In 1861, Lincoln worried that premature attempts at emancipation would mean the loss of the border states, and that "to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game."
I 1861 udtrykte Lincoln bekymring for, at forhastet frigivelse af slaverne kunne betyde, at man ville miste grænsestaterne, og "at tabe Kentucky er næsten det samme som at tabe hele spillet."