Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-02
Reply of President Lincoln 10 the
Missouri Committee.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Z IGc9(


GENTLEMEN Your original address, presented
on the 3Oth ut. and the four supplementary ones
presented on the Sd inst. have been carefully
considered. hope you will regard the other du
ties claiming my attention, together with the
great length and Importance Of these documents,
as constituting sufficient apology for my not
having responded sooner.
These papers, framed for a common object,
consist of the things demanded and the reasons
for demanding them
The things demanded are
First-That Gen. Schofeld shall be relieved,
and Gen. Butler appointed as Commander of the
Military Department of Missouri;
Second-That the system of enrolled militia in
Missouri may be broken up and national forces
be substituted Tor it: and
Third-That at elections, persons may not be
allowed to vote who are not entitled by law to
do So
Among the reasons given. enough of suffering
and wrong TO Union men, is certainly, and sup
pose truly stated Yet the whole case, as pre-
sented, fails convince me that General Scho-
field, or the enrolled militia, is responsible for
that wrong. The whole can be explained on
more charitable, and. as l think, more ra-
tional hypothesis.
Weare in civil war. In such cases there always
is main question; but in this that question
is perplexing compound-Union and slavery.
1t thus becomes Il question not of two sides |
merely. but of at least four sides. even among
those who are for the Union, saying nothing of
those who are against il. Thus, those who are
for the Union with but not without tslavery-those
for it without but not with-those tor it with or
without but prefer il with, and those for il with |
or without, but prefer it without.
Among these again. is subdivision of those
who are for gradual but not for Immediate, and
those who are for immediate, but not for gradual
extinction of slavery.
1t is easy to conceive that all these shades of
opinion, and even more, mas be sincerely enter
tanned by honest and truthful men. Yet, all !
being for the Union by of these diiferen- |
ces each will prefer different way of sustaining
the Union. At once sincerity is questioned, and
motives are assailed. Actual war coming. blood
grows hot, and blood is spilled. Thought is |
forced from old channels into confusion Decep
tiOn breeds and thrives Confidence dies, aud
universal suspicion reigns Each man feels an
impulse to kill his neighbor, lest he be killed by
him Revenge and retaliation follow. And all
this, as before said. may be among honest men
only. But this is not all Every foul bird comes !
abroad, and every dirty reptile rises up These |
add crime to confusion. Strong measures deem
ed indispensable, but harsh at best, such men
make worse by NAL administration Murders for |
old grudges, and murders for peli proceed under
any cloak that will best cover for the occasion
These causes amply account for what has oc-
CURED in Missouri, without ascribing it to the |
weakness or wickedness of any General. The |
newspaper tiles, those chronicers of current !
events, will show that the evils now complained |
of, we're quite as prevalent under Fremont, Hun
ter. Haileck and Curtis as under Scho6eld. If
the former had greater force opposed to them,
they also had greater force with which to meet
it When the organized rebel army left the State.
the main Federal force had to go also, leaving
the Department commander at home. relatively
no stronger than before. Without diSparaging
any, affirm with confidence, that no commander
OF that Department has, in proportion to its
Mems done better than Gen. Scho6eld.
The first specific charge against Gen. Schofeld
is, that the enrolled militia placed under his
command, whereas it had not been placed under
the command of Gen Curtis The fact, believe
is true; but you do not point out, can | con
ceive how that did. or could iniure loyal men, or
the Union cause
You charge that upon Gen. Curtis being su-
perselei by Gen. SchO6ed Franklin A. Dick
was superseded by James o Broadhead as Pro
vost Marshal General No very specific showing
is made TO how this did or could nure the
Union cause. IL recalls. however the condition
OF things, IA presented tp me which led to a
change of commrnder for that Department.
To restrain conIrabapd intelligence and trade,
system OF searches. permits and passes had been
introduced. | think. 10y Gen Fremont When
Gen. II ,licck came he found aud continued this
system. ana added an order, applicable to some
parts OF the State, TO levy atd collect coutribu-
tons from noted rebels, to compensate losses and
relieve destitulnn caused bv the rebellion The
action of Gen Fremont and Gen Halleck as
stated, constituted sort OF system which Gen
Curtis found in operation when he took command
of the Department. That there necessity
tor something of the sort was clear; but that it
could only be justified by stern necessity, and
that it was liable 70 great abuse in adminstra-
tion, equally clear Agents to execute it
contrary to the great prayer, were led into temp
tation- Some might, while Others would not re-
sst that temptation. IL not possible to hold
any to very strict accountability; and those
yielding to the temptation would sell permits aud
passes TO those who would pay the most, and
most readily for them; and would seize property
and collect levies in the aptest way to fill their
own pockets. Money being the object, the men
having money. whether loyal or disoyal, would
be victim. This practice doubtless existed to
some extent, and it was real additional evil
that it could be, and was plausibly charged to ex
ist ia greater extent than it did.
When Gen Curtis took command Of the De-
partment, Mr.. Dick, against whom never knew
ANYTHING to alicge. had general charge of the sys
TEN controversy IN regard to il rapidly grew
into almost unmanageable proportions. One side
ignored the necessity, and magni6ed the evils of
the system; while me other ignored the evils and
maenife the necessity; and each bitterly assailed
the motives of the other. / could not fail to see
that the controversy enlarged in the same proper
tion as the Drlessed Union men there distlRctv
took sides IN two opposing political parties.
exhausted NV wits, and very nearly nv patience
also, in efforts 70 convince both thatthe evils they
charged ench other inherent in the case
and could not be cured by giving either party
victory over The other
Plainly the irritating system was not to be per.
petuate,i; and it plausbly urged that il could
be modified With advantage. The case
could scarcely be worse. and whether it could be
h...a ,lb ba IL
In this view, and not TO ban car brand Gen. Cur
It's. t. give = v,ctJfy tO any party. | made the
change OF COMMANDER of the Department | now
learn that soon after this change Sir Dick
removed. aud that Mr. Broadhead. gentleman
of no less good character. put in the place.
The mere fact OF this change Is distinctly
complained of than is any conduct of the new
officer. or other consequence of the change.
gave the new Commander no instructions
to the administration of the system mentioned,
beyond what is contained IN the private letter af-
terwards surreptitiously published. in which di-
rected him to act solely ior the public good. and
independently of both parties Neither az ything
you have presented me. nor anything have 9th
erwise learned, has convinced me that he has been
unfiithful to this charge
Imbecility is alleged one cause for removing
General Schofed and the late massacre at Law
renee. Kansas, is pressed as evidence of that i'm
becility. To my mind. that fact scarcely tends
to prove the proposition That massacre is only
an example OF what Grierson, John Morgan and
many Others might have repeatedly done on
their respective raids. had they chose to incur
the personal hazard, and possessed the fendish
hearts to do IL.
The charge is made that General Schofeld, on
purpose to protect the Lawrence murderers. would
Ill -