nation would they continue together permanently half slave, and half free? He, himself, answered that the problem was too mighty for him. Abraham Lincoln is basically saying that slavery will never end and that it's the people who have become so greedy.
Lincoln did think getting rid of slavery would be gracious. In Document C, 1858, he said he would be glad to see slavery eliminated in the District of Colombia. But he mention that he would get rid of slavery in the District of Colombia with these conditions: the abolishment should be gradual, should be on a vote of the majority of qualified voters in the District, and the compensation should be mad to unwilling owners.