Year: 1861

1t may be affirmed without that the free


institutions which we enjoy have developed the powers
any example in the world. Of this we now have \
striking and impressive illustration So large an army
as the government has now on foot, before
knowD, without soldier in it who has not taken his
place there of his own free choice.


But more than this there many single regiments
whose members, and another possess full
knowledge of all the arts and sciences professions and
whatever ee whether useful elegant are known to
the whole world and there is scarcely from which
there could not be selected President Cabinet Con-
gress, and perhaps Court abundantly competent to
administer the government do 1 say this is not
true aso in the army of late friends now our ad-
versaries in this contest but it much the better
reason why the government, which has conferred such
benefits on both them and should not be broken up
in any section?


Whoever, in any section proposes to abandon such
good would do we'll to consider in reference what
will give, or be intended to give, much good to the
people: There is some foreshadowing this subject
Onr have adopted declarations of indie
pendence, in which. unlike the good old one penned by
Jefferson, they omit the words .'are created equal
Why they have adopted temporary national Consti-
tuition in the preamble in which, unlike our good old
signed by Washington they omit tive the peope
and substitute 1--WE the deputies of the sovereign and
Independent States"


Why this deliberate pressing of view of the rights
OF men and the authority of the people This essen.
italy peoples contest the side Of the Union 1t is
substance Of government whose leading object is to ee
vate tho condition of men-to lift artificial weight from
all shouders-to clear the paths of audable pursuit.
and to afford all unfettered start and fair chance
in the race Of life, only yielding temporary departures
through necessity This is the leading object of the
government to. whose existence we contend


am most happy to believe that the plain people un
derstand and appreciate this 1t worthy of note that
while in this the governments hour of trial large num-
bers of those in the army and navy who have been a
yored with the officers rank have resigned and proved
false to the land that panpered them, one common
soldier is known have deserted his flag Great honnr
Is due to those officers who remained despite the
example OF their treacherous associates the great
est honor and most emphatic fact the unanimous
hrYnn nf fha an11
To the last man, far is KNOWN they successfully
resisted the atOrous efforts of those whose command
within an hour before they obeyed as absolute law


This is patriotic instinct of plain men. They un |
derstand without argument that the DESTROYING of
the government which was made by Washington, means
no good for them Our popular government has often
been called on to experiment Two points in it, howev-
err people have settled The successful establishing
and the successful administering of it, One still re
mans-ts successful maintenance against the formid.
able attempt to overthrow 1t.


1t is now for them to demonstrate the world that
rebellion that ballots the rghtful and peaceful
successors to bulets and when ballots fairly and
consttutlonay decided there can be no successful ap
peal except back to ballots themselves succeeding
election Such will be great lesson of peace teaching
men what they cannot take by an election neither can
they take it by wareaching all the folly of being the
beginning OF war;


Lest there be uneasness in the minds of candid
what is to be the course of the eoyernment
towards the Southern States after the rebellion shall
have been suppressed the Executive deems proper to
that shall be his purpose then ever be guided



will have different understanding the power and
duty of tho Federal government, relative TO the rights
of the State and the people under the constitution than
that expressed in the inaugural address, He desires to
preserve the government, that it may be administered
for all it was administered by the made it,
Loyal citizens everywhere have the right to claim this
of their government,
The government has the right to withhold or neg
lect, and it is not perceived in giving that tn ere is
any coercion conquest, any subjugation in any
just of these terms. The constitution provides
and all the States accepted its provision that the United
States shall guarantee to every State in this Union
republican form of government. ,
But if State may lawfully 60 out of the Union hav-
ing done so it also discard the republican of
ispensabe means to obtaining the guarantee ptioned
When end is lawful and obligatory the ndispe
means to it also lawful and obligatory 1t was with
the deepest that the Executive assumed the dutv
Of employing the power defense the govern
nent forced upon him. He could but perform his duty
Or surrender the existence Of the government.
No compromise by public servants could in this be
cure, not that compromises are not often proper but
hat popular government long survive a marked r
precedent that those who election only
he government from immediate destruction by giving
the main point upon which the people gave the cleo
ion. The people themselves, and not their servants
an safely express their deliberate decision As
private citzen the Executive could have consented
hat these institutions should perish Much less would
le in betrayal of vast and sacred as these
rec people had cenfded to him. He felt that he had no
moral right to shrink to count the chances
lis own life in what may follow In full view of his
he has done what he has, deeming his
uy Win you not, according to your own Judgment S
erorm yours? He sincerely hopes that your views and
ctions may accord with his as to assure all faithful
tzens who have been disturbed in their rights, of
ion and speedy restoration to them under the constu
ON and laws and having thus chosen course with
ut guilt and with pure purpose, let trust
God, and go forward without fear and with manly c
earts. q


ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WASHINGTON, July 4th, 1861.