[427sharpe]

Better rethink that jewel a little; Lincoln himself said that if he could Save the union by eliminating slavery, I would do it. Save the union by eliminating some slavery while allowing others, I would do it. Save the union by leaving slavery alone as it now stands, I would do that as well.
Even his Emancipation Proclamation did NOT free the slaves in the border states...only those 'residing within those states currently engaged in armed rebellion against the national authority'. The prior post was correct in that slavery became the central issue far into the war, not at the outset. Many historians now feel that part of the impetus to highlight slavery in the war was as a wedge to keep Great Britain out of the war, as tying the crown to a 'slaver' was politically untenable for the English.