[Rebelo3]

You said that Lincoln didn't free the slaves in the Union slave states because they would have joined the Confederates. Delaware and New Jersey were Union slave states and I don't think there's any evidence that they threatened to leave the Union. Ok, so NJ had only a few "retired" slaves, but slavery is slavery. Also, the EP excluded the slaves in areas of Southern states which were under Union control. Is it your position that Lincoln invaded the South in order to free the slaves? If so, show us some evidence. Of course Lincoln had no authority to free any slaves, just as he had no authority to rule that the South did not have a right to secede. Slavery was legal in the US until Dec, 1865; and the United States Military was legally racially segregated until 1948.

[TheDon]

Is it your position that Lincoln invaded the South in order to free the slaves?

It is not my position. Lincoln was quite clear that slavery was legal in the US, but he would fulfill his Constitutional obligations as President.