The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-05-11
Another Letter from President Lincoln.
ExscUTivs Mansion, !
WAsHISGTOS, April 4, 1864. !

4 @ Hodges, E.g Frankfort Ky:
Mt DEAR SIR:-YOu ask me TO put in writ
lag the substance of what / verbally said the
other day in your presence, 10 Governor Bram
ette aud Senator Dixon. Ii was about as fol-
lows:
am naturally antsiavcry. II slavery is not
wrong nothing 10 wrong cannot remcmocr
when lid not 80 think aud feel. Ard vet I
have never understood that the Presidency con
TERED upon me an unrestricted light 10 act OFF,
cally upon this Judgment aud feeling II va
the oath took, that | would To the best of nv
ability, preserve, protect aud defend the Com
stituton Of the United States could not take
the office without taking the oath. Nor was il
my view that | might take an oath to get power
aud break the oath Ia using the power. UNDER
stand, too, that in ordinary civil administration
this oath even forbade NE 10 practically indulge
in primary, abstract judgment on the moral
question OF slavery lad publicity declared this
nisHy times, and in many ways. And | aver that
to This day, have done no official act in mere
deiereuce TO MY abstract judgment aud feeling
Oh slavery
dad understand. however, that my oath 10
preserve the Constitution TO The best OF my
ability, imposed upon NE the duty of preserv-
ug b. every Indispensable means, that Gov
erumeDt-that nation, OF which that Cousutu-
ton was the organic law. Was is possible to
lJse the nation, aud Yet preserve the Consii-
tuition
By general law, lie aud limb must be protect
ed; Yet often limb mus. be smputated TO rave
life. but lie IS never wisely given to save a
limb. felt HAT measures, otherwise uncou-t!tu-
tiOnal, might become awful by becoming. ind =
pensable 20 thu D. eservaiiOn OF ihc Constitution.
III. ough the preservation Of the nation Rignt
or wrong l assumed this ground and no~ I
svow II, 1 could not feel that to the best Of NV
ability had even tried 70 preserve the COistlu
non, IF, to save sla.ery, or suy MINOR matter, |
should permit the wreck Of Government, country
and Constitution, altogether
Wien, early il the WAL, Gen Fremont attempt
ed military emancipatiO to- bade IT, because
did not Then thnk 10 al indispensable becessit,
/ Wheu, a little later. Gen Cameron then Secre-
tary OF War. suggested the arming of the blacks,
/ l Otl scted because | did not then think IL a.
Indispensable Necessity. When, still later. Gen.
/ Hunter attempted military emancipation. again
for Osds il T; because did not vet think the inds.
pensabe necessity had come.
When, 10 March, and May, and Juls, 1862.
made earnest and srccessise appeals 10 the Dor
/ der States 10 favor compensated emancipation
believed the Indispensable necessity for military
emancipation, aud arnng the backs would come
.
the proposition; and | was ia my best iud Kmsnt,
driven 10 ihe alternative Oi either surrendefng
the Union, aud with IL. the Constitution. or o.
laying strong hands upon tie colored element
l Chose the latter la choosing IL, | hoped tor
I great gam than loss; but VI this AS not en-
tlrsly confident. More titan year Of trial nov
shows 10 iOss by e, IN our foreign relations none
I ~ GU. home popular scot meht, noae ns our
/ white military iorce-rO loss by IL, any how. or
any where. On t. contrary 70 sh0ss gam Of
qaite 1870 O0J soldiers, se.men and laDorers
Iuese are paipa0ie facts, about " ich a. facts
there can be 30 caviiiug. We have the men
and ~ could noi have had them without tue
laes.ure
Aud uOE let any Ulion man, Who omylsin-
o. the measure, trst nins 30 by writiag do~u in
Que line that be i Tor subdu.ng the rebellion by
force OF arms. AID 10 the ny1t that be i for G..
KING these lSu.0uO meu from tie Uuion side
aud pacing 1hem where they would Dr. but lor
tne measure te condemns n he cannot face bis
cause s. stated. Il D. OILS because he cannot lac
tic truth.
/ ! add word, which vas not 90 tie verbal con-
versation. IL Tell thi- tale, ! attempt TO COM
/ pl meut 70 nv Osn sagacty claim uot 20 havr
controlled events out confess plainly. that even l.
have Controlled ne. NO~ al Abe end Of three
years struggle. the nations condition = not rhaf
either party or any man devised or expected
God alone can clan j. Whuter IL Is tending
seems plan. II God uOH ~ils the removal OF
great wrong, and Nis aiso ,hat We Of the
North, as vel az on Of the SJugh snail pay far
y tor cur c3nphcty 10 that wrong, impartial
history wi find therein lev causes % attest AM
revere the IsJless and goodness Of cd.
Yours truly. A LINCOLN