The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-09-11
Gbe Union &gownd,
Patriotic Letter from President Lincoln,
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, August 3lst, 1868. !

Washington, August Slst, 1868.
Hon. J. c. Con!iin:
My Dear Sir Your letter inviting me to
attend mass meeting of unconditional Un-
ion men, to be held at the capital of Illinois
on the Sd day Of September, has been rcceiv-
cd. Ii would be very agreeable to me thus
to meet my old friends ut my own home, but
cannot Just now be absent from this city so
long as visit there would require. The
meeting is to be of oil those who maintain
unconditional devotion to the Union; and
am sure that my old political friends will
thank inc for rendering, as do, the nations
gratitude to those other noble men whom no
partizan malice or partizan hope can make
false to the nation'slifo. There arc those who
arc dissatisfied with INC. To such l would
say, you desire peace, and you blame me that
we do not have it. But how can we attain
il? There arc but three conceivable ways
First, to suppress tho rebellion by forco Of
arms. This am trying to do. Are you for
it? II you are, so far we are agreed. III
you are not for it, o second way is to give up
the Union. am against this. IL you are,
YOU should say 80 plainly. II you arc not
Tor force, nor yet for dissolution, thero only
remains some imaginable compromise. l do
not believe that any compromise embracing
the maintenance Of the Union is now posi-
bic. All that learn leads to a directly op.
positc belief The strength Of the rebellion
Is in its military-its army. The army DOM
mates all tho country and all tho people
within its range. Any offer Of terms made
by any man or men within that range in op-
position to that army is simply nothing for
the present, because such man or men have
no power whatever to enforce their side Of a
compromise if one were made with them
To illustrate: suppose refugees from the
South and peace men of the North get to-
cother in convention and frame andproclaim
a compromise embracing u restoration OF the
Union; IN what way can that compromise be
used to keep Gen. Lees army out OF Pensyl.
vania? Gen. Meade's army can keep Lees
army out Of Pennsylvania, and think can
ultimately drive it out Of existence, but no
papcr compromise, to which the controllers
of Gen. Leo's army are not agreed, can Mt
all affect that army. In an effort ut such
compromise we would waste time, which the
enemy would improve to our disadvantage
and that would be all. A compromise, to
be cfIectual, must be made either with those
who control the rebel army or with the poo
ple first liberated from tho dominion Of that
army by the successes ofour army. Now al-
low me 70 assure you that no word or init.
nation from the rebel army or from, any OF
the men controlling it, in relation to any
peacc compromise, has ever come to my
knowledge or belief. All charges and inti-
nation to the contrary are deceptive and
rroundless, and promise you that IL any
such proposition shall hereafter come, II shall
not be rejected and kept secret from you.
I freely acknowledge myself to DO the ser.
want Of the people according to the bond OF
service in the United States Constitution,
and that as such | am responsible to them.
But, to be plain, you are dissatisfied with me
about the negro. Quite likely there is a
difference Of opinion between you and myself
on the subject. l certainly wish that oil
men were tree, while you, suppose, do not.
Yet. have neither adopted nor proposed any
measure which is not consistent, with even
YOUR view, provided you are for the Union.
suggested compensated emancipation, to
which YOU replied that you did not wish to
be taxed to buy negroes; but l had not
asled You 10 be taxed to buy negroes, except
in such way as to sayc you from greater
,.xation. 10 save the Union exclusively by
other means. You dislike the emancipation
PROCLAMATION, and perhaps would have il re.
,rac,cd You saw il is unconstitutional. l
think differently. think the Constitution
invests the Commander.in-Chiei with law oi
war in times Of war. The most that can be
said Of so much. is that slaves are property.
Is therc-has there ever been any question
that. by law Of war, property both ofenemics
or friends, may DO taken when needed. and is
it not needed whenever taking il helps Us
and hurts the enemy? Armies, the world
over, destroy tho enemies property, when
they cannot use it, and even destroy their
own To kccpit from the enemy. Civilized
belliserents do all in their power TO help