The national Republican., 1862-08-25
THE PREslDER1's REPLY To
HORACE 0RhELGY.


HORACE GRkELEY.
A Few days ago the Tribune contained let |
ter Of some three or four columns, address |
10 the President BY Horace Greeley. That Our
readers may have an intelligent understanding |
Of the whole matter, We will briefly give the |
substance Of Mr.. Greeley's letter. lie accsses
the Chief hsgistiate with being unfaithful 10
his duty and to the solemn vows taken upop
himseli at bis Inauguration into the Presidential
oiice, and that he has Intentionally failed 10
execute the laws which Il ia his duty to carr,
into effect, namely, the conafcation and eman
cipation act Mr. Greeley tells the Presiden,
that "a great proportion Of those who trl
umphed 10 his election are sorely disappointed
and deeply pained BY the policy he seems to be
pursuing with regard to the slaves Of rebels"
And further, he Gays, eve think you art
strangely and dislstrously remiss in the die
charge Of your Official and imperative duty
with regard to the emancipation provisions Of
the new con6scation act \" and the Pr sidsnt !.
further accused Of treating traitors with tender.
nsss TO the prejudice Of the dearest rights o.
loyal men.
Another accusation 10, that the President hat
been "unduly Influenced by the couussls, the
representations, the msnaces, Of certain fossil
politicians hailiDg from the border States"
I'VE complain" pays Mr. Greeley, that the
Union cause has suffered, and In now suffering
Immensely, from mistaken difference to rebel
slavery. Had you, air, In your inaugural sd-
dress, unmis,akably given notice that, In css.
the rebellion, already commenced. were per
sihted 10, and your efforts 10 preserve the Union
and enforce the laws should be resisted b,
armed force. you would recognize no loya!
pereon as rigbtfully held In slavery by tra
tor, We believe the rebellion would therein
have received staggering II not fatal blow
We omit lew minor allegations To give
room for the following:
VII. Let me call your attention to the recent
tragedy 10 New Orleans, whereof the facts ar,
obtsined entirely through pro--slavery chan
nels. A considerable body Of resolute, able
bodied men, held in slavery by two eb-l sugar
planters, 10 defiance Of ihe counscation &C,
which you have approved, left plantation,
thirty miles distant and made their way 70 the
great mart Of the Southwest, which they knew
70 be In the undispu,ed possession Of the Union
forces They made their way safely and quiet
ly through thirty miles Of rebel territory, *
pectiug TO find freedom under the protection Of
our tag. Whether they had or had not heard
Vi the passage oil the c0nhscstion act, they
reasoned logically that we could moi kill them
for deserting the serv ce Of their lifelong Up-
pressors, who bad through treason become our
implaesbls enemies. They came to us for lib,
erty and protection, for which they were will
log to render their bsst service; they met with
hostility, captivity and murder.
The barking Of the base ours Of slavery 10
this quarter deceives no one-not even them
solves. They ssy, indeed, that the negroes had
no right 70 appear ip New Orleans armed (wi,h
their Implement = Of daily labor In the cane
neid;) but no one doul u thai they would gladly
have laid these down If assured that they should
be free. They were set upon and manned, cap
tured, and killed, becauss they sought the ben
eht OF that act 0f Congress which they may moi,
specifically bave heard of but which was new.
ertbelrss the law Vi the lHud-- which they bad
u clear right to the benefit 0f--which il WA.
sOmebody's duty 10 publish far and wide, In
order that 80 many a. possible should be i'm
PEELED 10 desist from serving rebels and the
rebellion and come over 10 the side Of the Union,
They sought their liberty In strict accordance
with the law Of the land; they were butcbsred
or re snslsvsd ior 10 doing. by the help Of
Union soldiers enlisted 70 fight against slave
holding treason. 1t was some body q fault that
sfIer suffer In like manner, in default of ex-
plieit and public direction to your generals thai
they are to recognize and obey the confiscation
act, the world will lay tho blame on you
Whether you will ch0Oss to hear II through
future history and al the bar OF God, will not
judge. can only hope.
The reader will now bs prepared for III,
answer of the President, which 10 decidedly
Liaoclnic:
ExEcUTIvB MANsI0N,
WARRINGTON, August 20, 1862
Hon. HORACE GREELEY:
DEAR SIR: have just read yours Of the 10th
addressed 10 myself through the New Yorl
Tribune. II there be 10 1t any statements OF
assumptions Of fact, which ! may know TO b,
erroneous, do not now and here controver
them. II there be 10 1t any differences which
may believe TO be falsely drawn. | do no
now and here argue against them. II there b,
perceptible in it an impatient and dictstoria
tone, waive it IN Difference to I'm old irient
whose heart have always supposed to b.
right.
A to the policy reem to be pursuing, ;" q
you soy, have not meant 10 leave any one Il
doubt.
would save The Union. I would eava I
the shortest way under the Constitution. Th,
sooQer the national authority can b. restoret
the nearer the Union will bs the Union ~ !
was.' II there be those who would not saw,
the Union unless they could at the same tim,
sdue slavery, do not agree with them I
there be those who would not save the Uniol
ualess they could OF the same time destro,
slavery, do not agree with them. Ny paI .
mount object In this struggle Is To save th,
Union, and Ia not either to save or 10 destro,
slavery. II ] could save the Union withou
freeing any slave would do IT, and II couli
save Il by freeing ua The slaves. would do II
and If ] could rave It by freeing some ant
leaving othera alone, would also do that Wba
! do about slavery and the coiored race, d,
because believe 1t helps 10 save this Union
and what iorbear, forbsar because | do no
believe It would help to save the Union.
shall do less whenever ] shall believe what
am doing hurts the cause, and shall do NOR
whenever l shall believe doing more will bel
the cause. ! shall try TO correct errors whe
shown TO bs errors; and ! shall adopt ne,
views 20 fast rs they shall appear TO be tru
Views.
have here stated my purpose according
my view Of Official duty; and intend no mod
6cstion Of my oftexprsssed personal wish th'
ell men everywhere could be free.
Yours, A. LINCOLN.
GEN. Bur.L's ORDERs.-On the l4Ih, Gsnsr