Did he have any legal power over the seceded area? They were in legal terms no longer part of the United States.
I do know no slaves were freed and I do know his first choice was to send them back to Africa. Not practical.
NO. But of course he would say yes.
I do know no slaves were freed and I do know his first choice was to send them back to Africa. Not practical.
Right. Insane is what it was. But that was Lincoln's life long vision for solving the negro question. And let's be clear, the real problem for Lincoln and others of his ilk was never slavery per se but what to do with all the negros.
“Did he have any legal power over the seceded area?”
Yes, as commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces. The EP was an executive order issued under wartime powers.
“They were in legal terms no longer part of the United States.”
Not after the Union army conquered them.
“I do know no slaves were freed”
I don’t know how you know that, especially as it’s not true.