Lincoln said, he would keep slavery, abolish slavery, or do a half way measure, if it preserved the Union.

Keeping the U.S. whole was his objective, and fortunately the abolition of slavery was the result.

However, the Democrats led the fight for full civil rights for the decendants of slaves, as well as other persecuted segments of the population, while the Republicans resisted such efforts.

Both parties, though, continue to support the last of the Jim Crow Laws, namely the prohibition of marijuana.