1. The Central Role of Slavery in the Confederacy: Douglass argued that the institution of slavery played a central role in the formation of the Confederate states and their secession from the Union. He pointed out that slavery was a cornerstone of the Southern economy, societal structure, and political system. By recognizing and targeting the abolition of slavery as a war aim, the Union would directly challenge the foundation upon which the Confederacy was built. Addressing slavery would weaken the Confederacy's resolve, disrupt its economic system, and undermine the ideological justification for its existence.
2. Moral Imperative and Injustice of Slavery: Douglass passionately appealed to the moral imperative of abolishing slavery. He argued that slavery was an unjust, inhumane, and barbaric institution that violated the fundamental principles of liberty and equality upon which the United States was founded. By making the eradication of slavery a war goal, the Union would be taking a moral stand against an abhorrent practice and fulfilling the nation's ideals of freedom and justice for all. Douglass believed that the Civil War presented a unique opportunity to rectify this moral wrong and end the oppression of African Americans.
These arguments resonated with many abolitionists, antislavery activists, and Northern politicians who recognized the intertwined nature of slavery and the rebellion. Douglass's compelling reasoning helped shift public opinion and political discourse toward embracing emancipation as a central goal of the Civil War. His contributions played a crucial role in shaping the broader antislavery movement and eventually led to the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States.