Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-05
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT LINCOLN TO THE
WORKINGMEN OF MANCHESTER.


WORKINGMEN OF MANCHESTER.
From the Manchester (Eng.) Guardian Of Feb lIM.
The following letter and enclosure received yes
terdsy by The Mayor Of Manchester (Abel Haywood,
Esq.:)
LEGATION THE UNITED STATES,
London, February 8, 1863
SIR; have the honor to transmit to you BY the hands
Of Mr. Moran the Assistant Secretary Of this Legation
letter of the President Of the United States addressed 70
you Chairman of the Meeting of Workingmep held st
Manchester the 3lst Of December and in
ment OF the address which had the pleasure forward
from that meeting.
am, sir, your obedient servant
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
ABEL Haywood, ESQ.
Chairman, &c, Manchester.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHNGT0N, JANUARY 10, 1863
10 the Worhingmen Of Manchester:
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the ad
dress and resolutions which you sent me on the eve Of
the new year.
When came on the 4th day of March, 1861, through
Tree and constitutional election to preside n the Govern
men OF the United States the country found at the
verge of civil Whatever might have been the cause
or whatsoever the fault duty to all Others
was before namely to maintain and preserve at once
the Constitution AMI integrity Of the Federal Republic
conscientious purpose to perform this duty is the Key to
all the of administration which have been and to
Government and my official OATH could not depart from
this purpose if would 1t is not always in the power Of
Governments to enlarge restrict the scope of moral re-
suits which follow the policies that they may deem it No
cessay for the public safety from time to time to adopt
have understood well that the duty Of sepreservaton
rests solely with the American people, But have at the
same time been aware that favor dsvor Of foreign
tons might have material influence in enargng and pro-
longing the struggle with dsoyal which the country
is engaged fair examination of history has seemed to
authorize belief that the past action and influences of the
United States generally regarded having been be.
nefca toward mankind have, therefore, reckoned upon
the iorbearance of nations Circumstances, to some of
which you kindly aude induced me especially to expect
that if justice and good faith should be pracsed by the
United States they would encounter no hostile influence
the part of Great Britain 1t now pleasant duty to
acknoW edge the demonstration you have given of your
desire that spirit of peace and amty toward this country
may prevail in the councils Of your Queen who respected
and esteemed in your country only than she s
kindred which has its home on this side of the
Atlantic.
] know and deeply deplore the suferings which the
workingmen at Manchester and 10 all Europe are called
to endure in this crisis 1t has been often and studously
represented that the attempt to overthrow this Govern
meDt which built upon the foundation of human riphts
and to substitute for it which should rest exclusively
on tne pas huan slavery was key 70 obtain the favor
of Europe Through the action of our disoya citizens
the workingmea of Europe have been subjected to Sc
trial. for the purpose of forcing their sanction to that
attempt Under these crcuns stances but regard
decisive utterances upon the question instance
of sublime Christian heroism which has been surpassed
in any age or in country 1t is indeed energetic
and reinsprng assurance of the inherent power of truth
and Of the ultimate and universal triumph of Justice hu
manty, and freedom. do not doubt that the sentiments
you have expressed will be sustained by your great
and on The other band have no hesitation 10 assuring
you that they will excite admiration esteem aud the most
reciprocal felngs of friendships among ths American
people.
hail this Interchange of sentiment, therefore, as an
augury that whatever else may happen whaever msor-
tune may befal your country my own the pesce and
friendship which exist between the two nations will
be, as it shall be my desire to make them, perpetual
ABRAHAM LINCOLN