Abraham Lincoln viewed slavery in the idea that "Slavery is a moral, social and political evil," (necessary evil) and felt it was more important to ensure the preservation of the union as stated in his inaugural speech. However, during his years Lincoln faced a lot of pressure by abolitionists and radical Republicans in congress to issue an Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves. He also dealt with the issue of whether to let Negros fight in the Union Army.
Lincoln and the North entered the war to preserve the Union rather than to free the slaves, but within a relatively short time emancipation became an accepted as an aim of the war. Neither Congress nor the president knew exactly what constitutional powers they had in this area; according to the Dred Scott decision, they had none. But Lincoln believed that the Constitution gave the Union whatever powers it needed to preserve itself, and that he, as commander-in-chief, had the authority to use those powers.
In the fall......
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