The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-11


brought to life. Some of you prefer to
think that retraction would operate favor
ably to the Union. Why better after the
retraction than before the issue? There
was more than year and half of trial
to suppress the rebellion before the pro-
clamation was issued, the last one hundred
DAYS of which passed under an explicit no.
tice that it was coming, unless averted by
those in revolt returning to their allegi-
ance. The war has certainly progressed
as favOrably to US since the issue of the
proclamation as before. / know, as fully
as one can know the opinions of others,
that some of the commanders of our armies
in the field, who have given us our most
important victories, believe the emancipa-
ton policy and the aid of colored troops
constitute the heaviest blows yet dealt to
the rebellion, and that one at least of
those important successes could not have
been achieved unless it was for the aid of
black soldiers. Among the commanders
holding these views are some who have
never had any affinity with what is called
abolitionism, or with republican party po-
litics, but who hold them purely as militia
ry opinions I submit their opinions as
being entitled to some weight against the
objections often urged that emancipation
and arming the blacks are unwise as mill
tary measures, and were not adopted as
such in good faith.
You say that you will not fight to free
negroes. Some of them seem to be will
ing enough to fight for you. But no mat
ter Fight you, then, exclusively to save
the Union. issued the proclamation on
purpose to aid you in saving the Union.
Whenever you shall have conquered all
resistance to the Union, if shall urge you
to continue fighting, it will be an apt time
then for you to declare that you will not
fight to free negroes.
thought that, in your struggle for the
Union, to whatever extent the negroes
should cease helping the enemy, to that
extent it weakens the enemy in his resiS-
lance to you. Do you think differently?
l thought that whatever negroes can be
got to do as soldiers leaves just so much
less for white soldiers to do in saving the
Union. Does it appear otherwise to yon?
But negroes, like other people, act upon
motive. Why should they do any thing
for us if we will do nothing for them If
they stake their lives for US, they must be
prompted by the strongest motive, even
the promise of freedom and the promise,
be it made, must be kept.
The signs look better. The Father of
Waters again goes unvexed to the sea, -
thanks to the great Northwest for it;
nor yet wholly to them. Three hundred
miles up they met New England, Empire,
Keystone, and Jersey hewing their way
right out. The sunny South, too, in more
colors than one, also lent hand on the
spot. Their part of the history was jotted
down in black and white. The job was a
great national one, and let none be bon
ded who bore an honorable part in it.
And while those who have cleared the
great river may well be proud, even that
is not all. 1t is hard to say that anything
has been more bravely and better done
than at Antietam, Murfreesboro, Gettys-
burg, and on many fields of less note
Nor must Uncle Sans webbed feet be
forgotten. At all the waters margins
they have been present, not only in the
deep sea, the broad bay, and the rapid
river, but also up the narrow, muddy
bayou, and wherever the ground was
little damp, they have been and made
their tracks.
Thanks to all, for the great Republic,
for the principles for which it lives and
keeps alive for mans vast future. Thanks
to all. Peace does not appear so distant
as it did. l hope it will come soon, and
come to stay, and so come as to be worth
the keep ng in all future time 1t will
then have been proved that, among free
men, there can be no successful appeal
from the ballot to the bullet, and that
they who take such appeal are sure to
lose their case and pay the costs. And
then there will be some black men who
can remember that, with silent tongue,
anG with clenched teeth, and with steady
eye and we'll poised bayonet, they have
helped mankind on to this great consum-
nation; while l fear that there will be
some white men unable to forget that,
with malignant heart and deceitful speech,
they have striven to hinder it. Still, let
us not be over sanguine of speedy, final
triumph. Let US be quite sober Let us
diligently apply the means, never doubt
ing that just God, in his own good time,
will give us the rightful result
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.