# Was the Emancipation Proclamation Unconstitutional?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-emancipation-proclamation-unconstitutional/966269>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 16, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-emancipation-proclamation-unconstitutional/966269 "2022-06-16T00:17:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-emancipation-proclamation-unconstitutional/966269/4 "2022-06-16T01:31:56Z")

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> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> 1. A nation may, in the course of prosecuting a war, deprive its enemies of property without compensating them for it.
> 
> Therefore, depriving the southern states of its slaves was (legally) no different than raiding a supply depot and making off with bundles of rations and ammunition.

Right. Legal. And _maybe_ won the war.

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