The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-06-21
Extraordinary Letter From Greeley to
Lincoln.

Ihe following extraordinary letter WaS
written by Horace Greeley to President
Lincoln after the battle Of Bull Run, and
is printed for the first time in the Lincoln
Life in the June Century. It will be
remembered that before the battle Mr..
Grealy had kept 8 standing headline in
fhispa paper-urging the armies forward to
Richmond Forward to Richmond"
'sNEw YORK, July 10, 1851.
midnight.
nDear Ssr:-This is my seventh
sleepless night-yours, too, doubtless
yet I think shall not die because I have
no right to die. I must struggle to live,
however bitterly. But to business. You
are not considered q great man, and I
am hopelessly broken one. You are
now undergoing q terrible ordeal, and God
has thrown the gravest responsibilities
upon you. Do not fear to meet them.
Can the rebels be beaten after allsthat
has occurred, and in view of the actual
state of feeling caused by our late awful
disaster? IF they can-and it is your
business to ascertain and decide-write
me that such is your judgment, so that /
may know and do my duty. And if they
cannot be beaten-if our recent disaster is
fatal--do, not fear to sacrifice yourself to
your country. Ifthe rebels are not;toibe
beaten-if that is your Judgment in
view of all the light you can get-then
every drop of blood henceforth shed in
this quarrel will be wontonly, wickedly
shed, and the guilt will rest heavily on
the soul Of every promoter of the crime.
i pray yon to decide quickly and let me
know my duty.
"If the Union is irrevocably gone, an
larmistice for 80, so, go, 12O days-better
still for a year-ought at once to be
proposed, with 8 view to peaceful
adjustment. Then Congress should call
National Convention, to meet at the
earliest possible day. And there should
be an immediate and mutual exchange
or release of prisoners and disbandment
of forces. I do not consider myself at
present judge Of anything but the pub.
lie sentiment. That seems to me every.
where gathering and deepening against 3
prosecution of the war. The gloom in
this city is fnneral-for our dead at Bull
Run were many, and they lie unburied
yet. On every brow sits sullen, scorching
black despair. It would be easy to have
Mr.. -Crittenden move any proposition
that ought to be adopted, or to have it
come from any proper quarter. The first
point is to ascertain what is best that
can be done-which is themeasure of our
duty, and do that very thing at the ear
liest moment.
'sThis letter is written in the strictest
confidence, and is for your eye alone.
But you are at liberty to say to members
Of your Cabinet that you kno.O I will
second any move you may see 6t TO make.
But do nothing timidly nor by halves.
Send me word what to do. will live
till I can hear it at all e,en's. II it j
best for the country and for mankind
that We make peace with the rebels at
once and on their OVID terms, do not
shrink even from that. But bear in
mind the greatest truth Whose would
lose his life for my sake shall save it,
Do the thing that is the highest right,
and tell me how I am to second you.
"Yours, in the depths of bitterness,
"HoRAcE GREELEY"