Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-05-06
LETTER BY THE PRESIDENT.
state Com.

HIS POLICY AS TO SLAVERY.
Colonel A. G. Hodges, senior editor OF tn
Franklin Commonwealth. of Frankfort, Ky
accompanied Governor Bramlette and Senato'
Dixon when they visited the President to ad
lust the differences respecting the enrolment
Of Kentucky. At the close of the intervie
Mr.. Lincoln took occasion to explain his pc
si,ion on the general subject Of slavery in II
relations to the war, and, upon the suggestio
of Col. Hodges that his views we're great
mistaken, reduced his remarks TO writing
the following letter
"Exgcurivs MAss1oS. WASHINGTON April
A. g HoDoEs, Esq. Frankfort Ky l., .,.,.. =,
My DEAK SIR. You Ask me 70 put IN Srluns u
sbstance Of what verbally said the other day N yo
presence to Gov BrAmlette and Senator DIXON IL VII
n,tnt.v Anti slavery II slavery is not
nothing ia wrong l cannot remember when did
"a think and feel. And yet have never uudef.io
that the Presidency conferred upon me an unresuic"
right act 'Rcany upon hi, judement aho iee.n5
was in the oath took, thatl would 70 the pest OF NJ
.bilitv preserve protect and defend the CONSTITUTE
of ,he United States | could not take the ONCE WI
out taking the oath. Nor was u my Vie" that mig
80 an oath To yet power and break the oath in usi
an, poWer | understood, too that, in ordinary civil A.
ministration this oath even forbade me prAchcahy
indulge my primary ISsasi Ssel.lsd thi. man
lime. and In mauy Ways Aud aver that, to this d.,
have done no official act In mere difference TO my at
strAct Judgment and feeling on slavery
DID understand, however, that my oAth 70 ptese'N
the Constitution 10 the best OF my ability imposed upo
me the duty ofpresetVng by every indspensaoe
that Grvernment-thAt Nation, OF when mat Cohsu,u
,inn wa the organic law. Was II possiole 10 lose u
Nation and yet preserve the Constitution
"By general law life aud limb must be protected ye
often 4 limb must he ampuialed 70 save NE uut u
e. ryVfaa uty
ares otherwisc unconstitutional, might become la"iu'
by becoming indispensable TO the prcsetVauOh ., wy
Constitution thro' the preservation OF the nanon' hgh
or wrong | ASSUMED this ground, and now svow H.
could no feel that 10 the best Of my ability had eVs'
tried to preserve the Constitution, u to save slavery
any minor matter should permit the wreck OIL Govern
nsnt Country and Constitution, all together Nhei
early In the war Gen. Fremont attempted military e
marcipaion. forhaae II, because DID nof then thnl
IL an Indispensable necessity When little later, Gen
Cameron, then Secretary Of War, suggested the armn
Of the blacks, objected because did not yet think
an ind spensable necessity When, still later. Genera
Hunter attempted military emancipation again foTbad
it, because did not yet think the indispensable necessi
ty had come
q When. in March. and May and July, 1862. mad
eafncst and successive appeals 20 the rider State
favor compensated emancipation, believed the indis
pensSble necessity for mill ary emancipation and armn
the blacks would come unless ayered by that measure
They declined the proposition, and was, IN my hes
judgment, driven TO the alternative OF either surrender
ing the Union ard with it the Constitution Of ayin
strong hand upon the coored element. chose the lat
but Of this | was not entirely confident. More than
year Of trial shows loss by 1t, in foreign re
lAtons none in our home popular sentiment none il
white military force-nO loss by il anywhere. Oi
the contrary, It shows gain Of quite hundred AM
thirty thousand soldiers, seameD. aud aborers. Ihes
ptpabe facts, about which, facts there be
caviing We have the men, and could not have Ia,
them without the measure.
And now. let any Union man who complains Of tn
measure test himself, by writing down in line tina
he is for subduing the rebellion by force Of and
the next that he is for taking these 100 900 from III
Union side, and placing them where they would be- bu
for the measure he condemns. II he cannot face hi
cause so stated it is only because he cannot face tn
| truth.
" add word which was not in the verbal converse
ton. In telling this tale attempt compliment m
own sagaoity. ! claim have controlled events
but confess plainly that eventa have controlled me- Now
at the end Of three years struggle the nations oond
ton is not what either party any devised
peced God alone claim il. Whittier it is tendin
seems plain. II God now wills the removal Of gres
wrong and wills also that Of the North, as well a
you Of the South, shall pay fairly for completely B.
that wrong, impartial history will mud therein
to attest and revere the justice and goodness Of God
Yours, truly, A. LINCOLN"