[Vlad The Inhaler]

it was understood by all that abolition could not be forced on loyal Union states short of Constitutional Amendment.

But it was okay to force it on the southern states with military power?

Back to my opening comment.

To some, Lincoln walked on water.

To others, not so much.

[rockrr]

But it was okay to force it on the southern states with military power?

Yep - right after it was forced on the union by insurrectionist rebel military power.

[BroJoeK]

Vlad the Inhaler: "But it was okay to force it on the southern states with military power?"

Sure -- states which first provoked war (December 1861 to April 1861), then started war (at Fort Sumter), formally declared war (May 6, 1861) on the United States and waged war against us in Union states -- by the rules of war: militarily valuable enemy assets could be declared "contraband of war" and seized by armies.

Confederates conducted numerous raids into Union states for the purpose of seizing Union "contraband", including freed slaves for return & sale in the Confederacy.
The Union also seized "contraband" in Confederate states, including slaves who were then freed and often hired & paid to work for the Union, frequently as colored troops.

Vlad the Inhaler: "To some, Lincoln walked on water.
To others, not so much."

Nobody here claims Lincoln "walked on water", but we do defend him against an unrelenting stream of propaganda lies from pro-Confederate Lost Causers.
Water walker or not, Lincoln deserves the truth be told.