The EP was only part of the continuous process of abolition that started in May of 1861 and ended in December of 1865.
The EP was a military measure. Lincoln had no right to confiscate slaves or other property of those not fighting against the USA.
Youse guys constantly complain about Lincoln violating the Constitution. Well, here he was scrupulously obeying it, and you criticize him for not exceeding his Constitutional authority.
Wrong, the EP was a purely political move to win the war by winning over Europe as he freely admitted in his own words.
” Lincoln’s intentions, as well as that of many northern politicians, were summarized by Stephen Douglas during the presidential debates. Douglas accused Lincoln of wanting to “impose on the nation a uniformity of local laws and institutions and a moral homogeneity dictated by the central government” that “place at defiance the intentions of the republic’s founders.” Douglas was right, and Lincoln’s vision for our nation has now been accomplished beyond anything he could have possibly dreamed. “
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams120298.asp
“I view the matter (Emancipation Proclamation) as a practical war measure, to be decided upon according to the advantages or disadvantages it may offer to the suppression of the rebellion... I will also concede that emancipation would help us in Europe, and convince them that we are incited by something more than ambition.”
The ironic thing is that they criticise Lincoln for denting the constitution when the confeds crapped all over it before kicking it to the curb.