Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-09-09
LETTER ERoM PRESIDENT LINCOLN
EXECUTIVE VI aNsIoN,
WASHINGTON, August 26, 1862. I

SeDftulDtE. mas OSe0 IeCeiNeu.
1t would be very agreeable TO me thus 10
meet my old friends at my own home, but
cannot just now be absent from this city so
long visit there would require. The
meeting is to be OF all those who maintain un-
conditional devotion to the Union, and am
sure that my old political friends will thank
me for rendering, as do the nations graft
tude to those other noble men whom no part
izaB malice or partizan hope can make false
to the nations life.
There are those who are dissatisfied with
me. To such 1 would say, ssY on desire peace,
and you blame me that do not have it.
But how eau we attain il T? There are but
hree conceivable ways: First, To suppress
the rebellion by force of arms. This l am
trying to do. Are you for it II sou are, so
far are agreed. A second way is to give
up the Union. am against this. tyou are,
yOu should say plainly. If you are not for
force, nor yet for dissolution, there only re-
mains some imaginary compromise. do not
believe that any compromise embracing the
maintenance of the Union is now possible.
A III thar I'learn leads to'a directly opposite be-
lief. The strength of the rebellion is its mil
itary-its army. That army dominates all the
country and all the people within It's range.
Any offer OF terms made by any man or men
within that range, in opposition to that army
is simply nothing for the present, because
such man or men have no power whatever to
enforce their side of a compromise, If one
made with them. To iluStrate-suppose
a refugee from the South and the peace men
of the n orth get together in convention, and
frame and proclaim compromise embracing
a restoration of the Uuion, in what way can
that compromise be dsed to keep Gen. Lees
army out of Pennsy lvania Gen. Meade's
army keep Gen. Lees army out of
Pennsylvania, and think can ultimately drive
1T ont of existence; but no paper compromise,
TO which the controllers of Gen. Lees army
not agreed can at all affect that army.
In an effort at such compromise we would
waste the time which the enemy would i'm
prove to our disadvantage, and that would be
all.
compromise. TO be effective, must be
made either with those who control the rebel
army, or with the people, first liberated from
the domination of that army by the success of
our army.
Nor, atlOc me 10 assure you that word or
iatimdfion from the rebel aTmq or from ang of the
men omtrofiing it, an relation ony peace com
promise has 10 my snoIc ledge or belief.
nj charges md iniimatlonS 10 the &C GRtrdry are,
decepttre and grO~ndtess. aud promise you that
If any such proposition shall. hereafter come, 1t
shall not be rejected and kepf secret from yOu.
| freely acknowledge myself to he the servant
of the people. according to the bond of service,
the United States Constitution, and that as
such am responsible to them.
But, to be plain, you are dissatisfied with
me about the negro. Quite likely there is a
difference of opinion between you and myself
upon that subject. certainly wish that all
men could beiree, while you, snppo Sc, ido
not. Yet have neither adopted nor propos
ed any measure which is not consistent with
even our views, provided you are for the u
mon. [ suggested compensated emancipa-
ton to which you replied that you wished
not to be taxed to buy negroes. But | had
aSke he tayad n x
cept in such way to save you from greater
taxation to save the Union exclusively 10y
other means. You dislike the emancipation
proclamation, and perhaps you want to have
it retracted. You say it is unconstitutional.
1 think differently. think that the Consti
tuition invests its Commander Chief with
the law OF war in time of war. The most that
can be said, if SO much is, that slaves prop
erty.
Is there, has there ever been, any question
that by the law of the property, both of
enemies and friends, may be taken when need
ed, and is it not needed whenever taken il
helps or hurts the emmy : Armies. the
world over, destroy enemies property when
they can not use it, and even destroy their
own TO keep il from the enemy. Civilized bel
hgerents do all in their power to help them
selves or hurt the enemy. except few things
regarded barbarous cruel. Among
the exceptions are the massacre of non combat
anu icludlP. Dul tue
as law is valid or not valid. If it is not valid,
ii needs no retrsction if it is valid, il cannot
be retracted any more than the dead can be
brought to life. Some OF you profess 70 think
that its retraction would operate favorably for
the Union. Why better after the retraciion
than before the issue ?
There was more than year and a half tor
trial TO suppress the rebellion before the proc
lamation was issued the last one hundred
days OF which passed under an explicit notice
that II was coming unless averted by those in
revolt returning to their allegiance. The war
has certainly progressed favorably for 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 rs our most
important victories, believe the emancipation
policy and the aid OF colored troops constitute
the heaviest blows yet dealt to the rebellion
and at least those important successes could
not hace been aehiered tUhea it lcaS, but for The
aid of black soldiers.
Among the commanders holding these views
are some who have never had any affinity with
what is called Aboitionsm or with the Re-
publican party politics, but who bold them
purely as military opinions | submit their
opinions as being entitled to some weight "a
gainst the objections often urged that emanci
patton and the arming of the blacks are un-
wise as military measures and were not adOp-
ted as such in good faith. You say that you
will not fight to free negroes. Some of them
seem to be willing to fight for you; but no
matter-hght you, then, exclusively, to save
the Union.
j issued the proclamation on purpose to aid
you in saving the Union. Whenever you shall
hare conquered all resistance 10 the Uiion If
shall urge you 10 continue fighting, IL riH be an
apt ttme then for you 10 declare that you ,CiA not
fght 10 tree negroes. | thought that in your
struggle for the Union. TO whatever extent the
negroes should cease helping the enemy, to