Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-05
The DUTY OF Southern Unsen Men
Latter og Presidents Lincoln.

rant Esq. addressed letter through Cuthbes
Bullitt TO President Lincoln. complaining that
slaves are protected By The federal authorities
and kept from their masters, and also complain
ing that men have 70 take the oath OF allegiance
and tia, trade with the rebel. is prohibited. The
president senta reply. dated July %. IL IS pub
lisbed for the FIRST time in a tate number Of The
Libcrstor. and is IS follows:
APPLY THK PRESIDENT
wssBISeroS.' d. @, July p. 1861.
Cuthbcrt Bulli;,. Esq. New Orleans, La:
Sr.-The copy Of q letter addressed to yourself
by Mr.. Thomas J. Durani. has been shown TO
me. The writer appears to be an able. dispas
sionste. aud an eNirely sincere man. The first
part OF the letter Ydevoted to an effort to sbo-
that the secession ordinance of Louisiana was
adopted against the viii Of msiority Of the peo-
pie This ia probably true. and in that fact may
be found some instruction. Why did they ALLOW
the ordnance 10 90 into efecll Why did they
not exert themselves, Why stand passive and
allow themselves to be tr0dden down by mi
norisyl why did they not hold popular meet
iDgs, and have . convention OF their own TO eI
press and enforce the true sentiments Of the
ststst
II organization against them. then
phy not do this now that the United States
| army IL present TO protect themf The psrslyzer
the dead palsy-of the government in the
whole struggle Is, that this class OF men will do
nothing for the government-nothing for them
selves, except demanding that the government
shall not strike ts enemies. lest they be struck
by accident.
Dir. Durant complains that, in various ways.
| the relation Of master and slave is disturbed by
the presence Of our army. and he considers IL par
ticuarly veIatous that this, IN part, IS done un-
der cover Of an act Of congress. while constitu-
tional guarantees are superadded on the plea OF
military necessity. The truth ia, that what is
/ done and omitted about slaves il done aud
omitted on the same military necessity. II is a
military necessity 10 have men and money; and
We cannot get either. IN sufficient numbers or
amounts. il ne keep from or drive from our lines
| slaves coming to them.
Mr.. Durant cannot be ignorant of the pressure
u this direction nor Of my efforts hold il with
| in bounds, till he, and such he, shall have
| time TO help themselves.
| am not posted TO speak unders,andingly on
! the public regulations of which Mr.. Dursnt com
plains. IL experience shows any Of them TO be
| wrong, Let them be set right think can per
ceive in the freedom of trade which Mr.. Durant
| urges tba; he would relieve both friends and en-
emies from the presence OF the blockade BY
this he would serve the enemy more effectively
| than the enemy is able to serve himself.
1 Il W uOL SAY UT Oelltft tDht " serve tue cue
| my is the purpose of Mr.. Durent, or that he is
conscious of sny purposes other than national
and patriotic ones Sill, If there were class Of
men who having no choice OF sides in the con
test, were anxious only to have quiet and comfort
for themselves while il RACES, aud to fall in with
the victorious side at the end of it, without loss
10 themselves. their advice as 10 the mode Of
conducting the contest would be precisely such
as his.
He speaks OF no duty, apparently thinks of
none, resting upon union men. He even THU AXIS
| il Injurious TO the union that they should
be restrained in trade and passage, without TAX
| ing sides. They are TO touch neither a sail a
pump-lvs merely passengers ('desd heads" at
that)-to be carried snug and dry throughout the
storm and safely landed right side up. Nay.
m0re-eyen q mutineer is to 60 untouched, lest
! these sacred passengers receive accidental
| wound.
OF course. the rebellion will never be sup
pressed in Louisiana. if the professed union men
there will neither help to do il nor permit the
government to do without Their help.
Now. | think the true remedy is very differ
ent from what is suggested by Mr.. Durant. IL
does not lie in rounding the rough angles of the
war. The people of Louisiana who wish protec
ton to persons and property, have but to reach
forth their hands and take it. Let them 10 good
faith reinaugurate the national authority and
| set up q state government in conformity thereto
under the constitution They know how to do
il. and can have the protection of the
army while doing it, The army will be
Withdrawn 80 s0on as such governm
can dispense with its presence. and the
people Of the state then, upon the old
terms, govern themselves to their own liking
This 10 very simple and easy
IL they will no. do this-if they prefer to haz
ard all for the sake OF DESTROYING the govern
ment-it is for them to consider whether it is
probable will surrender the government 10 save
them from losing all If they decline what
suggest. you scarcely need to ask what will do
What would you do in my position, Would
YOU drop the war where il is. or would you pros
ecute il in future with elder-stslk squrts, charged
| with rosewater? Would you deal liz liter blows
| rather than heavier onesf Would you give up
the contest, leaving every available means unap-
piedI
am in no bosstful mood shall not do more
than l can but shall do all can to save the
government. which is nv sworn duty as we'll as
nv personal inclination. l shall do nothing in
malice What | deal with is too vast for mali
cious dealing.
Yours. very truly.
Signedl A. LINCOLN.