Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-07-25
The Presidents Appeal to tho Border
State Congressmen.

Tho Representatives and Senators OF the
Border slsveholding States having. says the
National In,elligencer, by special invitation
of tho Pre.ident. been convened at thu TX.
seuti,e Mansion 90 Saturday 18th instant.
Mr.. Lincoln addressed tbem rs follows from
a written paper bed in his hands
Z" Genilenen After the adjournment OF
Congress, now near. shall have no oppor-
tunity Of seeing you for several months.
Believing that you Of the Border States
hold moro power for good than any other
equal number Of members. ] feel u duty
which I cannot ius,i6ably waive TO make
this appeal TO you.
| intend no reproaeh or complaint when
I assure you that, In my opinion. IL you
nil had voted for tha resolution In the grad.
uaI emancipation message OF last March.
the war would now be substantially ended.
And the plan therein proposed 10 yet one OF
the most potent and swift means OF ending
IL. Let tho States which are IN rebellion
see definitely and certainly that in no event
will the States you represent ever Join their
proposed Confederacy. and they cannot
much longer maintain tho contest. hut
YOU cannot diycst them Of their hops to ul'
timately have you with them 80 long as you
show determination 20 perpetua,c the IN.
stitution within your own States. Beat
them at elections. as you have overwhelm.
insly done. and. nothing daunted. they s'ill
claim you as their own. You and know
what tho lever Of their power IL. Break
that lever before their faces, and they can
shake you no more for ever.
Most Of you have treated me with kind.
ne.s and consideration, and trust you will
not now think improperly touch what Is
exclusively your own. when. Tor the sake OF
the whole country, l ask, Can you, Tor
your States, do better than to take the
course | urge?' Discardins purciiio and
maIims adapted to more manageable time'.
and looking only to tho unpreeeden'ediy
stern fact, OF our case. can you DO better
IN any possible even,3 You prefer that the
constitutional relations Of the States TO the
nation shall he practically restored without
disturbance Of the institution and IL this
were done. my whole duty. in this respect,
under the Constitution and my oath OF OF
fee. would bo performed but IL Is not
done, and we are trying to accomplish IL by
war. The incidents OF the war cannot b.
avoided. II the war continues long. as u
mus, II the object DO no, sooner attained.
the institution in your States will BE- ex'
iinguished by mere friction and abrasion
by tho mere incidents Of the war. IL will
bs gone. aud you will have nothing valua-
bio IN lieu Of IL. Much Of it, value IL gone
already. How much better Tor you and
for your people 10 take the step which q,
once shortcns the war. and secure, subs,an.
tial compensation for that which u sure 10
be- wholly lost in any other event How
much better 10 thus save the money which
else We sink forever In the war How much
better 90 do It while We can, lee, tho war
Gro long render W pecuniarlly unable TO do
IL, How much better Tor you. s seller.
and tho nation, rs buyer. 10 sell out and
buy out that without which the war could
never have been. than 10 sink both the thing
to b. sold and tho price Of 10, IA cutting
one another's tLroats.
! DO not speak Of emancipation at once.
but OF q decision at once 20 cmancipate
gradually. Room IN South America for
colonization can DO obtained cheaply and in
abundance: pnd when numbers shall bs
large enough TO be company and encourage.
men, for one another. the freed people will
not DO % reluctant 90 90.
am pressed with diihculty not yet
men,ioncd-one which threatens division
among thoss who. united, are none tho
strong. An instance OF IL !, known TO you.
Gen. Hunter ~ an homes, man. lie was,
and hope still 10, my friend. valued
him none the lee. Tor his agreeing with me
IN the general wish that all men everywhere
could DO freed. lie proclaimed all men tree
within certain States. and rcpudiaied tho
proclamation. lie expected more good aud
les harm from the measure than could
believe would follow. Yet, IN repudiating
IL, | gave dissatisfaction. II not ohen.c. TO
many whose support the country cannot At
ford 90 lose. And this 10 no, the end Of 10.
The pressure in this direction Is still upon
mo and is increasing. by eoneedins wha,
now ask you can relieve me, and, much
more, can relieve the country in this im.
portant point.
Upon these considerations have again
begged your attention 80 the Message OF
Marih last. Before leaving the Capitol.
consider and discus. 10 among yourselves.
You are patriots and statesmen. and rs such
I pray you consider this proposition; and
at the least commend !, to the consideration
Of your States and people. ~ You would
perpetuato popular government tor the bes!
people In the world, bsseech you that you
DO in no wise omi, this. Our common
country Is IN grea, peril, demanding tho
lofile.t views and boldest action 10 bring n
speedy relief Once relieved, Il. form OF
government is ,ayed 10 the world it, be-
loved history and cherished memories are
yindicated. and il. happy future fully a..
surcd and rendered incOnceiyably grand.
To you. more than to any others. the priv.
legs IL given 10 assure that happiness and
swell that granduer, and TO link your own
names Herewith forever"