[jeffersondem]

“Nonsense, of course Lincoln “fought to free the slaves”, lawfully . . . by 13th Amendment in loyal Union states.”

That is an interesting comment.

Can you explain your claim that Lincoln had to fight a war to add the 13th amendment in loyal Union states?

[BroJoeK]

jeffersondem: "Can you explain your claim that Lincoln had to fight a war to add the 13th amendment in loyal Union states?"

That's not exactly what I said, nevertheless...

The 13th, 14th & 15th Amendments grew out of the Civil War and are part of the basis for arguing it was a "war to set men free".
Clearly without secession & war those Amendments could not have been ratified.

But most slaves were freed by Lincoln's wartime Emancipation Proclamation in Confederate states, others by states' self-abolition in some Union slave-states (Maryland, West Virginia & Missouri) and the remainder by ratification of the 13th Amendment in Kentucky & Delaware.

And this confuses your Lost Causer heart in what way?