Hey everyone, thanks for downloading episode 203 of our Civil War podcast.

I'm Rich. And I'm Tracy. Hello y'all. Welcome to the podcast. While Washington

sweltered through the Longhot summer of 1862, Abraham Lincoln made the

momentous decision that would define both his presidency and the course of the

Civil War. The great question of what to do about slavery had provoked

increasingly heated debates on Capitol Hill for months. Back in March, Lincoln had

asked Congress to pass a joint resolution, providing federal aid to any state

willing to adopt a plan for the gradual compensated abolition of slavery. But

the president's plan aimed at the still loyal slaveholding border states went

nowhere when the border state representatives refused to endorse it. Meanwhile,

the Republican majority in Congress begin to push its own agenda on slavery. In April,

Congress passed a historic bill providing for the compensated emancipation of

slaves in the district of Columbia. The bill met with Lincoln's whole-hearted

approval since in areas like the nation's capital, which was under the

jurisdiction of the federal government, he had, quote, never doubted the

constitutional authority of Congress to abolish slavery. But the situation became

more complex when the radical Republicans in Congress began to address slavery in

the seceded rebellious Southern states where slavery already existed and was

protected by the Constitution. In July, despite the vehement protests of

Democrats and conservative Republicans, the radical and moderate Republican

majority passed a new second confiscation bill. Broughter and scope than the one

passed the previous year, which had limited the federal government to

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