“Lincoln never abolished slavery in states that remained loyal to the Union.”
Lincoln actually added a slave state to the union. I guess we can forever dismiss the notion that Lincoln “fought to free the slaves.”
This, despite loud claims by some, that “it was all about slavery.”
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.
Yours,
A. Lincoln
However the southern states did secede to protect slavery. Why? Because the Republican Party was the Pro-freedom party, just as they are the pro-life party nowadays.
The southern Democrats were the party of anti-freedom, just as democrats are the party of anti-life now.
Now during the war the United States added the goal of freeing those Americans held in bondage. Lincoln only had the constitutional authority to do this in states that were in rebellion. But he worked with congress to pass an amendment to get rid of slavery forever. Just as current pro-life people would like to pass a constitutional amendment saying life begins at conception to ban abortion forever.
Now the southern democrats claimed to be fighting for freedom, just as current democrats claim to be fighting for choice. But they were really fighting for the right to own other humans, just as democrats are really fighting for the right to kill children.
Nonsense, of course Lincoln "fought to free the slaves", lawfully, which meant by Emancipation Proclamation in states in Rebellion, plus by 13th Amendment in loyal Union states.
As for West Virginia:
...The Willey Amendment was approved by public vote and on April 20, 1863.
President Lincoln issued a proclamation that West Virginia had met all requirements and would become a state on June 20, 1863.[78]
In anticipation of the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution the Wheeling legislature passed a bill ending slavery in West Virginia on February 3, 1865."