[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "If he had no power to abolish slavery in the Union, how can he have power to abolish it in the Southern states which he maintained were still in the Union?"

Even in the Revolutionary War armies declared slaves of rebels freed -- See Lord Dunmore's & Sir Clinton's (Philipsburg) Proclamations.

In 1861 the US Congress authorized confiscation of Rebels "Contraband" property.

[DiogenesLamp]

In 1861 the US Congress authorized confiscation of Rebels "Contraband" property.

Fifth amendment doesn't allow that. Congress can make no law overriding the Constitution.

But even saying you could, they were still freeing slaves after the war was over. Where was their authority to do that once the "rebellion" was quashed?