"Do you have statistics of how many senators or congressmen were placed into office specifically or primarily by abolitionist groups?"

It only takes one to bring it to the floor for debate. The point being they knew that the question must be asked. Asking the question was simple. It was not done for what ever reason.

"I argue that few people (and virtually no person in Congress) in 1860 and 1861 considered national emancipation to be proper."

Legally or morally?

"I would ask at which point "before 1865" do you believe Congress as a whole could have or should have enacted national emancipation?"

If they were against slavery, they should have attempted it at all times. Like Congressman John Quincy Adams in 1839, or Congressmand James Mitchell Ashley on December 14, 1863. Especially in 1863 when Ashely's party had the power to do so.

Again, I'm not looking at motive, I commenting on the fact that IF THEY WANTED TO they could have. All of your points agree with what I'm stating. It all comes down to Congress and Lincoln not wanting to free the slaves even when they had the power to do so. Especially with armies in slave territory, they HAD the power.

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David Upton