The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-09-11
LETTER FROM PRES. LINCOLN
To the Union Mass Convention,
Springfield. Illinois.
EXECUTIVE MAysI,N, Wash:ngton.I
August 81, 1863.
Hou. flames &. f"aIlinl:

NJ Dear Sir: Your letter inviting me t
attend q mass meeting OF unconditional Uni0
men, to be held at the capital OF Illinois &
the third da. o! September, has been receY
ed. 1t wo' be very agreeable to RE thu
to meet my old friends at ny own nome, bu
| cannot just row be absent from This city 5
long as vi-it there would require.
the meeting Is to be of all those WIZ
mainton unconditional devotion to th
/ Union, and am sure that my old poiitica
friends viii hank me fer rendering, as do
The Nation gratitude to those other nobI
men whom 10 partisan malice or partisan
hope can make false to the Nation's life.
/ There are those who are dissatisfied with
NE. Io such would say: You desire peace
and you blame NE thai We 10 not have it
nut how eau We attain i,s Th-re are bu
three conceivable ways-Eirst, to supprts
the rebsi.l,n by force of arms. THIS an
trying to do; ara You for it Il YOU are
so far We are ayreed. If you al not for it
second way is to give up the Union an
against this; if you are you snould say Sc
plainly. If YOU are not for force, nor YET tol
dissolution, there only remains some imag in
able compromise. do not believe that any
compromise embracing the maintenance Of
the Union is now possible All that learn
leads to directly opposite belief.
The strength Of the rebellion is in its mil
itary-its army. That army dominates all
the country and all the people within its
range. Any offer Of terms made by any
man or men within that range in opposition
to that army is simply nothing for the pres
ent, because such man or men have no power
whatever to enforce their side Of comprom-
Use, if one were made with them. To Illus.
tra'e: Sappose refugees from the South and
peace men OF the North get together in con-
ventlon and frame and proclaim a comprom-
'N'''0''''''" VI '''0 "'0''' Al
'''' way 'a'' .'''' ''''il'' '''i',9 De "seo u
keep Gen. Lees army out of Pennsylvania.
Gen. Meade's army can keep Lees army out
of Pennsy lvania, and think can ultimately
drive it out Of existence, but no paper COM
pfo"'iSe u witch '''e coi'Io'le'S ol oeH' Lee
army are not agreed can at all affect tAat ar
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