What issue was it by the president with the intention of freeing slaves?

The issue you are referring to is likely the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. This executive order aimed to free enslaved people in Confederate-held territories during the Civil War. While it did not immediately free all slaves, it was a significant step toward abolition and changed the character of the war by adding a moral imperative to the Union's fight against the Confederacy. The Proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army, further strengthening the Union's efforts.