The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-10-22

Hon. A5rahan1 Lincoln Sir,-Od age has it's
privileges, which hope this letter will not exceed.
But cannot refrain from expressing to YOU my
qualification and my gratitude 10 you for your
letter to the Illinois Convention, happy timely,
conclusive and effective. What you say concern
ing emancipation, your proclamation and your
course of proceeding in relation to it, was due to
| truth and your own character-shameiully as
sailed as It has been. The development is an
limperishabe monument Of wisdom and virtue -
Negro slavery and the possibility of emancipa-
tinn have been subjects Of my thought for more
thHn seventy years being fret introduced TO it by
the debates IN the Convention Of Massachusett IS
Tor accepting the constitution in 1888 which at
tended. had subsequently opportunities of know
ing the views on that subject no only of such men
rs Hamilton King Jay and pickle bnt also of
distinguished slaveholders-ot both the Pickneys
William Smith of South Carolina and Of many
others, With the first of these had personal in
tercourse and acquaintance | can truly say tn at
never knew the individual, STAKEHOLDER or mons
stakeholder who did not express detestati IN Of
it. and the desire and disposition to get rid oft
The only difficulty, in case of emancipation. was,
what shall we do for the master, and what shall
we do with the slave satisfactory answer to
both these questions has been, until now, beyond
the reach and the grasp Of human wisdom and
power.
Through the direct Influence OF a good and graz
cious God, the people of the United States have
been invested with the power of answering salts
iactorily both these questions and also OF provi-
ding for the difficulties incident to both. of which
ifthey fail to avail themselves, thoroughly and
cOnclusively, they will entail shame upon them>
selves, and sorrow and misery on many genera>
items.
II is impO ssbe for ME to regard tho power thus
granted to this people otherwise than as proceed
ing from the direct influence ola experimenting
Providence who ever makes lhose nlud ac6om he
intends to destroy.
The only possible way in which slavery after it
had grown to such height. could have been abCl~
shed, Il that which heaven has adopted.
H"ur fundamentally IN the work is to YOU
subject Of special glory, favor and felicity The
madness of secession and lis inevitable canse>
quence civil war, will in their result give the
right and the power Of universal emancipation
sooner or later. If the United States do not nm,
ders and and fully appreciate the boon Thus hes
slowed upon them and fail &c improve it 20 the
utmost extent of the power granted, they win
prove recreant to themselves and postprity
write under the impression that the victory of
the United States in this war is inevitable
Cnmpromise is impossible. Peace on any other.
basis would be the establishment Of two nations
eHG! hating the other, 5Oth military both neces-
7arliy hostile. their territories interocked with
tendency to never ceasing hostility. Can we leave
70 posterity more cruel inheritance or one
moro hopeless of happiness and prosperity?
Pardon the liberty have taken in this letter
amt 10 not fell obliged in any way to take notice
Of ID; and believe mo
Ever your grateful and obliged servant.