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U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN
(Page Four of Seven)
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Lincoln makes it clear to the public that he considers
his primary constitutional duty to be to save the Union and that
Emancipation might be necessary to attain that end.
241
From Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley [Newspaper Clipping]1,
August 22, 1862
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, August 22, 1862.
DEAR SIR: I have just read yours of the 19th, addressed to myself through
the New York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of
fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not now and here controvert them.
If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do
not now and here argue against them. If there be perceptible in it an impatient
and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend whose heart I
have always supposed to be right.
As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing," as you say, I have not meant to leave
any one in doubt.
I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution.
The sooner the national authority can be restored the nearer the Union will be
"the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union unless
they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If
there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time
destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this
struggle
is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy
slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do
it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and
if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do
that. What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it
helps to save th ise Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do
not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less
whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do
more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall
try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so
fast as they shall appear to be true views.
I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I
intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every
where could be free. Yours,
A. LINCOLN.
[Note 1 Lincoln published the following in response to Greeley to Lincoln,
August 19, 1862 ( q. v.), a New York Tribune editorial entitled
"The Prayer of Twenty Millions. In that letter, Greeley complained that Lincoln
had not proclaimed emancipation as he was required to do by the Second
Confiscation Act, and asserted that all attempts to put down the rebellion
while at the same time upholding slavery were "preposterous and futile."
Since Lincoln had already read a preliminary version of the Emancipation
Proclamation to his cabinet on July 22, this letter has seemed disingenuous to
some. In it, however, Lincoln makes it clear to the public that though he
considers his primary constitutional duty to be to save the Union, partial
or even total emancipation might well be the necessary means to attain that
end. Lincoln needed to make his position completely clear without tipping his
hand on emancipation prematurely.]
* Italics, notes, underlines, strikes, etc. are from the Library of
Congress transcription.
** To review the the Library of Congress transcription of this document use this
LINK.-Ed.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN - PAGE 5
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Notes
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