How did emancipation tie in with the moral beliefs of Lincoln?

In principle, Lincoln approved of emancipation as a war measure. However it must be noted that he postponed executive action against slavery until he believed he had both the legal authority to do so and broader support from the American public. Two pieces of congressional legislation passed on July 17, 1862, provided the desired signal. In 1984 he was quoted in a speech saying, 'I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel.'