Mystic Chords of Memory

by Abraham Lincoln

Selections from Lincoln's Writings

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

Unknown Binding

About the author

Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States from 1861 and led the country during the Civil War.

Lincoln, a moderate, navigated a contentious array of factions with friends and opponents from the Democratic Party and Republican Party. He exploited mutual enmity of the factions, carefully distributing political patronage, and appealed to the American people.

Lincoln closely supervised the strategy and tactics in the war effort, including the selection of generals, and implemented a naval blockade of the trade. He suspended habeas corpus in Maryland and elsewhere, and averted British intervention by defusing the Trent Affair. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared free all enslaved persons in states "in rebellion against the United States." It also directed the Navy to "recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons" and to receive them "into the armed service." Lincoln promoted the thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, except as punishment for a crime.

Lincoln managed his own successful re-election campaign and sought to heal the war-torn nation through reconciliation. On April 14, 1865, just five days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, he attended a play at theater of Ford in Washington, District of Columbia, with Mary Todd Lincoln, his wife, when Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Boothe fatally assassinated him.

Lincoln is remembered as a martyr and a national hero for for his efforts to preserve the union and abolish slavery. Popular and scholarly polls often rank Lincoln as the greatest president in American history.

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some quotes:

"Nothing new here, except my marrying, which to me, is a matter of profound wonder."

President Polk is a "bewildered, confounded, and miserably perplexed man." Sound familiar?

"Can we, as a nation, continue together permanently--forever--half slave, and half free?"

"When southern people tell us they are no more responsible for the origin of slavery, than we; I acknowledge the fact. When it is said that the institution exists; and that it is very difficult to get rid of it, in any satisfactory way, I can understand and appreciate the saying. I surely will not blame them for not doing what I should not know how to do myself. . . . "

"What I do say is, that no man is good enough to govern another man, without that other's consent."

"And by virtue of the power, and for the purposes aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons."

". . . that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

"I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me."

"Gold is good in its place; but living, brave, patriotic men, are better than gold."

[Thomas Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read sampling Lincoln's writings over his political career with an explanatory introductory paragraph to each in chronological order. Mostly, this is speeches and correspondence. Sometimes, since the Emancipation Proclamation printed here was so toothless, I think of Lincoln's anti-slavery views as spinelessly pragmatic. However, the fact emerges here that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise spurred his return to politics and nurtured a continual effort to work toward slavery's reduction or elimination. Also interesting is the correspondence from him to Union general McClellan as Lincoln struggles with being Commander in Chief.

[William Razavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little volume of Lincoln that can come in handy when you need some Lincoln (which is a lot these days).
The volume is grouped roughly chronologically until the presidency when there are some thematic groupings.
Of chief interest here is the entirety of the Second Inaugural Address which continues to be a model of rhetoric as well as a model of thinking about reparations and justice.
Overall this book is highly recommended as a fast dose of Lincoln.

[Bruce Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abraham Lincoln, Mystic Chords of Memory, A Selection From Lincoln’s Writings (pp 79) Published 1953. This is a compilation of noteworthy writings — many excerpts — from Lincoln’s writings from throughout his adult life. To save one’s self from having peruse massive collections of Lincoln’s personal letters, speeches, official papers, and formal correspondence to find some of his gems, look no further. In these spare seventy-nine pages are pieces of his prose that provide insight into his humanity, humility, incisive mind, wisdom, and respect for fellow humans. These writings also display a more nuanced perspective on his beliefs about slavery, and slaves, some of which confirm our most closely held and cherished myths about Abraham, and others that seem to contradict what we’ve been taught and want to believe. There is nothing here that will surprise serious students of Lincoln, but it’s a nice reminder of why he was such a remarkable human being, let alone admired leader of this nation. If in my entire life I could write a single sentence matching the quality of Abraham Lincoln’s writing I would die a happy man.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this book was awesome. I seem to be an Abraham Lincoln buff for some reason. I loved reading his own writings so that I could get more of an insight into who he was and how he thought and felt. ;)

[Bryan D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found an old copy of this book. It has selections from the writings of Lincoln. Lincoln was such a powerful wordsmith.