New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-03
HE MAINTAINS TIE EMANCIPATION POLICY.
How a Compromise Can be Effected.
THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEGRO SOLDIERS.

ExsCU.I MANSION, WASHINGTON, Aug 70 1861
Hon. JAMES C. CoEKLNG-My Dear Sir: Your letter
Inviting me 10 ettend "A meeting Of unconditional
Union men, to be held at the capital of Illinois the
Sd day Of September has been received. II would be
very agreeable for thus to my old friends at my
own home; but cannot just now be absent from here
10 long as a visit there would require.
The meeting is 10 be of all those who maintain
ditional devotion 10 the Union and am that my
old political friends will thank for rendering do.
the nations gratitude TO those other noble men whom
partisan malice partisan hope make false the
nations life.
There are those who are dissatisfied with me. To
sncb would say You desire pence. and you blame
that We do not have il. But how can attain il :
There are but three conceivable ways; First-o sup
press the rebellion by force of This trying
70 do Are you for it nyou are. far agreed.
II You not for it. second way TO give up the Union
am against this. Are you for itr II you are. you
should SOY plainly II you for force yet
for css0lsiion. there only remains ina nabe
promise.
do not believe that any compromise embracing the
maintenance Of the Union is BOW possible. All that
Msrn leads 10 directly opposite belief The strength
OF the Rebellion is It's military. lis army That army
dominates all the country and gi the people within It's
range. Any offer Of terms made by Any man OF men
within that range, in opposition to that army is smp!
nothing for the present because such have
power whatever 10 enforce their side of a compro
mise If one made with them.
To illustrate: Suppose refugees from the South and
peace Of the North get together in ention and
frame and proclaim compromise embracing restora
ton Of the Union. In what way that compromise
be used 10 keep Lees army out Of Pennsylvania
heades army keep Lees army out Of pennsy
and think can ultimately drive II out Of existence.
Manor lOfnurouiqp IN uhirh tha eoutrn.rs ~
Lees army not agreed at all affect that army.
In effort at such compromise We would waste time
which the enemy would improve to our disadvantage;
nnd thai would 9e al. -7y~~-.-S-~rTt
collprc,:;sst c be effective must be made either
with those who control the Rebel army with tie
people first liberated from the domination Of that army
by the success Of our army. Now, allow Inc 10
sure you that no word OF ntimaion from tha, Rebel
army, or from any Of the men controlling IL IN rola
ton to aay peace compromise has come 10 my
knowledge or belief Al charges and insinuations 10
the contrary deceptive and grOundesI And
promise you that any such proposition shu hereafter
come IL shall nos be rejected and kept secret from
yop freely acknowledge myself TO be the servant Of
people accordgto the bond Of service the United
States Constitution; and that such an responsible
to them.
But to be plain You are dissatisfied with me about
tie negro. Quite likely there Is difference Of opinion
between Won and myself upon tha, subject certainly
ssh that al could be free, while YOU suppose do
not. Yet. have neither adopted proposed any
measure which is consistent with even your view
provided that you are for the Union suggested com
p.nsaied emancipation to which oureplcd you wished
not 10 BE- taxed TO buy negroes But lad not asked
you 20 be taxed bay negroes except IN such way ar
" save you from greater taxation TO save TIE Unon
exclusively by other means.
Yon dislike the Emancipation PfOcamation. and per
haps would have retraced YOu say is unconstitu
.ional think differently. i think the Constitution
invests ito Commander Lief with the law Of III
time Of war. The most that can be said II 80 much Is
that slaves are property Il there has there ever been
any question that by the law Of property both Of
enemies and friends may be- taken when needed And
Ia needed whenever II helps us and hurts lie enc
N.Y. Armies. the world over destroy enemies proper
" when they it; and even destroy their own
" keep il from the enemy. Civilized bcligercns do all
In tLe power help themselves or hurt the enemy ex
eept few things regarded bnrbarous or cruel
Among the exceptions the massacre 81 yanqushed
foes and non.conbatants male and female.
But the Proclamaon law, either s valid or is no,
valid If II is not valid needs retracton If II Is
valid It cannot be retraced any than the dead
can brought life Some Of you profess TO think its
retracton would operate iavoraby for the Union Why
better q6er the reracton than boye the issue There
was than year and half u trial to suppress the
Rebellion before the Proclamation was issued the last
one hundred days Of which pissed under an explicit no
nee that il coming unens aycrted by those In revolt
returning 10 their allegiance. The war has certainly
progressed fayoraby for since the issue Of the
Proclamation az before.
Iplnow ~ fully az know the opinions Of 10Th
era that the cominandGs Of our armies IN the
fed who have given our most important victories
believe the emancipation policy and ths use OF colorcd
troops constitute the heaviest blows yet dealt TO the Re
bsDon and that at least Of those important sue
sssses could not have been achieved when 1t was but
for the aid Of black soldiers
Among the commanders these views are some who
have had any affinity with what IL called "Abo.
iaonisul" with Republican party politics but who
bold them purely military opinions. submit their
opnions IA being entitled 10 some weight against the
objections often urged that emancipation and arning
The blacks are unwise military measures, and were
not adopted ~ snci in good fhith
You say that you will not fight to free negroes. Some
Of them seem willing 10 fight for youbut no matter.
Fight you then exclusively 20 save the Union lissued
the Proclamation Oh purpose TO ana you III saving the
Union. Whenever you shall have conquercd ah rcsist'
70 the Union If shall urge you to continue hght'
ing will DC All apt time then for you 70 declare you
viii not fight 10 free negroes. thought at !" your
struggle for the Union to whatever extent the heeoe'
should cease helping the enemy to that extent IL "oA
ened the enemy in his resistance TO you DO you th'nA
didereDtly thought that whatever negroes can w
got 10 do soldiers leaves just 80 much 1888 iof "e
soldiers 10 do ia saving the Union. DOCS IL nppo"
0tAeTw1se you But negroes Ike other people ACT
xpsn motives. Why should they do anything for us II
...l,. sl.e Ift.