‘Not all truths are black and white. I have high esteem for another opinion when merited. Yes, I owned slaves on paper, an inheritance of responsibility. To forcefully release them would have been a cruelty, for my home was their home. I kept no man, woman or child against their will. To hear otherwise is slanderous.’
Why did you not switch political parties sooner? ‘Fear. To go against the grain is not an easy pursuit. I knew that my chosen path once taken would bring hardship upon my family.’
How did you know this? ‘My wife, Mary Todd. She is a seer.’
So, you initially fought to preserve slavery out of fear? ‘As plain an answer, yes.’
Did this bring shame upon you? ‘There is no place for shame to reside in if a man does what he must to survive. Did I have misgivings, yes. These misgivings were an unwanted guiding force, pushing, pushing and pushing for my destiny to be filled.’
This calling led you to switch parties to abolish slavery? ‘Yes, I began the slow march to my death. Ney’er a more worthy cause.’
Channeled message from Abraham Lincoln.