This document came well after the EP. That decree that really had nothing to do with slaves in those states that were still for the most part supporting the Union agenda. When did the buying and selling of humans become illegal in the Union states? I mean in those states that were always considered Union states?
The territories were under a different guide line from what I've gathered. Their dispensation was handled according to the custom of the different territory prior to the US gaining it according to the part of Davids post that explained some of that subject.
So the money trail starts with the purchase of slaves, for the purpose of using them to help overcome the South. The slave owner got money for their slave, and the slave pretty much became an indentured servant, and had no real say in the deal, with an open end contract because no one knew how much longer the war would last. Not that this was a new practice, but since in following the argument that the North fought to free the slaves the Union seems to lose some of its idealism by using them without any real end of the contract in sight. They did this with purchased slaves. So, that what was in simple terms, slave trading? Or am I wrong?
It also seems that this could have more implications than the need for troops or people for other jobs within the Army. It doesn't dismiss the possibility the Union was indeed buying votes. It also brings up the question about the black soldiers family having compensation while the white family was not even considered in the same light though the hardship may be been about even.
Does this not make you want to look up the definition of bribery?
Pam