Year: 1863

things, regarded Us barbarous or cruel.


Among the acceptions, are the massacre OF
yanauished foes and non-combatants, male
and female. But the proclamation law is
valid or not valid. II 1t is not valid, it
needs no retraction; fit is valid, it cannot
be retracted any moro than the dead can be
brought to life. Some of you profess to
think that its retraction would operate favor
ably for the Union. Why better after the
rctraction than before the issue? There was
more than year and half of trial to sup
press the rebellion before the proclamation
was issued, the last one hundred days OF
which passed under an explicit notice that 1t
was coming unless arrested by those in revolt
returning to their allegiance. The war has
certainly progressed as favorably for us since
tho isrue of the proclamation, before
l know, as fully as ono can know tho
opinion of others, that some of the comman-
ders of our armies in the field who have CIV
en- us our most important victoIias, believed
the emancipation policy and the aid of color.
cd troops, constituted the heaviest blows yet
dealt to the rebellion, and that at least one
Of those important successes could not have
been achieved when it was but for the aid oil
black soldiers. Among the commanders
holding these views, are some who have nev.
er had any affinity with what is called abo-
litionism, or with the Republican party pol.
itics, but who hold them purely as military
opinions. submit their opinions US being
entitled to some weight against tho objec-
tions often urged that emancipation and arm
ing tho blacks are unwise as military meas.
ures, and were not adopted as such in good
faith. You say you will not object to free
negroes. Some Of them seem to be willing
to fight for you, but no matter. Fight you
then exclusively to save the Union? issu-
cd the proclamation on purpose to aid you
on in saving the Union.


Whenever you shall have conquered all re-
sistance to the Union, il shall urge you to
continue fighting, it will be an apt time then
for you to declare that you will not fight to
free negroes. thought that in your strug-
gle to save tho Union, to whatever extent
the negroes should cease helping tho enemy.
to that extent it weakened the enemy in his
resistance to you. Do you think differently?
thought that whatever negroes can be got
to do as soldiers leaves just 80 much less for
white soldiers to do in saving tho Union
Does it appear otherwise to you? But ne
groes, like other people, act upon motives
Why should they do anything Tor us if We
will do nothing for them? II they stake
their lives for US, they must be prompted by
the strongest motivcs-eyen the promise Of
freedom; and tho promise being made must
be kept.


The signs look better. The Fathers of
Waters again go vcxed to tho sea. Thanks
to tho great Northwest for it. Nor yet
wholly to them. Three hundred miles up
thoy met New England, Empire, Keystone
and Jersey hcwing their way right and left.
The sunny South, in moro colors than ono,
also lent hand. On the spot their part of
tho history was jottcd down in black and
white. The job was great national one,
and let none bc banned who bore one honor
able part in it; and while those who have
cleared tho great river may well be proud,
even though that is all, it is hard to say that
anything has been moro bravcly and better
done than at Antictam, Murlrcesboro', Get
tysburg and on many fields of less note.


Nor must Uncle Sam S web feet be forgot
ten. At all the waters margins they have
been present, not only IN tho deep sea, the
broad bay, and the rapid river, but also up
the narrow, muddy bayou, and wherever the
ground was little damp, they have been and
made their tracks. Thanks to all for the
great Republic, for tho principles by which
il lives and keeps alive for mans vast future
Thanks to all. Peace does not appear 80
distinct as it did. hope it will come soon,
and como to stay. and so come as to DO worth
the keeping in all future. II will then have
been proved that among froemen there can
be no successful appeal from tho ballot box
to the bullet and that they who take such
appeal are sure to lose their case and pay
the cost. And than there will bo some
black men who can remember that with 81.
lent tongue and clenched teeth, and steady
Dyes and we'll poised bayoncts, they have
helped mankind on to this great consumma-
ton. While fear there will be some whito
men unable to forget that with malignant
hearts and diroful spccch they have striven
to hinder it, still, Let us not be over sangu-
inc of u speedy and final triumph. Lot us
bc quite sober. Lot us diligently apply the
means, never doubling that q just God in his
own good time will give us the rightful 70.
suit.


Yours very truly,


A. LINCOLN.