On August 20, 1862, NY Tribune editor Horace Greeley published a passionate editorial calling on President Lincoln to declare emancipation for all slaves in Union-held territory. When the war began, Greeley and other abolitionists argued for a war policy built on the eradication of slavery. Although Lincoln did not admit it publicly when the editorial was published, he was planning to emancipate slaves. He did so a month later with his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.