Why did lincoln say, "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"?

he wanted to force the south to secede.
he wanted to appease northern democrats.
he was stating his party's platform.
he wanted to keep the union together.

He wanted to keep the union together.

Explanation:

The given quote is an excerpt from the first inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln as the president of the United States that illustrates his reaffirmation of desire to keep the Union intact and not interfere with Slavery. His chief goal was to preserve the unity of the state and he says that he would 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of United States' and assures that laws of Union would be faithfully executed. He, however, said that the Constitution does not state that what could or what could not be done regarding slavery in the territories and proposed "Fugitive Slave Act". Thus, he states the quote "I have no purposeto do so" as he wanted to keep the Union together and not interfere in Constitutional offerings.

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