to over 3 million enslaved african-americans, and to lincoln himself. when lincoln takes office, he tries to prevent the looming civil war by reaffirming his belief in the south's constitutional right to own slaves. >> what about this part? "i have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists." >> no, that -- that's good. remind the south that your position on slavery has remained unchanging. >> william seward had been a political rival of abraham lincoln's, and yet he selected seward as his secretary of state. seward was certainly more of a passionate abolitionist than lincoln.don't believe lincoln sw himself truly as the president