“Freedom has given us the control of 200,000 able bodied men, born and raised on southern soil. It will give us more yet. Just so much it has subtracted from the strength of our enemies, and instead of alienating the south from us, there are evidences of a fraternal feeling growing up between our own…”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“My enemies say I am now carrying on this war for the sole purpose of abolition. It is and will be carried on so long as I am President for the sole purpose of restoring the Union. But no human power can subdue this rebellion without using the Emancipation lever as I have done.”— Abraham Lincoln, en.wikiquote.org
“And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorit…”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“But the proclamation, as law, either is valid, or is not valid. If it is not valid, it needs no retraction. If it is valid, it cannot be retracted, any more than the dead can be brought to life.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“You dislike the Emancipation Proclamation; and, perhaps, would have it retracted. You say it is unconstitutional. I think differently.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org
“And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.”— Abraham Lincoln, abrahamlincolnonline.org