The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-09-10
The Presidents Letter.

President Lincoln to the Union State
Convention of Illinois, and which was
| read, on the 3D. inst, to the Convention in
session at Syracuse. Both these Conven-
tions are composed of men "who maintain
unconditional devotion to the Union, and
to these the President has little else to say
than that he tenders nations gratitude
to such Of them az are no. his cold pollt-
ical friends" but "whom no partisan
malice nor partisan nope can make false
to the nations Tfe" His older friends,
he is confident, will thank him for thus
recognizing the position of men to whom
the country and the Union are far more
precious than party ties.
Dismissing thus In half dozen lines
the political relations existing between
the two Conventions and his own Admin
istration, the President addresses. himself
to the country at large, and especially 10
that portion of it which, whether honestly
or not, differs with the policy Of the Gov
ernment AS on several former occasions,
Mr.. Lincoln scizes an opportunity to put
himself in direct communication with the
people, and in language plain, forcibie and
eniinently direct, tells them as their
servant how and why he has done, and
proposes 10 do, their work. The time IS
well chosen, for great anxiety had unques
tionably arisen in the public mind, and
angry discussion was beginning to show
itself as to the course Government would
pursue in regard to events possibly i'm
pending Doubt OF the one hand, and
misapprehensions and Misrepresentation
on the other, were sowing the seeds of
future difficulties and possible alterations
which could only prove new and formida-
be obstacles in the progress OF the war,
the final establishment of wise settlement
of our national troubles and permanent
peace. The President chooses such
moment to speak words of wisdom, and
with the wide grasp of statesman and
the firm demeanor of ruler to whose
hands are entrusted the weighty affairs of
a nation at the most critical period OF her
existence, appeals to the good sense, the
patriotism, and the candor of the people,
while he tells them precisely the principles
by which he is governed and the policy he
means to pursue. PaItisanship, we know,
will go a great way that partisanship
which knows no other law than deep
rooted sympathy with Rebellion will
hardly stick at anything ; bnt the frmness
of purpose so unmistakably set forth in
this letter, and which is so well known and
SO large an element In the Presidents
character, will aot fail to command respect,
and compel acquiescence at length however
much at first the al eathen may rage
The truly loyal portion of the people will
rest easier in their beds to night, all over
the land, that the President tells them IN
such frank, and almost homely language,
what he thinks he ought to do, and that
he means to do it.
The most direct honesty ofpurposc, and
most vigorous commUn-seDse mark this
letter of the President. Disclaiming the
arts of the diplomatist, the cunning OF the
politician, and the graces Of rhetoric, he
comes straight to the points he wants to
discuss, and talks as plain, earnest man
to men anxious to hear what he has to
say and 20 know what he means. He
dot'ges Dothing. He argues directly with
his opponent, because in answering his
criticisms and objections he is sure to cover
all the doubts, if there are any. of bis friends
He meets the question of peace fairly, and
he means to gain it by force of arms be-
cause there is no other way. There is no
other way, because he will not, as he knows
the people Will not, consent to dissolution
of the Union, and because no compromise
is possible save with the army, or those
who control the armies of the Rebels, and
they will have none. No word no init
nation Of any such compromise has ever
reached him from the Rebel leaders, and
he has nothing else to do, as it is plainly
his duty to do nothing else, but fight on.
Can ythipg be more conclusive than this ,
But if any such proposition shall ever
reach him-as none ever has, and no man
will dare doubt Abraham Lincoln's word
he promises that it shall not be rejected
and kept secret Can anything be more
Nor does he meet the
question less squarely and
boldly. Coppcrhead journals may waste
reams on reams of paper, but they viii
never upset the impregnable common
sense and brief statement of his position
on this point. He mas only done what,
as Commap der-in Chief. he had the right
and it was his duty TO do in taking the
property of the enemy. If in depriving
him of that property it could be turned
against him as an active instrument of
hostility, SO much the worse for him
SO much the better for us. In so doing
the Presidents act was either legal or
illegal. 1t illegal, he need not recall it
If legal, he can't. And why recall it p
A hundred days grace was given in which
it might be recalled, and the indulgence