I recently finished Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals a ten year research project/epic of Lincoln's political career and his management of his most ambitious rivals.  Kearns-Goodwin's wonderful epic depicting the excruciating political life and death of Lincoln is a good opening to the Ethics segment of our weekly EBM&D Blog. Lincoln was a prominent lawyer and used his anaytical skill to manage some of the most controversial issues that ever faced the nation.

            When the 13^th Amendment, which would abolish slavery, was introduced into the House of Representatives in January of 1865, there were rumors that Peace Commissioners had been sent from the South to Washington DC to offer a settlement of the civil war.  Lincoln was concerned that if certain factions advocating for peace or "peace Democrats" and the maintenance of slavery caught wind of this development, it may in fact take the wind out of any sails of the opportunity to end slavery.  Lincoln was asked:  "Are there peace commissioners in the city?"  Lincoln specifically answered, "There are no peace commissioners in the city..." nor did he expect there to be.

            Did Honest Abe lie?

            Lincoln was aware that in fact there were peace commissioners traveling to a fort in Maryland for a meeting with General Grant.  But he answered the question directly, specifically and truthfully.  There were no commissioners in the city meeting with him, which of course would have signaled a more prominent chance of the settlement of the war, rather than what could be construed from a preliminary meeting with his general. But after five years of fighting and a recent re-election, Lincoln was taking no chances.

            As the 13^th Amendment only passed the House of representatives by 5 votes, after these same "peace Democrats" switched their votes, his specific response may have been as critical to the end of slavery as the war itself.