James G. Randall

The purpose of this volume is to examine those measures of the Lincoln government which involved significant constitutional issues. While Lincoln spoke of the cause for which he contended as no less than the maintenance of democracy in the world, such a man as Wendell Phillips denounced Lincoln's government as a "fearful peril to democratic institutions" and characterized the President as an "unlimited despot." In the doubtful struggle to preserve the Union, the war Congress and the war Cabinet had many a hard choice to make when measures out of harmony with American notions of civil liberty seemed the only alternative to defeat and disintegration. "Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its own people, or too weak to maintain its own existence?" was the question Lincoln propounded when making one of his difficult decisions, and this question embodied a real dilemma which his govermnent continually confronted. To study in some detail, both historically and legally, the manner in which these constitutional problems of the Civil War presented themselves, to note the measures taken in solving them, and to offer such an appraisal of these measures as historical research may justify, is our task. - Introduction.

Article, signed by Randall, discussing the poor quality of scholarship in works on Abraham Lincoln. Refers to sources of material and considers numerous topics that could be looked at with a more scholarly approach and describes the attitude with which the research and writing should be done. Cf. World Cat record: 53969462.

For contents, see Author Catalog.

Incorporates those parts of "Lincoln, the President" which deal primarily with Lincoln the man and with his personal relationships. Selections chosen by Richard N. Current.

Using only the portions relating to the Civil War years and omitting those about the Reconstruction era, the author has revised the original work in the light of contemporary scholarship.

For contents, see Author Catalog.

Discusses the Civil War and Reconstruction and their effects on the nation and on Black Americans in particular.