Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln's passage conveys his personal anti-slavery stance but emphasizes his commitment to the Union above all, making actions against slavery contingent on their impact on Union preservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage reflects Abraham Lincoln's belief that while he personally found slavery to be morally wrong, he understood his role as President to mean he couldn't act solely based on his personal feelings. Instead, his priority was to preserve the Union, and his actions towards slavery were shaped by what he believed would help achieve that goal. He expressed a willingness to take whatever action would best serve the Union's preservation, whether it involved freeing slaves or not. Despite his personal anti-slavery stance, he made it clear that his official duty required him to first and foremost consider the impact of his decisions on the Union.