In his first inaugural address, Lincoln addresses the issue of slavery which had become a serious problem. He makes it very clear that he has no intention of interfering with slavery in the South, and that his goal is in fact to preserve the Union. Looking to the Constitution for guidance, he asserts that the question of slavery should be answered by the individual states. As is stated in the Constitution, if a person is held to service of another in one state they cannot be free of their labor by entering another state. This applies to fugitive slaves who ran to the North for their freedom. He later mentions this as he tells the North to not return all slaves, as the South was partaking in illegal international slave trade. Lincoln sees that these problems may never be solved, and believes that a disagreement on the issue of slavery and growing disagreements on it would cause even greater problems. He emphasizes the fact the importance of the unity that the states have had since before the constitution. If they engage in hostile or friendly relations, the states should nonetheless interact for a mutual benefit. The harmful act of succession would lead to anarchy, and even more disturbingly despotism. Lincoln ends by saying that Americans should not be enemies, but friends with an emphasis on, "we must not be enemies."
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