Daily national Republican., 1863-02-28
President LIneOln's Able Letter 20 the
WOrkingmen OF Manchester, England.
"EXECUTIvR MANSION,

WASHINGTON, January 10, 1868.
r ITO THE WORKINGMEN OF MANCHESTER:
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of
the address aud resolutions which you sent ME
on the eve of the new year.
"Whcn | came on the 4th of March, 1861
through free and constitutional election, To
preside In the Government Of the United States.
the country was found at the verge of a civil
war. Whatever might have been the cause, or
whOsoeyer the fault, one duty, paramount to
all others, was before me, namely, to maintain
and preserve at once the Constitution and the
integrity of the Federal Republic. A consci
entiOus purpose to perform this duty Is the KEY
to all the measures of administration which
have been, and TO all which will hereafter be
pursued. Under our frame of Government and
my official oath, / could not depart from this
purpose If | would. 1t Is not always In the
power OF governments TO enlarge or restrict
the scope of moral results which follow the
policies that may deem Ii necessary, for the
public safety, from time to time to adopt.
81 have understood well that the duty OF
self-preservation rests solely with the American
people. But ! have at the same time been
aware that favor or disfavoT of foreign nations
might have a material influence in enlarging
and prolOnging the struggle with dislOyal men
10 which the country is engaged. A fair ex-
animation of history has seemed to authorize a
belief that the past action aud influences OF
the United States were generally regarded as
having been beneficial toward mankind.
have, therefore, reCkOned upon the fOTbearance
of nations. CircumstanCes-to some of which
you kindly allude-induCed me especially to
expect that, If Justice and good faith should be
practiced by the United States, they would en-
counter no hostile influence on the part OF
Great Britain. II Is now a pleasant duty Ia
acknowledge the demonstration you have given
of your desire that a spirit Of peace and amity
toward this country may prevail in the councils
of your Queen, who is respected and esteemed
In your own country only more than she is by
the kindred nation which has its home on this
side of the Atlantic.
81 know, and deeply deplore, the suiTGrnga
which the workingmen Of Manchester, and In
all Europe, are called to endure In this crisis.
II has been often and studiously represented
that the attempt to overthrow this Government,
which was built upon the foundation of human
rights, and to substitute for II one which should
rest exclusively on the basis of human slavery,
was likely to obtain the favor of Europe
Through the action Of our dislOyal citizens the
wOrkingmen of Europe have been subjected IA
severe trial, for the purpose Of forcing theIr
sanction TO that attamPt, Under these cireum,
stances ! cannot but regard your decisive utter.
auce upon the question as an instance of sub,
lime Christian heroism which has not been sur.
passed In any age or in any country. Ii Ia in,
deed an energetic and reinspiring assurance oil
the inherent power Of truth, and of the ultimate
and universal triumph of justice, humanity
and freedom. | do not doubt that the senti
mGntB you have expressed will be sustained by
your great natiOni and, on the other hand,
have no hesitation in assuring you that they
will excite admiration, esteem, and the mos
reciprocal feelings of friendship among III,
American people. | hail this interchange o.
sentiment, therefore, as an augury that, what
ever else may happen, whatever misfortun,
NAV befall yOuT COuntIy or nv own. the DeaCi
and friendship which now exist between the
two nation will be, as ii shall be my desire tC
make them, perpetual.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"