This idea is supported in a letter written to an American newspaper editor working in the New York Tribune who is broadly recognized for his expression regarding how the Union felt on antislavery during the 1850s, which stated, “if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that”, Although recently a collection of historians have changed their minds in regards to this topic, with the implication that Lincoln did want slavery to end since it was considered wrong. As a foundation to these statements, the historians respond that Lincoln felt that it was his obligation to act