The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-09-08

Washington. August 70, 1868.
/ Hon. James c. Conkling--My
Dear Sir Your hitter inviting me
70 attend a mass meeting Of uncondi-
tional Union men, 10 le held at the
capital Of Illinois on The Sd day Of
September. has been received. II
would BE- very agreeable for me titus
70 meet my ed friends At my own
home bot cannot jns now be alb
sent from here so long as a visit there
would require.
The meeting Is 10 be Of all those
who maintain unconditional devotion
20 the Union and ! am sure that my
old political friends will thank me for
rendering, as do, the nations graft
titude to those other noble men whom
no partisan hope can make false TO the
nations life
There are those who are dissaiis-
fed with me. To such ! would say !:
iol desire peace, and you blame me
that we do do not have il. But how
are we to attain IL? There ARE but
three conceivable ways; Firsl--to
suppress The rebellion by force ofaIms.
This ! am trying 10 do. Are YOU for
liti II you are, 50 far we are
agreed. II you are not for il a second
way is TO give up the Union. am
against this. Are you for IL? II
you are, you shoalj say 50 plainly
If you are not for force, nor yet for
dissolution. there only remains some
imaginable compromise.
do not believe that any comprom-
lsc embracing The maintenance Of the
Union is now possible. All that !
learn leads 10 q directly opposite be-
lief. The strength OF the Rebellion is
IL military its army That army
dominates al tie country and all the
people within its range. Any offer
Of terms made by amy man or men
within thar army, is simply nothing
for the present; because such man or
mne have do power whatever 10 en-
force their side Of a compromise, fonc
were made with them.
To illustrate: Suppose refugees
from the South and peace men Of the
North sc; together IN convention, and
frame and proclaim compromise en-
braciug restoration Of die Union.--
In uhat way can tlal c, mpromise be
used OF keep Lees army out Of Penn
sylyauia N, AIDES army can keep
Lees army out Of Pennsylvania, and,
! think, can ultimately drive it out Of
existence. But no paper compromise,
10 which The controllers Of Lees army
are no; agreed, can at all affect that
army. In an effort at such comprom-
lsg we would waste time, which the
rebels would improve to our disadyan-
iage and that would be al.
A compromise, 10 be effected, musl
he made either with those who con-
troll the rebels, or with the people, first
liberated from the domination of that
army by the success Of our army
Now, allow me 10 assure you that no
word or intimatiol from that rebel ar
my, or from any Of the men controll-
ing II, in relation TO any peace COM
promise, has ever come 70 my knowl-
edge or belief. All charges and in
situation TO the contary are deceptive
aud groundless. And | promise you
that If any such proposition shall
hereafter come, il shall not be reject
ed and kept a secret from you.
freely acknowledge myself to be the
servant Of the people according to the /
bond OF service, the United States
Constitution aud that, as such, | am
responsible TO them.
But, TO be plain. You are dissalis-
fed with me about the negro. Quite
likely there Is a difference Of opinion
between you and myself upon tLat
subject. ! certainly wish that all
men could be free, while you, ! sup
pose. do not. Yet | have neither
adopted nor proposed any measure
which Is no, consistent with even your
view, prov ided that yoa ars fsr the
Union. ! suggested compensated
emancipation 10 which you replied
you wished not 70 Be taxed to buy ne
groes. But Lad not asked you to
b taxed 10 buy negroes, except in
such way rs TO cave you from great
er taxation 70 save the Union excla-
siyely by other means.
lou dislike The emancipation proc
lamaiion, and perhaps woold have i