In his [Lincoln's] imagination the Union was a mystical paraclete which had hovered in mid air before it descended into the lifeless bodies of the states, and gave them breath. The Union was an entity. It was once a noun, like beauty, goodness, justice. But it had achieved an existence all its own, as tangible as that of the flag. It was a soul, a body, a Messiah for whom men should fight and die, regardless of everything else. It was a precious and sacred reality to be saved even at the cost of the continuance of negro slavery. If some slaves could be freed to save the Union, that should be done. If the Union could be saved by not freeing any slave, that should be the course. What he would do about the colored race, he would do because it helped to save the Union; and what he forbore to do would be for the same purpose.
-- Edgar Lee Masters, Lincoln, The Man, p. 316
Great quote, thanks.
Concurring mystical paracletic BTTT.