Freeing the slaves was neither a Lincoln nor Republican priority at the start
of his first term in office.  So, I don't know how it suddenly becomes the
overriding basis for the North's actions in the Civil War less than a year
later.  That skunk just don't stink.

Abolition became a convenient political justification to keep certain
segments of the northern population with the program.  It was nothing more
than that from Lincoln's perspective.

Jeffrey Duke Southmayd
BA. JD.
Less than distinguished communications attorney
Washington, D.C.

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