New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-09
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM GERRIT
PETERBORo, Aug. 81, 1861.

PETERBoRo, Aug. 81, 1861.
PRy.1pEsr LfScoLN-Sir The much speaking
and writing of Aboitionsts on the War should not be
,e, down to their conceit and folly. Were it war
about maritime rights or tariffs or diplomatic civtes
or anything else which they are not specially n
Eormed others would be at least competent them
selves to discuss it. But as il is Savery-beg0tten
War they have peculiar claim to be heard apoD il,
who have given up their lives to the study of Slavery.
The coucet and folly not the part of the Abo
siOusts who at such time this offer advice, but
she part of those who turn cOnemptuousy away from
u. Prosperous and happy beyond all other nations
would ours now be had she consented 10 profit by the
foresight Of the Gaisons and Goodes Philipses and
Cheeyers. But she condemned it, and the penalty of
her contempt she 10 suffering to-day amid the horrors
of civil war. Not more obviously was the entire de-
ructon Of the Jewish nation the consequence Of her
disregard of the warnings Of her Prophets than is the
already faradyanced destruction Of nation the con-
sequence Of refusing to listen TO our Prophets
said that the War 10 6Iayery-begoten. do not
forget that there are persons who look WHOLLY in vain
think, for other causes Of it. But even they must
admit that the extension and perpetuaton Of Slavery
were not its sole object nevertheless nothing short Of
she maddening power Of the Pro-Slsvery spirit could
have suRced to impel the South to begin war which
20 all sane minds was full Of peril il not indeed Of
certain destruction, TO her most cherished interests
This much s certail-that whatever her objects the
South would never have made the War had not Slavery
erst made her mad
The War should BY this time have been near or quite
20 ito end Pardon me for saying that it Is owing to
she errors Of yourself and your advisers that it not
say co. not because doubt your or their patriotism
Tor do not. say 70, not because you or they are
not intent On bringing the War to the speediest close
for believe both are. I say 20 not because be-
isve you or they would encourage the Rebels to pro-
tract II by offering them bribes to end it-for believe
that neither you nor they would be guilty of such folly
am not Of those, who find pleasure In defsmng the
Cabinet II there was ever Cabinet which should
bs Judged not only justly but generousy 1t is the
20 whose hands was committed country already be-
trayede country, moreover, large portions Of whose
people were already in open War against her, and
large portions Of the remainder in craven and corrupt
sympathy With them. IL Is true that wish there
were a couple Of Democrats In the Cabinet-sueh for
instance rs Dickinson and Holt But say 80 not be-.
canse of any fault in any Of s Members, but solely
becanse would have il enjoy more undivided public
confidence than possibly can while It's members are
ali of the same political complexion.
What are these errors 10 which refer They are
but two. If there are others they are Included in
them because growing out Of them. One Of these er
rors isO OveTT 0ting the 1blporfdhee o CoHsEuHt0hGt
acton in time of Var. The other-OperTdttng he
impOrfanes Of eOEeriictlng loyal 'iateholders.
fhe importance Of adbering TO the Constitution IN
t;os of Peace can hardly be overatedn time OF War
hardly be undeusted. The popular reverence for the
Instrument viii insure far more than all necessary ad'
bereuce TO It In time of War. Indeed at such time
ths reverence is among our greatest Perils Inc Soh'
stitution was made far more for Peace than for ha
Or In other words, it was made 10 serve the nation
raser than ts enemies Iadd that 1t is iar better Tor
s 10 have no Constitutional scrapes all than 70 have
them at such time aud 10 such an extent as shs en
able our enemies 10 take advantage r 1l tnea. gus
pieioas strapgers enter dwelling The exeitsc SOUS