The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-04

was issued, the last one hundred days of which
passed under the explicit notice that it was COM
ing unless arrested by those IN revolt returning Il
their allegiance. The war has certainly progressed
as favoraby for us since til issue of the Procla
nation as before. know, as fully as one car
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
emancipation policy and the aid of coored troop.
constitute the heaviest blows yet dealt to the re-
bellion, AID that at least one of these important
successes could not have been achieved when il
was but for the aid of black soldiers. Among
some Of the commar ders holding these views are
some who have never had any affinity with what
is called abolitionism, or with Republican party
politics, but who hold them purely as military
opinions. | submit their opinions as being en-
titled to some weight against the objections often
urged, that emancipation and arming the blacks
are unwise as military measures, and were not
adopted as such 10 good faith.
You say you will not fight to free negroes.
Some of them seem to be wiling to fight for you
but no matter, fight you, then exclusively to save
this Union. issued the proclamation on pur-
pose to aid you in saving the Union. Whenever
you shall have conquered all resistance 10 the
Union, it | 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 to save the Union, to whatever
extent the negroes should cease helping the enc
my to that extent it weakened the enemy in his
resistance to you. DO you think differently?
thought that whatever negroes can be got to do
as soldiers leaves Just 50 much less for white sol
diers to do in saving the Union. Does it appear
otherwise to you? But negroes like other people
act upon motives; way should they do anything
for US if we do nothing for them? If they stake
their lives for US they must be prompted by the
strongest motives, even the promise OF freedom,
and the promise being made, must be kept.
The signs look better. The Father of waters
again goes uevexed 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, hewiDg their way
right and left. The sunny south, too, IN more
colors than one, also lent hand. On the spot,
their part Of the history was otted down in black,
and white. The job was great National one, and
let none be barred who bore an honorable part
in it. And while those who have cleared the
great river may we'll be proud even though that
is ALL it is hard to say that anything has been more
bravely and better done than at Aphetam, Muir
freesboro, Gettysburg, and on many fields Of less
note.
Nor must Uncle Sans web feet be forgotten.
At all the waters margins they have been pres
ent. not only in the deep sea, the broad bay, and
the rapid stream. but also up the narrow, muddy
bayou, and wherever the ground was a little damp
they have been and made their tracks.
Thanks to all for the Great Republic, for the
principle by which it lives aad keeps alive for
mans vast future. Thanks to all.
Peace does not appear SO distant as it did.
hope it will come soon, and come to stay,
and so come as to be worth the keeping in all
future time 1t will then have been proved that
among freemen 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
may pay the cost. And then there will be some
black men who can remember that, with silent
tongue and cenched teeth, and steady eyes and
well poised bayonet, they have helped mankind
on to this great cousummation, while | fear there
will be some white men unable to forget that,
with malignant heart and deceitfu speech they
have strven 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 doubling that just God in his own good
time will give us the rightful result.
Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN