[smug]

Why did he not write to free ALL SLAVES!

The EP was a tool to keep England (They were about to do so at the time of Antietam Creek but the felonious reports of a great union victory kept them in check.) from recognizing the Confederacy. But lincoln was in a delicate situation, he had to write it in a way that would not cause his coalition with northern Democrats to shatter. And why write something that would not be lawful?

[rose]

Read post 242, and everything you say points out even more the point of the war being a war of States Rights, the slavery issue was an issue that came in as a tool against the rebellious Confederate States.