[Non-Sequitur]

So, in areas where Lincoln could have freed slaves, he didnt. In areas where he had no control, he ordered slaves to be freed.

If President Lincoln had the power to free the slaves up North all on his own then why bother with the 13th Amendment?

[Grand Old Partisan]

N-S, the reason Lincoln did not free slaves in northern states is that the Emancipation Proclamation was based on the Confiscation Act of 1862, which stated that slaves held by rebels "shall be forever free." Therefore, it could not apply to slaves in loyal states.

[ConstitutionalConservative]

"So, in areas where Lincoln could have freed slaves, he didnt. In areas where he had no control, he ordered slaves to be
freed.

If President Lincoln had the power to free the slaves up North all on his own then why bother with the 13th Amendment?"


As I stated in an earlier post, he didnt have the constitutional power to free them. He had the physical power to do it. He had already shown that the constitution wasnt going to stop him. My point was that if he really was very concerned about slaves then he could have freed them. It would have been unconstitutional and therefore wrong.