The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-10-12
Lineoo's SObQeo q 01oolOY.
From the Wa.hinytOn ChUniclc.

ON INC sSu ot August, AoOSs ATanSuA
Lincoln was moved to write that remarkable
letter to Horace Greeley. which will stand
Us a model Of pe.spicuity and patriotic re.
solve for the admiration of coming genera.
tons. Greeley was petulcntly finding fault
and debating to the President his duty.
Impatient that No little attention was paid to
his ran,ing. he finally addressed = communi.
cation 10 the President through the columns
of tie Tribune. It was inso.eat and pre-.
sump,ious to the last degree, for 1t seemed
10 he written upon the presumption that the
President did not know bis duty, or, II he
knew il, had not the nerve to perform IL.
Mr.. Lincoln replied to it 1t once. In his
admirable letter he gave Mr.. Greeley to IN
derstand that his false statements and as.
sumptions were permitted 10 pass UNDECIDED.
His false in,crfercnces should not be digni1.
cd by controversy. The ''impaticnt and die.
tatorial tone" was simply tolerated. because
Of abclief that it was the result Of an infirmity
Of temper. not badness Of heart. The
greatness Of Lincoln shown out In the frank
avowal of high purpose to perform his
sworn duty, which was to defend and tavc
the Union at all hazards. lie was chosen
President of the United States with full
knowledge on the part of The people of oil
sections that he believed slavery prejudic,al
to tho pcrpctui,y of the Union and the main.
tcnancc Of liberty. But his great trust and
sworn duty was to preserve the Constitution
inviola,c, execute the laws as be found them,
and save the Union. Therefore his personal
desires could not bc permitted to sway hia
action or control his plans. The rebukc
was whitening. and cffectualiy silcnccd the
ciamorOus msrpios Of the ztjSsss. The
Chicago Times has done good service in
recalling this letter to mind:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 80.
Hon. H. Greeley:
"DEAR SrR:-I have just read yours Of
the 18th inst, address ed to myself through,
the New York Tribune.
IF there be in it any statements or as>
sumptions Of fact which ! may know to be
erroneous, I do not now and here controvers
them. ua ....... ...
IF there be any differences which I may
believe 10 be falsely drawn, do not now
and here argue against them.
III there be perccptible In II an imps:ien,
and dictatorial tone, ! ws;ve It In deferencs
to an old friend whose heart have Away
supposed 10 be all right.
If there he those who would not save The
Union unless they could ut the eainc time
save slavery, I do not agree with them.
MY paramount object i to save the
Union, and not either to save or destroy
slavery. a."aaa
III could save tho Union without free.
ing any slave I would do Il; If I could save
1t by freeing all the slaves I would do Il; II
I could do Il BY freoiag come apd leaving
others, would also do that.
"What do about slavery and The uegro
race do because ! Be lieve il helps 10 sayt
this Union; and what forbear forbeap
because l 10 not believe It would help q
save the Union.
II shall do less whenever shall believe
what ! am doing hurts the cause, and lshall
do more whenever believe doing more will
help the cause.
II shall try to correct errors when shown
70 he errors. shall adopt new views . fast
Z, they appear TO be true views
Il have here stated my purpose according
to my views Of ofacisl duty, and intend no
modification Of my oft.cxprcssed personal
wish that all men everywhere could be
free. or H. rrrrYeurs, - y
s VS. = -t~@f1 IL ~ "A. LINcoIN.