, 1862-08-28
Gree1ey's Reply to tho President.

DEAR S1n-Although l did nos an.icioate
Lor stt 4 any rep:y to my farmer letter unless
Though your Official acts, thank you tor
haVl1g accorded one, since il enables me to
sAy explicitly that nothing vas f1r.uer from
my thought than to impesch in any manner
tha E1"cttl'y or the Intensity Of your devotion
IL the saving Of the Unun never d III otad
al have no friend vito doubt that YOU de.
sire, beiore and above ul elsie, to re- est 4b!ish
1l'c now de1iucd au'horltJ and vlulcate the
territorial Integrity Of the republic. intended
IL raise only this que5Ilon-Do you PROPOSE
t" 40 THIS By recognizing, obtYjrg and en.orc-
ing me laws, Or by isusniug, d'srsgardin., and
lii eli CT Ct 4, ltg rhtIus
!: stand Rpun The laH Of the land The hmm
sl*s1 las clear right to invoke its protection
a'd support aEalub5 even Juc highest Tnat
la"-lp strict accord sUcte wi b the law of na
uohs. OF nature, aud of God-decIarss that
every Traitor Low engaged in the iuteruat
W 1k OF destroying our country has forf.lted
tht rely I'll claim or color OF night lawfully to
E"lc human beirgs in slavery. ask OF you a
ciebr aid ubiie recognition that tlts IL r IL
to be 'yet wherever Ghe national AUTHORITY
ID RESPECTED. I cite to You instances wh=rcln
Il eli fEeitg from boudlge to traitors to tnt.
l'rt1ec1ioR f our fat have been a~s1u,t.d,
Wounded aid u u1dertd By soIiiers Of .he
uhlot-uulunished aud uutebuked BY yoQr
g.ht fai cunnandlog-to prove thar il is yuur
outy III take ac'ion in the premi- es-act1pu
fhst Will cause the law to be proclal1n.d aud
trefto "bereTtE yonr authority or tua1 Of tn.
lh!on is recognized as paramount. Toe re-
otlbon Is strtpgs hsned, the national cause is
1npe1ilsd, by every hours delay to strike
frt ason this staggering blow.
Wksn Fremont proclaimed freedom to the
el,'te Of 1eoels, you constrained him to mod
~ fls proclamation into rigid aecor lance with
The terms of the existing laH. 1t Was your
cit at right to do SO. nov ask OF you con
'o'mits to the principle so ssern1y enforced
upt him. ask you to Instruct your g,.ne-
Tails ana coMmudores that no loyal pessou-
Certainly nnne Wiling to reuder service to th.
lax nal cause-ts hencet0rth to be reg arded
's 1he slave OF any traitor. While no rign.-
tul gov crnAent was ever before assailcd by 80
"au'nn aud wicked 8 rebellion as that of the
s'av. holders agalrst our national life, atn
st'rt no oue ever before hesita' ed at 30 s ole
aid primary IN act OF selfde enst. as to relies
II use wto wuutd serve aud sarc it fran coas.
tel serv11uCe 10 those who are wa11uy ,hruurh
~ H. OF blood TO subvert and destroy it. Flu
tu1e generations will With difficulty realize
hat shvrr could have BEEN hesltstien on tn1s
p<int- Sixty years Of general aad 4uudte.s
tuottrviercy 10 the slave power do not ade-
quatel5 exIlAin It.
Mr. r.. sldenr, beseech you to open your
e.ss To- 'he tact that the deFo:ees OF slavery
tT.ry" hert-Jnsf as much iu M.ryIand ~ in
Mississippi, III Washing on as III R,cuul,,nd-
are to-d,y your enemc-, and tue itnpla:aol.
toss OF every tturt to re-essa.'l.sh tue natio,ul
authority t'y the oiscomt UTE Of its ass Ill .nts
Tilt IT President is p.'t Arr tham Lincoln hnt
j. IL rsnn Davis. lou may draft them "a
serve in the war: but they Will only tishG
q ctr the rebel flag. There is not in New
Yr'k to-day nlau Who really believes 10 ela-
Se'g. love 1t, and desires its p.rpes uat,ou.
"hv heartily desires the crushing out OF the
REBELLION. He would much r.t7er save the
republic by bnylDg up and pensi,nins of its
ASSISTANTS, His "Urion a. i: was'' Is a
uticn Of which you were not president. and
no one who truly wished freedom TO all ey r.
could be.
Il these are truths, Nh. President, they are
surely OF The gravest importance. YOU can
not safely approach the great aud good end
you 30 tntently mediate By shutting -FOUR
eyes to them. Your deadly foe Is not blinded
BY any mist In which Yotir eyes may be euyeI-
ortd. He walks strsfssht to his goal, knowing
veil bis weak point, and most un .illinglY os.
ira, irg his frar that gou too may SEE aud take
aoEsntsge Of it. Gtd grant that his appre-
hens1on may prove prophetic.
+ That you may not uurtason2bly perceive
these vital truths as they will shiue forth on
the pages Of historg-tbat they may be- Rad
hJ tur children lrradiated by the g:oTy Of our
national salvation, not rendered Iu1id by tue
blood-rtd glow of national confagration aud
ruin-that you msy promptly aud prsctic slty
rtalize that slavery is to be vauquished only
BY AbeIty-is the fervenr and auxious prayer
Of Yours, truly, Horace GREEIET.
New York, Aug. M, is8o.