The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-09-12
Executives MANs1oN.



Hon Jomes g. ConkIing:
My DEAR SIR: Your letter inviting me
To attend ma meeting of unconditional
Union men. - be held at the capital OF Eli,
uois on the 81 day of September, has been
received
1t would be very agreeable to me to thu
meet my old friends at my old home. but
cannot lust now be absent from here so long
rs visit there would require. The meet
ING Is TO be of ali thoae ~hn maintain
conditional devotion to the Union, and 1 am
sure my old politica' friends will thank me
for rendering, AS do, tae nations gratitude
TO those other noble men. whom no partisan
malice or partisan strife cln make false to
the nations life. There are those who are
dissatisfied with me: TO such would say:
You desire peace, and you blame ne that
We do not have it. Bur how can we attain
il? Their are but three conceivable ways.
FIRST, to suppress the rebellion by force OF
arms. This am Try ing to do-are you for
it? II you are. so far we are agreed. II
you are not for it. second way is to
give up the Union. l am against this-are
YOU for ii? Ii you are Tor peace, nor yet
for dissolution, there only remains some
unmaginabie compromise. l do not BE-
Ii We any compromise, embracing the main
teuance of the Union. is now possible; all
learn leafs To directly opposite belief.
The strength of the REBELLION Is lis military
lis army; that army dominates all the
country and all the people within lis range.
Any Offer of terms made by any man or
men within that range. IN opposition to that
army. is simply nothing for the present be-
cause such man or men have no power
whatever 10 enforce this side of a cOmprom
i-e, If ne was made with them. To illus
rrste: Suppose refugees from the S Iuth and
pes.'e men OF the North get together in Con-
vention and frame and proclaim a compton,
lse embracing a restoration of the Union,
IN what way can that compromise be US ID
To keep Lees army out of Prnnsy lvania?
Mrads's army can keep Lee out of Penusy!-
vanis. aud think can ultimately drive II
out OF existence; but no compromise to
which the controllers Of Lees army are not
agreed, can at all affect that army. In an
fort at such compromise We should waste
time, which the enemy would improve 10
our disadvantage, and that would be all.
A compromise 10 be effective. must be
made either with those VINO control the rebel
army. or with the people that was first l'b-
Grated from The domination of that army by
the success of our own army. Now allow
me to assure You that no word or inuma-
ton from that rebel army or from any o.
the men controlling it in relation to any
peace compromise has ever come to my
knOwledge OF belief.
All charges and insinuations to the con-
trary are deceptive aud groundless. and
promise you, that if any such proposition
shall hereafter come il shall not % rejected
and kept secret from you. fully se
knowledge myself the servant of tue people
according to The bond of Sc, vice. the United
STATES Constitution, and that as such | am
responsible TO them. But to be plain: YOU
are dIssatie fed with me about the negro.
Quite likely there Is difference of opinion
between you and myself upon that subject
certainly wish that all men could be Tree.
WHICH l suppose you do not. yet save
neither adopted nor propose any measure
which are not consistent with even your
view. provided you are for the Union.
suggested compensated emancipation, TO
which you replied you wished not TO be
taxed TO buy negroes. Bat had not asked
you TO be taxed to buy negroes, except in
such way as to save you from taxation TO
save the Union. exclusively By other meas
uTes. You dislike the emancipation proc
lamation, and perhaps would have i re-
tTaoted. You say It Is unconstitutional
~ tse ~ al1ss<t ~ if74