Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-28
IMPORTANT ComREsPoNDENCE
The Presidents Appeal to the BOr-
der states.

The Representatives and Senators of the Dor
der slaveholding States having. by special invi-
tatiOn OF the President, been convened at the Elk
ecutive Mansion on Saturday morning., last week
Mr.. Lincoln addressed them as follows from a
written paper held in his hands:
GENTLEMEN: After the adjournment of Con-
gress, now near. l shall have no opportunity
of seeing you for several months. Believing
that you of the border States hold more power
for good than any other equal number OF mem
bers, l feel it a duty which | can not justi6ably
waive, to make this appeal to YOU.
/ intend no reproach OF complaint when | as
sure you that, in my opinion, ii you all had voted
for the resolution in the gradual emancipation
message of last March, the war would now be
substantially ended. And the plan therein pro
posed is yet one Of the most potent and swift
means of ending it. Let the States which are in
rebellion see definitely and certainly that in no
event will the States you represent ever join
their proposed Contederacy, aud they can not
much longer maintain the contest. But you can
not diveSt them of their hope to ultimately have
you with them so long as you show "a de:ermina
ton to perpetuate the Institution within your own
States. Beat them at elections, as you have
Overwhelmingly done, ami, nothing dauDted, they
still claim you as their own. You and l know
what the lever of their power is. Break that le-
yer before their faces, and they can shake you lac
more forever.
Most OF you have treated me with kindness and
consideration, and | trust YOU will not now think
/ improperly touch what is exclusively your own
when, for the sake OF the country, 1 ask, "can
you, for your State. do better than to take the
course | urgel" Discarding p~uBctiliO and max
inns adapted 70 more manageable times, and look
ing only TO the unprecedentedly stern facts of our
case, can you do better in any possible EVENT.
You prefer that the constitutional relation of the
States to the nation shall be practically restored
without disturbance OF the institution; and, is this
were done. my whole duty in this respect, under
the Constitution aud nv oath of office, would be
performed. Butt is not done, and we are trying
to accomplish it by war. The incidents of the
war can not be avoided. If the war continues
long. as it must if the object be not sooner at
tanned, the institution in your States will be ex-
tinguished by mere friction and abrasion-by the
mere incidents of the war. 1t will be gone. and
you will have nothing valuable in lieu of it.. Much
of its value Is gone already. How much better
for you and your people to take the step which
shortens the war and secures substantial eOmpen
sation for that which is sure to be wholly lost in
any other evInti How much better to thus save
the money which else we sink forever in the war
How much better TO do it while we can, lest the
war ere long render Us pecuEiarily unable to do il
How much better for you, as selle., and the ma.
ton. as buyer, TO sell out and buy out that with
out which the war could never have been, than tc
sink both the thing to be sold and the price Of il
in cutting one another's threats.
/ do not speak of emancipation at once, but oi
a decision at once TO emancipate gradually
Room in South America for colonization Can be
obtained ~cleaply. and in abundance, and When
numbers shall be large enough to be company
and encouragement for one another.
/ am pressed with "a difficulty not vet mention.
ed-One which threatens division among those
who, united. are none too strong. An instance
OF it is known to you. General Hunter is an
honest man. He was, and | hope still is, my
friend. | valued him none the less for his agree
ing with me i'm the general wish that all meI
everywhere could be freed. He proclaimed all
men free within certain States. and / repudiatet
the proclamation. He expected more good ano
less h,rm from the measure than | could believe
would follow. Yet, in repudiating it, 1 gave dis
satisfaction. IL not offense. to many whose sup
port the country can not afford to lose. And
this is not the end of it. The pressure in this iii
rectiOn is still upon me, and is increasing. b,
cOnceding what i now ask you can relieve me
and. much more, can relieve the country in thl;
important point.
Upon these considerations / have again begget
your attention to the message of March last
Before leaving the Capitol, consider and discus,
it among yourselves. You are pttriots anC
statesmen, and as such | pray you consider thi,
proposition; and at the least commend il to thu
consideration of your States and people. AS YOU
would perpetuate popular government for the
best people in the world. / beseech you that yor
do in no wise omit this. Our common country j.
in great peril, demanding the Hottest views ant
b0ldest action to bring a speedy relief. Once re
lievei, its form of government is saved to the
world; its beloved history and cherished memo
ries are indicated. and its happy future fully in
sured and rendered inconceivably grand. To
you more than 10 any others, the privilege il
given to assure that happiness and swell thai
grandeur. and to link your own names therewitf
forever.
At the conclusion Of these remarks some con
versation was had between the President and sew
eral members Of the delegations from the bordeI
States. in which IL was represented that these
States could not be expected to move in so great
a matter as that brought to their notice in thu
foregoing address, while as yet the Congress hac
taken no step beyond the passage OF a resolution
expressive rather OF sentiment than presenting
substantial and reliable basis of action.
The President acknowledged the force of thi.
view. and admitted that the border States were
entitled 70 expect a substantial pledge of pecu
mary aid as the condition Of taking into conside
ration a proposition so important in It's relation.
to their social system.
IL was further represented. in the conference
that the people Of the border States were interest
ed in knowing the greatimportance which the Pres
ident attached to the policy in question. while Il
was equally due 10 the country. to the President
and to themselves, that the Representatives Of the