The Union wasn't explicitly fighting to abolish it either, and barring Ft. Sumter where no one was killed during the Confederate attack, the North was the deliberate aggressor.
But the point remains, the founders did not regard the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence as applicable to the slaves. Their own personal continuation of slavery demonstrates this conclusively.
Slavery, as you say, was not an issue in 1776. In 1861 it was.
Not to the union it wasn't. Their "principled" leader would gladly give up the slaves to get what he really wanted.
Ever since the civil war, people in the North wanted to believe the war which killed 600,000 people was fought for a noble purpose. It wasn't. That noble purpose got tacked on towards the end to justify all the bloodshed which occurred. Having suffered such heavy losses, the North would have revolted if no better rationale than forcing Southern states back into the union was not forthcoming.
Again, the abolishment of slavery did not motivate the North to fight the war, but it did give them a moral justification for getting so many people killed in the pursuit of an immoral purpose, AFTER. THE. FACT.
It does no such thing. Their own writings show conclusively that they were aware of the contradiction and regretted it greatly. They just didn't know to get rid of the institution safely. Since we're still dealing with the aftershocks of its abandonment, it's hard to argue with them on the point. Most deceived themselves that it would gradually fade away with no effort on their part. Given the economics of the institution in the late 1700s, this was not unreasonable.
The notion that the Founders did not think the principles of the DOI applied to Africans is the rationale behind the Dred Scott decision. It was conclusively refuted in the dissents to that atrocity, and many, many times since.
Ever since the civil war, people in the North wanted to believe the war which killed 600,000 people was fought for a noble purpose. It wasn't. That noble purpose got tacked on towards the end to justify all the bloodshed which occurred.
A classic example of projection. Secession and war by the South being about much of anything other than slavery was indeed an after-the-fact rationale to justify a war fought for an immoral cause.
It should also be noted that the destruction of the institution of slavery was NOT "tacked on towards the end" of the war. It was a continuous process that started within a couple months of Sumter and continued thru Dec. 1865. Notably, the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation was issued 16 months after Sumter, 31 months before the war ended. I don't see how that qualified as "towards the end." I produced a Timeline of Emancipation once that spelled out this gradual and continuous process by month. I'll see if I can find it to post.
Again, the abolishment of slavery did not motivate the North to fight the war, but it did give them a moral justification for getting so many people killed in the pursuit of an immoral purpose, AFTER. THE. FACT.
Again, projection.
I contend preservation of the Union was NOT an immoral cause, even divorced from the abolition of slavery. It tested "whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated (to the proposition that all men are created equal), can long endure."
Answering that test with a resounding YES was one of the most moral causes for which any war has ever been fought.
IMO of course.
Found it!
The process of emancipation started May 23,1861.
This was 41 days after the CSA chose to start war at Sumter. It continued pretty consistently up till the last slave was freed.
I fail to see how a continuous process starting less than 6 weeks after the war began can be construed as an ex post facto justification tacked on “towards the end of the war.”
1861
May General Butler refuses to return three slaves being used to build CSA fortifications to their owner. Concept of “contraband of war” invented.
August Confiscation Act of 1861 declares that any property, including slaves, used by CSA could be confiscated by military action.
September “Contrabands” employed by US Army and Navy paid wages, in addition to rations
November Nathaniel Gordon convicted and sentenced to death in NYC for slave trading (classified as piracy)
1862
February Nathaniel Gordon executed
March Washington, DC slaves freed by Congress, with partial compensation to owners
Return of escaped slaves to their owners by army officers prohibited by Congress. Even slaves escaped from Unionist owners.
April Congress offers compensation to any state that emancipates
May Lincoln publicly appeals to the border states to free their slaves
Slavery prohibited in all territories
July Lincoln appeals again to the border states
Militia Act of 1862 frees slaves who enlist in US military, their mothers, wives and children. Initially applies only to slaves from disloyal states or owners.
Second Confiscation Act provides for enticing slaves to leave owners in slave states, thereby becoming free. Authorizes President to issue Emancipation Proclamation as exercise of war powers.
September Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
November Attorney General Bates issues ruling that free blacks are US citizens. Opens door to slaves of loyal states and owners freeing themselves, their mothers, wives and children by enlisting in US military.
1863
January Final Emancipation Proclamation issued 20,000 to 50,000 slaves in Union-controlled territory not specifically excluded by the language of the EP freed immediately
July WV slaves freed by state action
1864
January 13th Amendment introduced
March AR slaves freed by (puppet government) state action
April 13th Amendment passes Senate
June Congress repeals Fugitive Slave Law
September LA slaves freed by (puppet government) state action
November MD slaves freed by state action
1865
January MO slaves freed by state action
13th Amendment passes House
February TN slaves freed by (puppet government) state action
April Lee surrenders. All slaves freed in former CSA territory not excluded from the Emancipation Proclamation.
December 13th Amendment ratified
Slaves in KY (~50,000) and DE (~200) freed