Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-18
IcommaaieAssa
Mr. Llncoin's Letter to A. @. Hodges.

Eaifors JearnAi'
The Presidents letter to Mr Hodges,
Of Kentucky, containing the substance
Of his conversation viii Gov. Bramleae
and Mr. Dixon, on the question of eman-
cipation, and the measures crossing out
Of Il, IL production veil worthy the at
sentivs peraaal Of the public generally.
Like most Of his Published productions.
II Is distinguished for exceliencies almost
peculiar 70 the aathor. For lie straight
forwardaess and honesty, ila good hard
Wuse, its logic Of facts, its unpretending
piainness Of statement, Us embodiment
Of case 1nanswerahIy made out, it has
few rivals among public documents 'Tis
the plain talk Of . plain naan. and
thinker--fhe logic 9fa man who professes
= principle and acts upon it There is a
directneas about il that is refreshing.
lie leaves no room for Misunderstanding
and Is not careful. By ambiguity OF
speech, to construct some loop hole
| through which at some future lime he
might creep, by explanation 81 new con
struetion, out Of the position assumed.
lie is anti-slavery in sentiment, he says,
and believes that ii slavery il net wrong
nothing is wrong. But acts based on
his opinion - an individual, must con-
form TO the conditions Of tia: instrument
bs virtue OF which be became President.
This principle he reduced 10 action, he
asserts, and appeals 10 history for the
proaf, and history sussains him. IT bis
private opinions are at variance with the
requirements of the fundamental Law
from which he derives his authority. they
mast not be suffered TO develop them.
| selves ia official action, and be does not
hermit then TO do so. But events are
stronger than Presidents, and even Con-
stitntions, and The time arrives when his
obligations under that very instrument
nseessilate q course of action in conform
ity to his private opinions, but not ema.
mating therefrorn. The limb must BE-
sacrificed 10 save the life--a part Topped
of to save the remainder.
BE appeals again to facts His logic
! is the logic OF fact. Nothing has been
lost, much has been gained. The life OF
the patient demanded the sacrifice; the
conditions of the Presidents oath de.
manded ii. Who that wishes we'll to
the sufferer would desire that the old
rotten hmb should be again patched on
/ to the body, to send the poison Of It's pu.
srefaction through the hearts best blood
Some self-elected judges have under.
taken to pass unfavorable judgment on
! the Presidents claims 10 the title Of q
great man. II greatness consisted in
quotations from Cicero and Homer, and
limitations of the long-winded orationl
of some modern public speakers, Mr
I.ineoln's claims would indeed be small
But if greatness consists in firm grasg
of the subject, true and comprehensive
practical view of its bearings, and the
power TO extract and use the grain knt
reject the chat, then Mr. Lincoln claim
10 the title will rise III stature till it over
tops and overshadows its surrounding
like giant among pigmies.
Of all thas has been written, all tha
has been spoken on this subject, what j
there worth remembering, outside Q
what is contained in the short letter Q
the PRESIDENT 1t covers the Who'll
groand-is exhausts the question. Iti
the grain Of wheat in the hushel OF chat
1t is the real issue honestly met, and tri
unaphansly answered. 1t IS the emhod
} ment, in words, OF patriotic idea, Ii
reducing Of floating popular sentimeu
into fixed form OF words-the tru
4 Union mans shibboleth. ".