I hate to point this out but Honest ol' Abe did not set out to free the slaves out of some alturistic sense of honor. I know, I know it is all part of the fable, kind of like ol' George admitting to chopping down the cherry tree. The emacipation proclimation did NOT apply to all the slaves in the country. It was ment to apply to those slaves in "rebel" states so as they would rise up against thier masters and fight for the union - thereby earning their freedom. It should also be pointed out that it applied to slaves living in states not under union control (It would be like china proclaiming that all prisoners in taiwan be freed today). This was military strategy, not humanitarianism. And those slaves in the union states (yeah they did have them), well no such grace was ever intended for them.
Prior to being president, lincoln was an Illinois legislator, then a congressman. During that time he actually OPPOSED abolitionists and enforced Fugitive SLave Laws. He also endosed relocating slaves to Africa, and endorsed laws banning black people from voting, holding office, jury duty and intermarrying with caucasians. The same year he (1858) he gave an address affirming th equity of all men he also gave a speech where he opposed ""bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the black and white races." "
By today's standards Abraham Lincoln would considered a racist. But then so would most of his contemporaries.
Ask school kids today "why was the American civil war fought?" and many would likely answer "To free the slaves". Unfortunately, that was little more then a tactical move.
Wow, revisionist history, gotta love it.
This reminds me of the joke: What did Lincoln say after a four day drinking binge? ... " I freed the what?!"