Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-03
Pre.Idcnt LinceIn's Letter.
NEW YoRK. September 2-The following i.
President Lincoln's letter.

NEW YORK, September 2-Ihe following IL
President Lincoln's letter.
ExEcrrlvF MANSION. WASH, Aug 90.
Hos JAMES G. CoSKLrS-ME Dear Sir:
Your letter inviting me % attend mass meet
ing Of unconditional Union men, 10 be held AZ the
capital Of Illinois on the Sd day Of September.
has been received IL would be very agreeable
to me thus TO meet my old friends at nv old
home, but can not Just now be absent from the
city so long as a visit there would require. The
meeting is TO be all those who maintain uncondi-
tional devotion to the Union and am sure that
my old political friends will thank for tender
ing, "a do. the nations gratitude TO those other
noble men whom 10 partisan or partisan hope can
make false 20 the nations life There are those
who are dissatisfied with me. To them would
say: You desire peace. and YOU blame me that
We do not have il; but how can We attain it,
There are but three conceivable ways. /. To
suppress the rebellion by force OF arms This
am trying to do. Are you for it2 If you are
not for it. second way is TO give up the Union.
/ am against this. If you you should say so
plainly If you are not for force nor vet for
dissolution, there only remains some unagreeable
comprom | do not believe that any compro-
mise embracing the maintenance of the Union is
now possible All that learn leads to a directly
opposite belief The strength of the rebellion is
military-its army: that army all the country and
all the people in it's range ANY offer of terms
made by any man or men in opposition 10 that
army is simply nothing for the present. because
such man men have no power whatever to
enforce their side OF a compromise, if one we're
made with them
To illustrate: Suppose refugees from the
South and peace men of the North meet together
in convention and frame and proclaim compro-
mise embracing n restoration of the Union; in
what wav can that compromise be used TO keen
! Lees army out OF Pennsylvania Gen Meade 3
army can keep Gen Lees army out of Pennsyl
vania, and think can ultimately drive IL out Of
existence. But no paper compromise to which
the controllers of Lees army are not agreed, can
ut all effect that army In an effort to make
such a compromise we would waste time which
the enemy would improve to our disadvantage,
and that would be ALL
compromise to be effected must be made
eitLer with those who control the rebel army or
with the people first liberated from the State by
the success Of our army. Now allow me to as
sure YOU that no work or intention from the rebel
army or from any of its men controlling IL in re-
! lation TO any peace conference. however.
come to nv knowledge, or the belief that all
charges to the contrary are deceptive and ground
less. and promise YOU that if any does hereafter
come il shall not be rejected and kept sacred
from you.
| freely acknowledge myself to be she servant
of the people according to the bond Of the United
States Constitution. and that such am respon
sible 10 them
You are dissatisfied with me about the negro
quite likely there difference of opinion be
tween Won and myself upon that subject. | Ger.
tainly wish that all men could be free. while you
! suppose, do not vet have neither adopted
nor prepared any measures which is not consist
ent with vour vews-provided that you ar,
in for the Union.
| suggested compensated emancipation, tc
which you replied that YOU wished not to b,
taxed to buy negroes But had not asked yoI
to be taxed to buy negroes, except in such way
To save you from greater taxation or to save th'
Union exclusively by other means