, 1863-09-03
M)iea9o Gribn're.


W1fo9o UrDl1lle.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1868.
mR. l1NCoLN's LETTER.
Mr.. Lincolns letter to the Union Mass
Meeting at Springfield, on the first page Of
this paper, is one Of those remarkably
clear md forcible documents that come
only from Mr.. Lincoln's pen. We do not
see how any man who has honest inten-
tons and ordinary intelligence himself,
can read it without the thorough convic-
ton that the President is not only an
honest man, but that he is u wise md patn-
oicm man, pursuing what is indisputably the
right But 1t il not ofthe argument in the
letter that re would speak, because Union
men, especially such as those who are
assembling at Springfield to-day, need be
e,ivcn no reasons for the faith that is in
them; wc refer to it because Of the assur-
ance which it gives that, come what may,
the President is steadfast to his purpose to
preserve the Union Of the States, and that
with the Intention OF making that Union
hereafter peaceful and permanent, he will
adhere to all the wise measures that he has
heretofore adopted. He will stand by his
Proclamation!
We have never doubted ABRAHAM LIN
cn1x. If wc have aforetime quarreled
with his seeming tardincss. and with his
choice ofagents. we have never questioned
his carnestness Of purpose, nor the abiding
wisdom BY which these purposes were to
he finally worked out Least Of all, have
VIC ever had any doubt Of the frmness
Of his anti-slavcry convictions, nor Of h1s
perfect sincerity in impressing them, so
far as he could justly do so. upon the pol
icy that his Administration has pursued.
Though hwehayenot stood alone, many there
arc. even amongt the professed Republicans,
who hare not shared what We have strongly
felt. Il Inns been feared that even he
looked upon his Proclamation as tenn
pora1y cxpedeut, born Of the necessities
Of the situation, to be adhered to or re-
tracted as shortrsighted and time-seryins
policy dictated; md that when the mo-
ment for attempting compromise might
como, he would pull it asidc Us he would
an order to move an army, or send q
squadron to sea- Somehow this conyic-
tion had hold Of the popular mind, and
thousands hare marked the day Of con
quest as thet in which the utter humilia.
ton Of the North and the undisputed
triumph Of slavery would begin Thcsolic.
itations Of fainthearted friends, the temp.
tations to pave the way for candidacy o.
his party for t second term, and the natu
1al diainclinntion to prolong the war uuti
permanent victory is wont would, 1t was
feared, SO warp the Presidential mind, tha,
he would grow faint-hearted at the mo.
ment when safety and patriotism required
him to be brave and strong. Though We
knew that the Vaccinations Of politicians
some Of whom have positions near the
President, and whose influence over him
is not to be despised, had already begun
and that the 1uro which was to cntice him
from duty had already been held up to his
eyes, we combated the idle fear that these
thousands hare entertained. We knew
that the man who had triu,nphed over tn.
opposition to the issuance Of the Procla
mation-opposition, the power and con
centration Of which few Of our reader
have suspccted-could not, after having at
taincd the moral height to which tha
Proclamation carried him, stultify and dis
grace himself, dishonor great cause ant
disappoint the expectations ID the ciyiln
ed world by baseness like that which 10
traction, or even neglect to enforce, tha
Proclamation would imply. We hare 1ai
faith in Old Abe.
The Springfield letter dispels all doubts
and silences all croakers. In q few plain
sentances, than which none more impor.
tant were ever uttered in this country
Nj. Lincoln exoncrates himself from the
crimes urged against him, show.
the untenablcness Of the posi-
ton that his enemies occupy, and giYel
the world assurance that that great meas
urc Of policy and justice, which, while il
strikes u fatal blow at treason and rebellion
guarantees freedom to three millions O
Slaves, is to rcnain the law Of the Repub
1ic-an incentive to patriotic cxcrtion an,
ground Of faith and hope wherever tn
clank Of bondman's chain is heard
The battle is to be fought out. No mise1
able compromise, the device Of politician
or the 1andi-work Of timc-se1ers, is
stop the progress Of our arms
to stand as shield betwee
the rebels and the punishment the
, their crimes have earned. The victory
to be complete; and the Republic is, &
the incoming Of peace, after its fearful bar
tism Of blood, to be washed clean Of tbs
1cprosy whose least harmful manifestation
: arc in this shareholders and man-sellers
war. For this, and for these, in the day {
their realization, the country will ow
what debt Of gratitude and admiratio
to that Christian patriot who, as the guild
and deliverer Of his country fills the cha
in which Washington sat. God bless ol
Abe!
AMERICANS SOLD INTO SLAVERY
It an awkward, indisputable fact, til