The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-03-05
Letter from President lincoln to fhs
W0rkinRmrn o. Manchester

1tAAGE from EEehtNPnG EJADCbtn 10 tne
NyOrkinRmrn Of 9zRnchestHT
The following is President Lincoln letter
addressed to the work." smeu of Manchester,
England, in acknowledgement Of the Address
recently forwarded him:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, January 10, 1863.
ITO the Workingmen of Manchester:
Il have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of the Address and resolutions which you sent
me on the eve of the new year,
When ! came, on the 4th of March, 1861,
through a free and Constitutional election, to
preside in the government Of the United States,
the country was found at The verge of civil war.
Whatever might have been the cause, OF who's
soeveT the fault, our duty paramount to all 9th
efs, was before me, namely, to maintain and
preserve at once the Constitution a d he integ-
ritv of the Federal Republic: A conscientious
purpose to perform this duty is the key to all
the measures Of administration which have been,
and % all which will hereafter he pursued. I'm
der our form of government and my official
osth. | could not depart from this purpose if l
would. IL is not always IN she power of gOvN
ernmeuts to enlarge or restrict the scope of mor>
a results which follow the policies that they
may deem it necessary, for the puDlic safety,
from time to time to adopt.
Il have understood weIlthat the duty of self
preservation rests solely with The American peo-
Die. hut / nave AT tue same Time OSeh dWhT0
that favor or d:sfav0T of foreign nations might
have y material influence in enlarging ard pro-
longing the struggle with disloyal men in which
the country is engaged. A fair examination OF
history has seemed to authorize a belief that the
past action and influences of the Uuited States
were regarded rs having been beneficial tow
ards mankind, | have, therefore, reckoned up
or the fUrbearance of nations. Circums'anceS-
to some of which you kindly a~llude-induce me
especially to expect that, If justice and good
faith should De pTactlsed by the United States,
they would encounter no hostile influence on
ihespart of Great Britain. 1t is now II pleas
ant duty to acknowledge the demonstration you
have given Of your desire that a spirit OF peace
and amily towards this country may preva IN
the councils of your Queen, who is respected
uGd esteemed in your own country only more
than she is by the kindred nation which has its
home on this side of the Atlantic.
Il know and deeply deplore, the sutferings
which the workingmen at Manchester, and in all
Europe, are called to endure in this crisis. 1t
has been often and studiously represented that
the attempt to overthrow, this Government, which
was built upon the foundation of human rights,
and to substitute for it one which should rest
exclusively on the basis of human slavery, was
likely to obtain The favor of Europe. Through
the action of our disloyal citizens, the working
men of Europe have been rejected 10 severe
trial, for the purpose of forcing their sanction
10 that attempt. Under these circumstances !
cannot but regard your decisive utterances up
on the question as auiustaace ofsublime Chris.
tan heroism which has not been surpassed in
any age or in any country. Il is indeed an
energetic and reinspiring assurance OF the in
herent powers of truth, and of the ultimate and
universal triumph of justice, humanity and free
dom. l do not doubt that the sentiments yol
have expressed viii be sustained bv your great
nation and, on the other hand, | have no hes
itatiop IN assuring You that they will excite ad-
m%ira'ion, esteem, and the most reciprocal feel
ings of friendship among the American people.
/ hail this interchange of sentiment, therefore
as III Rugury that, whatever el-e may happen
whatever misfortune may befall your country
Of my own the peace aud friends hip which NV
exist between the ~ nations will bel as it shall
he ny desire to make them perpetual.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN."