Abraham Lincoln did not wish to spend any effort freeing the slaves for moral or personal reasons; although he did wish to end slavery for political and military reasons. This, though, does not mean he supported slavery. He was personally against slavery, but he--the good leader that he was--did not mix his personal goals with, what he thought, was best for the country.
In a personal letter, Lincoln wrote "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery .What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union ." It's strictly business with Lincoln; he believes that there should be no personal agenda used in running a country. He, however, does not agree with slavery, as he demonstrates in the same letter by writing, "I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free.".
Lincoln firmly believed that all men are equal as he told the public in a speech saying ""When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government - that is despotism. If the negro is a man, why then my ancient faith tells me that 'all men are created equal' and that there can be no moral right in connection with one man's making a slave of another." Not only did he wish for people to see the slaves as equals, he also once said "I want every man to have the chance - and I believe a black man is entitled to it - in which he can better his condition, when he may look forward and hope to be a hired laborer this year and the next, work for himself afterward, and finally to hire men to work for him. That is the true system." This describes how he wishes blacks to have equality among the work force, which still has not been completely achieved today.
