Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-10-09
LineOIn,s Rebuke Of Greeley.

From the Washington C~hronicle.l
On the ODD of August, 1862, Abra.
ham Lincoln was moved to write that
remarkable letter to Horace Greeley,
which will stand as a model of per
spicuity and patriotic resolve for the
admiration Of coming generations.
Greeley was petulantly finding fault
and debating to the President his du-
ty. Impatient that so little attention
was paid to his ranting. he finally al.
dressed a communication to the
President through the columns of the
Tribune. 1t was insOlent and pre-
sumptuous in the last degree, for it
seemed TO be written upon the pre-
sumption that the President did not
know his duty, or, if he knew it, had
not the nerve to perform il. M.
Lincoln replied to it at once. In his
admirable letter he gave Mr.. Greeley
to understand that his false statements
and assumptions were permitted to pass
unheeded. His false differences should
not be dignified by controversy
The impatient and die atOrial tOnep
was simply tolerated, because OF a
belief that it was the result of an i'm
irmity of temper, not a badn,s - Of
heart. The greatness Of Lincoln
shOne Out in the frank avowal of =
high purpose to perfom his sworn du
ty, which was to defend and save the
Union at all hazard. He was chosen
President of the United States with a
full knowledge on the part of the PEG
pie of all sectious that he believed
slavery prejudicial to the perpetuity
of the Union aud the maintenance
of liberty. But his great trust and
his sworn duty was to preserve the
Constitution inviolate, execute the
laws as he found them, and save the
Union. Therefore, his personal de-
sires could not be permitted to sway
his action or to control his plans
The rebuke was whitening, and eff
fectually silenced the clamorOus mar
plot of the Tribune. The Chicago
Times has done a good service i'm re-
calling this letter to mind:
"EXECUTIvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON August %, 1862
lion. II. Greeley:
DEAR SIR have Just read yours
of the 10Th instant, addressed to nv
self through the New York Tribunr.
eff there be in it any statements or
assumptions of fact which | may know
to be erroneous, I do not now and here
cOntrovert them.
"If there be any differences which
may believe TO be falsely drawn, l do
not now and here argue against them,
" If there be ~perceptable i'm it an
impatient and dictaiorial tone, I waive
il in Difference to an old friend whose
heart L have always supposed TO be
las to the policy I seem to be pur-
as you say, / have not meant
the Union. / would save it in
shortest way under the COnstitu-
lion.
1.-The sooner the national authority
be restored, the nearer the Union
will be to the Union as it was.
IF there be those who would not
ave the Union unless they could at
he same time save slavery, I do not
lgree with them.
'Ifthere be those who would not save
he Union unless they could at the
anne time destroy slavery, / do not
with them.
MY paramount object is to save
Union, and not either to save or
slavery.
'If / could save the Union without
any slave would do it: ifI ,
could save il by freeing all the slave,
would d il /; and If L could do it by
some and leaving others alone
[ would also do that.
"What l do about slavery and the
race l do because L believe il
to save this Union; and what 1
Orbear l forbear because I do not be- (
ieve it would help TO ave the Union.
Il shall DO less whenever / shall
what l am doing hurts the I
,ause, and | shall do more whenever
believe doing more will help the
,luse.
81 shall try 10 correct errors when :
blown TO be errors, l shall adopt new
7iews so fast as they shall appear to be
rue views" J
Il have here stated my purpose I
according to my views of official duty, !
md | Intend 10 modification of my :
1T expressed personal wish that all
men everywhere should be free. I
" Yours, a. LINCOLN"