Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-09-10

heaviest blows yet dealt to the rebellion,
and that al least one of those important
successes could not have been achieved
when il was but for the aid Of black sol,
diers.
Among the commanders holding these
views are some who never had any aillni-
~ with what is called "Abohtonismn or
with Republican party poliues,n but
who hold them purely as military opinions.
submit their opinions as being entitled
TO some weight against the objections often
urged that emancipation and arming the
blacks are unwise as military measures,
and were not adopted as such in good
faith.
You say that you will not fight to free
negroes. Some Of them seem willing to
hight Tor you-but no matter. Fight you
then, exclusively, to save the Union. |
issued the Proclamation on purpose to aid
you IN saving the Union. Whenever YOU
shall have conquered all resistance to the
Union, if | shall urge you to continue
lighting, 1t will be an apt time then for
you TO declare you will not fight to free
negroes. | thought that in your struggle
for the Union, to whatever extent the ne
groes should cease helping the enemy, to
that extent 1t weakened the enemy in his
resistance to you. Do you think differ
ently | thought that whatever negroes
can be got to do as soldiers leaves Just so
much less for white soldiers to do in saw
ing the Union. Does 1t appear other
wise to you? But negroes, like other
people, act upon motives. Why should
they do anything for us if we will nothing
for them 2 If they stake their lives for
us they must be prompted by the strong
est motive, even the promise of freedom.
And the promise, being made, must be
kept.
The signs look better. The Father of
Waters again goes unvexed to the sea.
Thanks to the great Northwest for it, Nor
yet wholly to them. Three hundred miles
up they met New England, Empire, Key
stone, and Jersey, hewing their way right
and left. The sunny South, too, in more
colors than one, also lent helping hand.
On the spot, their part of the history was
jotted down in black and white The lob
was great national one, and let none be
sighted who bore an honorable part in it.
And while those who have cleared the
great river may well be proud, even that
is not all. 1t is hard to say that any
thing has been more bravely and well done
than at Antietam, Murfreesboro, Gettys-
burg, and on many fields of less note.
Nor must Uncle Sans web-feet be for
gotten. At all the watery margins they
have been present, net only on the deep
sea, the broad bay, and the rapid river,
but also up the narrow muddy bayou, and
wherever the ground was a little damp,
they have been and made their tracks.
Thanks to all. For the great Republic
for the principle it lives by and keeps
allve-for mans vast future-thanks to
all. ..a..
Peace does not appear so distant as 1t
did. | hope it viii come soon and come
to stay and so come as to be worth the
keeping in all future time. 1t will then
have been proved that among freemen
there can be no successful appeal from the
ballot to the bullet, and thai they who
take such appeal are sure to lose their
case and pay the cost. And then there
will be some black men who can remem-
Der that, with silent tongue, and clenched
teeth, and steady eye, aud we'll poised
bayonet, they have helped mankind on to
this eat consummation while | fear
there will be some white ones unable to
forget that with malignant heart and
deceltfnl speech they have striven to hin
der it.
Still, let us not be over-sanguine of a
speedy, final triumph, Let us be quite
sober, Let us diligently apply the means,
never doubling that just God. in HIS
own good time, will give us the rightful
result.
Yours, very truly,
A. LINCOLN.