If you know your real history, you will understand why B.H. Obama likened his presidency to Lincoln. The War of Northern Aggression was entirely avoidable and unnecessary. Slavery was not the reason for the war, abolition was well underway before the war, Slavery was Lincoln's way of keeping the unpopular war going, no more and no less...Lincoln was not a friend of the Negro.
I interpreted his move as a brilliant cut-'em-off-at-the-kness tactic to keep France and the UK from coming in on the Confederate's side. Once the Emancipation passed, if they supported the Rebs, they would be seen to be in favor of slavery. Without their support, the South was doomed. Mate and Checkmate.