Replies

jeffersondem: "For the purpose of this post, let's stipulate that the purpose of Lincoln's war was, indeed, to free the slaves.
That's a problem for anyone that claims to support the original United States Constitution."

Which is why Union defenders like Bull Snipe, OIFVeteran & others are happy to agree with Lincoln's August 1862 words to Horace Greeley saying,

"I would save the Union.
I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution.
The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be “the Union as it was.”
If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them.
If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them.
My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery..."

That seems pretty clear, and people who focus on these words usually ignore Lincoln's last sentence:

"I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free."

The fact is that by August 1862 many Unionists, including Lincoln himself, saw Civil War to restore the Union as also an opportunity to abolish slavery lawfully (via Proclamation) and Constitutionally (13th, 14th & 15th amendments).

I think I "get" where this can drive our pro-Confederates like jeffersondem to craziness, but still, it is what it is.

“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery...”

If this is true - and there are statements by Lincoln and others that raise doubts - then we can forever dismiss the notion that Lincoln and the North fought the war to “free the slaves.”