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"Lincoln was indeed fundamental in ending slavery in the US both in fact and in law."

THAT is a very debatable point. The Emancipation Proclamation freed no slave. It was a war measure. To quote A. Lincoln:

"If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it be freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union, and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union."

Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley, 22 August 1862.

The Emancipation Proclamation freed no slave.

By 1865 (before the ratification of the 13th amendment) slavery ceased to exist in the US. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had been the undoing of slavery -- it had wider effects than its literal interpretation. Lincoln (and the might of the north) freed the slaves -- nutty neo-Confederate claptrap to the contrary notwithstanding.

Lincoln was indeed fundamental in ending slavery in the US both in fact and in law.

I don't think it's debatable at all. Emancipation Proclamation aside, President Lincoln was instrumental in getting the 13th Amendment passed in 1864-65 and sent to the states.