The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-10-23
Letter From The Hon, JOSIAH Quincy
.... TO Mr.. Lincoln.

Hon. ABRAHAM LiHCoLH:
Sir: Old age has its privileges, which
l hope this letter will not exceed. But |
cannot refrain from exp, essing to you m
qualification and my gratitude for your
letter 10 the Illinois Convention, happy,
timely, conclusive and effective. What
you say concerning emancipation, your
proclaim alton and your course Of proceed
ing in relation 10 il, was due to truth and
your own character-sbamefully assailed
as i has been. The development is an
imperishable monument Of wisdom and
viltue.
Negro slavery and the possibility Of
emancipation have been subjects of my
though. for more than seventy years; be.
!. ing first Introduced 70 it bv the debates
in the convention Of Massachusetts for
adopting the constitution, In 's3, which I
atteuded. Ihad subsequently opportuni.
ties ol knowing the views on tha subject,
not only such men as Hamilton, King, Jay
and Pickering, but also OF distinguished
slaveholders--of both the Pinckneys, Of
William Smith of South Carolina, and of
many others. With the first OF these
had personal intercourse and acquaint.
ance. can truly say. that l never knew
the individual. STAKEHOLDER or non. slave
holder, who did not express detestat;on
Of it and the desire nnd disposition 10 get
rid Of it. The only difficulty. in case Of
emancipation, was, What shall we do for
the master, and what shall we DO with the
slave? A satisfactory answer to both these
questions has been, until now, beyond
the reach and grasp of human wisdom
and power. - ra.
Through the direct Influence of good
and gracious God, the people Of the United
States have been invested with the power
OF answering satisfactorily both these ques-
tions and also OF providing for the diff.
culties incident to both OF which il they
fail TO avil themselves, thoroughly ,conclu
sively they will entail shame on themselves
and sorrow and misery on many genera.
tiols. . ....'H .... ,..H0a
1t is impossible for me 10 regard the
power thus granted 10 this people other
wise than as proceeding from the direct
influence of a experimenting Providence
who ever makes those mad Whom he in.
tends to destroy.
| The only possible way in which slavery,
after il had grown 10 such height, could
have been abolished, i, that which heaven
has adopted. ..'-.4 ......
Your instrumentaity in the work is to
you subject of special glory, favor and
felicity. The madness of secession and
its inevitable consequence. civil war, will
in their result, give the right and the pow
er OF universal emancipation sooner or la.
ter. If the United States do not under.
stand and fully appreciate the boon thus
bestowed on them, and fail TO improve it
to the utmost extent Of The power granted
they will prove recreant 10 themselves and
posterity. ..
write under the impression that the
victory OF United States in this war is in
evitable.
Compromise is impossible. Peace on
any other basis would be the establish ent
of two nations, each hating the other, both
military. both necessary hostile, their terri.
tories interlocked, with tendency to never
coasng hostility. Can we leave to pos sterity
a more cruel inheritance. or ono more hope.
less of happiness and prosperity?
Pardon the liberty ! have taken in this
letter, and do not feel obliged in any way
to take notice of it; and believe mo
Ever your grateful and obliged servant.
... r. ..... JOSIAH QUINCY.
Quincy, September 7th, 1868.