AbrahaM Lincoln
This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave.
-April 6, 1859 Letter to Henry Pierce
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States and was completely against slavery and war. Lincoln was elected without carrying a single southern state, making the South feel like they had no power anymore. Even though he was against war, Lincoln knew that going into war was the only way to protect the union, which was his ultimate goal as president. He was very popular and respected among the Northern states, but the Southern states didn't like him and disagreed with everything he said, even if it was completely reasonable and fair. Lincoln wanted to stop the spread of slavery because he felt that it was unconstitutional and he knew that if he stopped it from spreading to the West, it would eventually die out in the South.