Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-09-10
NATIONAL iNTELLIGENCER
THE LETTER or THE PRESIDENT.

the President of the United States TO the " Mass
Convention of the Unconditional Union Men OF
the State of Illinois," which met at Sprlngheiu IN
that State yesterday, and copy OF which was
transmitted to the Mass Convention OF the Young
Men Of New York." which also met yesterday at
Syracuse. The telegraphic copy Of this letter,
which has been prenaturely published in some OF
the Northern journals, and also in one journal In
this city, contains, as we are informed, many i'm
portaut errors:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, august 20, 1868.
Hon, JAMES c. CoNKLISG.
My DEAR SIR Your letter, inviting me to attend
mass meeting of Unconditional Union to be held at
the capital of Illinois the 81 day of September has
been received 1t would be very agreeable to me TO thus
meet my old friends at my home, but cannot just
now be absent from this city 80 long the visit there
would require The meeting is to be OF all those VINO
maintain unconditional devotion to the Union, and am
sure my old political friends will thank me for rendering
as do the nations gratitude to those other noble men
whom no partisan malice partisan hope can make false
to the nations life.
There are those who dissatisfied with me- 10 such
would say You desire peace and you blame me that we
do not lave but how attain 1t There are but
three conceivable ways First, to suppress rebellion by
force of arms This trying to do Are you tor la
If you are 80 far we sgreed Iyou not for it,
second wsy is to give up the Union am against this
Are you for it, If you you should say SO plainly
n you not for force yet for dissolution there only
remains some imaginary compromise. do not believe
any compromise embracing the maintenance of the Union
ia now possible All learn leads to directly opposite
belief The strength of the rebellion in its mlitaryits
army That army dominates all the country and all the
people within range ANY offer of terms made by
-. fhaFa
is simply nothing for the present. because such man or
men have no power whatever to enforce their side OF
compromise If made with them.
To Illustrate. Suppose refugees from the South and
peace men from North get together in Convention and
frame end proclaim compromise embracing restoration
of the Union in what way that compromise be used
10 keep Lees army out of Pennsylvania Meades army
can keep Lees army out Of Pebnsy and think can
ultimately drive out of existence but no paper eompro
mise to which the controllers of Lees not agreed
can at all affect that army In effort at such compro
mise we should waste time which the enemy would i'm
prove To disadvantage, and that would be all COM
promise to BE- effective must be made either with those
who control the rebel army With the people fret be
rated from the domination of that army by the successes
Of our army. Now, allow me to assure you that no word
or ntimation from that rebel army, from any OF the
men controlling it, in relation to any peace compromise,
has ever come to my knowledge or belief All charges
and ntmsons to the contrary are deceptive and ground
less and promise you that if any such proposition shall
hereafter come shall not be rejected and kept secret
from you freely acknowledge my'elf The servant OF the
people according the bond of ervce-the United States
Constutiou-and that as such responsble TO them
But be plain you dissatisfied with me about the
negro Quite likely there difference of opinion be-
tween you and myself upon that subject certainly wish
that all men could be free, while suppose you do not
vet have neither adopted proposed any measure
which is not consistent with your provided you
are for the Union / suggested compensated emancpa-
ton to which you replied 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 you from greater
taxation to save the Union exclusively by other
You dislike the emancipation proclamation and perhaps
you would have it retrscted You ssy is uncoDsttu
tenal think differently think the Constitution in
yeats its Chief with the law of in time
of war The most that be said, if much, that
slaves are property Is there has there been any
question that by the law Of property both Of enemies
and friends may be taken when needed And is it not
needed whenever taking it helps hurts the enemy
Armes the world ever, destroy enemies property when
they cannot it, and destroy their to keep it
from the enemy Civilized beligerents do all in their
power TO help themselves hurt the enemy except few
things regarded barbarous cruel Among the excep
tons are the Of vanquished foes aud
batants male and female But the proclamation as law
either il valid or is not valid If it is not valid it needs no
reracton If it is valid il cannot be retraced any
than the dead be brought life Some Of you profess
to think its reracion would operate favorably for the
Union Why better after the retracon than before the
issue There more than year and half Of trial to
the rebellion before the proclamation issued the
last one hundred days OF which passed under explicit
notice il coming unless averted by those in revolt
returning TO their allegiance The has certainly pro-
gressd ayoraby for since the issue Of the procama-
ton az before. l know, as fully know the
opinions Others that of the commanders Of
armies in the field, who have given most important
successes believe the emancipation policy and the of
coored troops constitute the heaviest blow yet dealt
the rebellion and that at least Of those important
eeses could not been achieved when it but for
the aid Of black soldiers Among the commanders holding
these views who have had any affinity with
what 10 called Abolttionism with Republican party
politics but who hold them purely military opinions. /
submit these opinions being entitled to weight
against the objections often urged that emancipation and
arming the blacks unwise military measures aud
we're not adopted as such in good faith
You say you will not fight to free negroes. Some Of
them seem willing to fight for you But matter fight
you then exclusively to the Union issued the pro-
cameton purpose TO aid you 10 saving the Union.
Whenever you shall have conquered all resistance TO the
Y .l.lI.. 80 l.