View single post by Mark
 Posted: Sat Feb 25th, 2012 12:18 pm
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Mark
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 The Emancipation Proclamation is crafted the way it is because of Lincoln's belief that slavery could only be abolished through Constitutional amendment. However, as Commander in Chief, he had the authority to abolish slavery as a military measure in rebellious areas. I base this primarily on the following text from the proclamation:

"Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion..."

Mark