Takes a lot of nerve to "proclaim" people in another country "free". And if he was so "anti-slavery",why not include northern states and DC itself? The EP (finally) allowed blacks to serve in the Union forces, although free blacks served the Confederacy since 1861. (It was because of horrendous losses up through 1863! He needed bodies!)  His IRS taxed slave sales in those northern states to help fund the war (starting in 1862). It was clearly his intent to unconstitutionally prevent states from exercising their rights under the 10th amendment. He unconstitutionally waged war on another nation. (He didn't "preserve the foundation of our nation" as he would have to do that WITHIN the confines of the Constitution.) And who knows how TWO nations on this continent would have been significant for world history;  one (union) violating their own Constitutional limitations at will.  There IS no reason to violate the Constitution or laws for ANY reason.  Want more power? Use Article V.