Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-09-20
Visit to the President.


contains letter from John 7. Mills, judge
Of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, giving an
account of recent interview with Mr..
Lincoln, with a report of the remarks Of
the latter 10 regard to the consequences
which would follow the adoption of the
war policy urged by the friends Of Gen.
Mcclellan. We quote from the Judge.
"Mr. President, said FIX Gov. Randall,
"why cau't you seek secusiou, and play
hermit for fortnight Il would re-lnvi-
gorate YOU"
"Ay," said the President, "but two or
three weeks would do me no good. | can
not fly from my thoughts--my solicisude
for thus great country follows me wherever
| 20. | dou's think it is personal vanity
or smbtion, though | am not free from
these infrmitics, but | eau not but feel
that the veal or woe of this great nation
will be decided iu November. There is
no programme offered by any wing Of the
Democratic party bu, tina. must result in
the permanent. destruction of the Cuion."
"But, Mr.. President, Gen. Mcclellan is
in favor Of crushing out the rebellion by
force. He will be the Chicago candidate"
"Sir," said the President, "the lightest
knowledge Of arithmetic will prove to any
mau that the Rebel armies can not be
destroyed with Democratic strategy. 1t
would sacrifice all the white men of the
North to do it, There are now in the
service of the United States near two
hundred thousand able bodied co!ored
men, most of them under arms, defending
aud acquiring Union territory. The Dem
ocratic strategy demands that these be
disbauded, and that the masters be con-
cliated by restoring them TO slavery.
The black men who now assist Uuion
prisoners to escape, are to be converted
into our enemies, in tho vain hope OF
gaining the good will of their masters.
We shall have to fight two nations instead
of one. You can not concliate the South,
if you guarantee TO them ultimate success
aud the experience of the present war
proves their success is inevitable If you
fling the compulsory labor of millions Of
black men on their side of the scale. Will
you give our enemies such military ad.
vantages as to insure success, and then de-
pend on coaxiug, fatsery, aud concession
to get them back into the Union! Abao-
don all the posts now garrlsoned by black
men, take two hundred thousand men
c. ,lo kap ha haf Ia
field or corn field against US, sud We would
be compelled to abandon the war in three
weeks. We have to hold territory in in
clement and sickly places; where are the
Democrats to do this 1t was . free
fight, and the field was open to the War
Democrats to put down this rebellion by
fighting against both master and slave,
long before the present policy was inaugu-
rated. There have been men base enough
to propose to me to return to slavery the
black warriors of Port Hudson and Olus-
tee, and thus win the respect Of the masters
they fought. Should do 80, | shouid de-
serve TO be damned 10 time and eternity.
Come what will, will keep my faith With
friend aud foe. Ny enemies pretend l
am nov carrying on this var for tho sole
purpose of abolition. So long as l sm
President, it shall be carried on for the
sole purpose of restoring the Union. But
no human power can subdue this rebellion
without the use Of the emancipation policy,
and every other policy calculated to wea-
ken the moral and physical forces of tho
rebellion. Freedom has given rs two
hundred thousand men raised on Southern
SOIL 1t will give US more yet. Just so
much it has subtracted from the enemy,
and, instead of alternating the South, there
are now evidences of a fraternal feeling
growing up between our men and the rank
and file of the rebel soldiers. Let my en-. |
emies prove to the country that the de-
struction of slavery is not necessary to a
of the Union. l will abide
the ISSUE"
l saw that the President was not mere |
joker, but man of deep convictions, Of
abiding faith in justice, truth and Provi.
dense. His voice was pleasant, his man
ner earnest and emphatic. As ho warmed
with his theme, his mind grew to the
Of his body. l felt l was in
The presence of the great guiding intellect !
Of the age, and that :hose huge Atlantean
shoulders we're e. to "bear the weight of
nightiest monarchies." His transparent
honesty, republican simplicity, his gush.
ing sympathy for those who offered their
lives for the country, his utter forgetful-
ness Of self in bis concern for its welfare,
could not but inspire me with confidence
that be was Heavens instrument to con-
luct his people through this sea of blood
to Canaan Of peace and freedom.
j. T. Mills.
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