The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-09-11
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
August, 26 1863.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON
August, 26 1868.
Hon. J. e. CoNEus-- NV redr Sfi ::
Your letter, inviting me to attend mass
meeting of unconditional Union men, TO
be held at the Capital Of Illinois, on the
ard day Of Septcmber,has been received.
II would be very agreeable TO me thus to
meet my old friends at my own home |;
but cannot just now be absent from this
city so long as visit there would re-
quirc. Tho meeting Is to be Of all those
who maintain unconditional devotion to
the Union. | am sure that my old polit-
ical friends will thank me for rendering,
as do, the nations gratitude to those
other noble men whom no partixun ma
lice or partizan hope can make false TO
the nations life. There are those who
arc dissatisfied with me. To such |
would say, you desire peace aud you
blame mo that we do not have II; but
how can we attain II There arc but
three conceivable ways 1858
LIST. To suppress the rebellion by force
Of arms. This l nm trying to do. Are
you for it7 II you are, so far we are
agreed. II you are not for il, a second
way Is 70 give up the Union. ! am
against this. Ifyou ure you should say
so plainly. -
III you aro not for .force. nor yet for
dissolution. there only remains some im-
ugfuuDIc comprombc. do not believe
that any compromise embracing tho main
tenanco Of the Union, ia now possible
All that learn, leads TO q strictly oppo-
site belief. The strength Of the rcbcll-
ion 10 its military, its army, that domi-
mates all the country aud all the people
that comes within its range. Any offer
of terms made by any man or men with
in that rango,in opposition to that army,
Is simply nothing for the present, because
such man or men have no power what
ever to enforce their side OF compro-
misc, IL one were made with them. To
illustrate suppose refugees from the
South and peace men Of the North meet
together in Convention and frame and
proclaim q compromise, embracing re-
storation of the Union, in what way can
that compromise be used to keep Gen.
Lees army out Of Pennsylvania 7 Gen.
Mead's army can keep Gen. Lees army
out Of Pennsylvania, and, think, can ul-
timatcly drive Il out Of existence. But
no paper compromise, to which the con-
trollers Of Gen. Lees army are not agreed
can at all effect that army. In an effort
at such compromise,w we would waste time
which the enemy would improve 10 our
disadvantage, und that would be oil.
A compromise to be effective, must be
made either with those who control the
rebel army or with the people, fret lber-
ated from the domination of that army
by the success OF our army. Now, al
low me to assure you that no word or in
timation from the rebel army. or from
any other army, or from any of the men
controlling il, in relation 20 any peace
compromise has ever come to my knowl-
edge or belief All charges and intims-
tions to the contrary are deceptive and
groundless and promise you that if
such proposition shall hereafter come, II
shall not be rejected and kept secret
from you.
freely acknowledge myself to be the
servant Of the people, according to tho
bond Of the service, the u. 8. Constitu-
tion and that as such j EN- responsible
to them. But TO be plain, you are dissat-
isfied with me nbout the negro. Quite
likely there is difference Of opinion be-
tween you and myself upon that subject.
certainly wish that all men could be
free, while you, suppose, do not. Yet,
have neither adopted nor proposed any
measure which is not consistent with
even your view, provided that you are for
the Union.
suggested compensated eman ncipatiop,
TO which you replied that you wished not
to be taxed to buy negroes. But had
not asked you to be taxed to buy negroes,
except in such way to save you from great
er taxation 10 save the Union exclusive
y BY other means. .I H 30 h
You dislike tbs emancipation procla-
nation and perhaps would have 1t retrat-
cd You say II 10 unconstitutional. I
think differently. think that the Con-
stitution vests the Commander-in- C Chiei
with the law Of wsr in the time Of war.
The most that can be said, IL so much, is
that slaves are property. IL there, has
there ever been any question that by the
laws Of war, property both OF enemies
and friends, may be taken when needed
and is It not needed whenever the taxing
helps US or hurts the enemies armies,-l
The world over destroy the enemy's pro.
perty when they cannot use II, and even
they destroy their own, TO keep Il from
the enemy. Civilized belligerents do ell
in their power TO help themselves or hurt
tho enemy, except few things regarded
10 barbsrous or cruel Among the ex-
ceptions are the massacre Of vanquished
foes and non-combstanis, male and e.
male. But the proclamation is law, and 10
ralid or is not valid. II cannot be re-
racted any more than the dead can bel
brought to life.n Some ofyeu profess to
lhiDk that Tetraction would operate IA
,orabIy to the Union. Why better siler
the retrsction than before the issue -
There was more than year and a half
of trial to suppress the rebellion. before
he proclamation was issued, the lass 100
lays OF which passed undor an explicit
notice that i was coming pnless syertedi
talr'llal-