Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-09-11
Mistellaneous.
Letter from Presiden. Lin
coin.

coin.
The following very important iette
was writtenby President Lincoln to be
read at the Mass Meeting. in Springfield
Illinois, and Jefferson, Missouri. rs an
authoritative forcshadowine Of the future
policy of the Government It's importance
at this time cannot ne ever-eStimatei :
FXEcurIyE MANSION,
Washington, Aug. 3lst, 1868.
Hon. James G. Conkling
Nv Dear Sir.-Your letter inviting me
to attend mass meeting OF unconlition-
al Union men to he held at the capita
of Illinois, on the II day of September
has been received. It would be very
agreeable to me thus to meet my old
friends at my own home, but | cannot
now be absent from this city 50 long as a
visit there would require.
The meeting is to be Of all those who
maintain unconditional devotion 10 til,
Union and am sure my OLD political
friends will tank me far tenierins, a
do, the nations gratitude 10 those otner
noble men whom no partiztn malice oil
partizan hope can make false to the na-
tion's life
There are those who are dissatisfied
with me. 70 such waaii say, You de-
sire peace, anl yoa blame M that ~
do not have it bat h5~ can w attain
it There are blt three conceivable
ways. First-To suPpres. the rahe4ioa
by force of arals rais am trying L
do. Are yea for it II you AZ. So
far we are agreed-If yoa are nlt Tor II.
a second way IS to give ~ the Union
l would say | am against ta.-. Il You
are you should say "a panty. Il you
are. not for force, nor set for dissolution.
there only remains s0me imat na5.e eam-
promise. 10 not believe that any COM
promise, embracing tba maintenance ot
the Union IS now possible. All that |
learn leads to a directly opposite be!leE
The strength Of the rebellion i III rs
military-its army. That army domin-
ates all'the country aui a.. the Pe52lt
within its rause. Wy offer Of t=rm-
made bv auy man or mea within that
range, in opposition to that army, Is SIM
ply nothing for the present, because such
man or men have no power whatever t.
enforce their compromise, II one were
made with them.
To illustrate Suppose refugees from
the South and peace men from The North
get together in convention and frame anI
proclaim a compromise embracing res-
toration of the Union. Ia what way N
that compromise be usc1 u keep q aa.
Lees army out Of Pennsylvania Hen.
Meade's army can keep l4ee's army eat OF
Pennsylvania, and | THINK can ultimate
" drive it out Of existence, but no proper
compromise 10 which the controllers q.
Gen. Lees army are not agreed can at
all affect that army. la anrii'rt at such
compromise we would waste timh which
the enemy would use to our Disadvantage
and that would be alt. \ comPr9mise
TO be effective must be made, either with
those who control the rebc. army, or with
the people just liberated from the domina-
tion Of that army by the success OF cur
army. Now allow me 10 assure You that
no word or intimatIon from the re5ei
army or from any of the men controlling
it, relative to any peace compromise has
ever come to my knowledge OF belief
All charges and intimations to the con
.rary are deceptive and groundIess ami /
promise you that if any such proposition
shall hereafter come it shall not be re-
iected and kept secret from you.
freely acknowledge myself to be the
servant of the people aceordin. TO the
bond of service in the United States
Constitution, and that as such | am re-
sponsible to them. But to be plain you
are dissatisfied with me about the negro.
Quite likely there is difference of opln-
ion between you aud myself on the sub
ject. certainly wish that all men were
free. while you, | suppose do not. Yet
/ have neither adopted nor proposcl any
measure which is not CONSTANT with even
YOUR view, provided you are for the
Union. l suggested compensated cman-
cipation, to which you replied that you
wished not to be taxed to buy negroes,
except in such way as to save you from
greater taxation to save the Union ex-
clusively by other means.
You dislike the Emancipation Procla-
nation, and perhaps would have 1t re-
tracted. You say it is unconstitutional
l think differently. thiuk the Cou>;i-
tuition invests its C5mmanler-iu.Chict
with law of war in times Of war. The
most that can be said, if 50 much, is that
slaves are property. Is there, has there
ever been any question that by law of
war, property, both Of enemies aud friends
may be taken when needed, and is it not
needed whenever taken 1t helps us and
hurts the enemy. Armies the world
over destroy enemys property when they
cannot use it, and even destroy their own
to keep it from the enemy. Civilized
belligerents do all in their power to help
themselves or hurt the enemy except a
few things regarded as barbarous or cruel.
Among the exceptions are the massacre
of vanquished foes and non-e0mbatants,