Question

Select the correct answer.
What is the main idea of this excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address?

Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the Southern States that by the accession of a Republican administration their property and their peace and personal security are to be endangered. There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed and been open to their inspection. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge that I had made this and many similar declarations, and had never recanted them.

A.
The Southern states openly flouted and defied the laws of the Constitution of the United States.
B.
The Southern states were threatened by Lincoln’s fondness for the Northern states.
C.
The Southern states’ authority was dwarfed by the emerging Northern states of the Union.
D.
The Southern states handled their personal affairs of state in an immoral and unethical way.
E.
The Southern states had no reason to worry for their personal freedom and well being.

Answer 1

E. The Southern states had no reason to worry for their personal freedom and well being.

Lincoln's excerpt reassures the South that his administration would not interfere with slavery in states where it exists and that their fears were unfounded.