He thought that it was a moral issue
Abraham Lincoln and William Lloyd Garrison both believed that slavery was a moral issue.
Abolitionists believed that slavery was a moral issue and campaigned for its eradication on moral grounds. Key figures in the abolitionist movement included Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and William Lloyd Garrison. They argued that all individuals deserved to be treated as equals and that slavery was a violation of basic human rights.
Lincoln believed that slavery violated the principles of equality and freedom upon which the United States was founded. He saw it as a moral wrong to deprive individuals of their natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Lincoln viewed slavery as a stain on the nation's character that needed to be addressed.
Abraham Lincoln is suggesting that slavery is such a fundamental moral wrong that if society accepts it as right, then there is no moral standard left to judge anything else as wrong. He is highlighting the gravity of the issue and the need to confront the moral implications of slavery.
In the "Fragment on Slavery," Lincoln argues that there is a natural right to equality among all people and that slavery is a violation of that right. He highlights the inconsistency of the American founding principles with the institution of slavery, emphasizing the need to address this moral issue. Lincoln suggests that slavery should be contained and eventually abolished to uphold the principles of freedom and equality.
moral
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation - chiefly aimed at preventing the British from aiding the Confederates. (It would have made them look pro-slavery themselves.)
as an economic issue
as an economic issue
Moral slavery can be defined as the morality issue that was deemed to exist between a slave and the master. Friedrich Nietzsche made an attempt to define the issues of morality in relation to slavery.
In his speeches, Lincoln approached the issue of slavery with a focus on moral principles and the founding ideals of the nation, emphasizing equality and freedom. He often articulated the belief that slavery was a moral wrong, yet he was pragmatic about the political realities, advocating for gradual emancipation and compensation for slave owners. His famous "House Divided" speech highlighted the unsustainable nature of a divided stance on slavery, while the Gettysburg Address reaffirmed the commitment to a nation dedicated to liberty and justice for all. Overall, Lincoln sought to unite the nation around the principles of democracy and human rights while navigating the complex political landscape of his time.
The Emancipation Proclamation by US President Lincoln was a tactical war decision. As an aside, the Emancipation did not pertain to Union States and Washington DC, which had slavery. The Emancipation was aimed at the Confederate States and carried no weight there, except perhaps for "moral" reasons.