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speeches； about secession。 But my opinion is that no State can in
any way lawfully get out of the Union without the consent of the
others； and that it is the duty of the President and other government
functionaries to run the machine as it is。
Truly yours；
A。 LINCOLN。
SOME FORTS SURRENDERED TO THE SOUTH
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE
（Confidential）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； December 21； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR：Last night I received your letter giving an account of
your interview with General Scott； and for which I thank you。 Please
present my respects to the General； and tell him； confidentially； I
shall be obliged to him to be as well prepared as he can to either
hold or retake the forts； as the case may require； at and after the
inauguration。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO A。 H。 STEPHENS。
（For your own eye only）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； DECEMBER 22； 1860
HON。 ALEXANDER STEVENS
MY DEAR SIR：Your obliging answer to my short note is just received；
and for which please accept my thanks。 I fully appreciate the
present peril the country is in； and the weight of responsibility on
me。 Do the people of the South really entertain fear that a
Republican administration would； directly or indirectly； interfere
with the slaves； or with them about the slaves？ If they do； I wish to
assure you； as once a friend； and still； I hope； not an enemy； that
there is no cause for such fears。 The South would be in no more
danger in this respect than it was in the days of Washington。 I
suppose； however； this does not meet the case。 You think slavery is
right and ought to be extended； while we think it is wrong and ought
to be restricted。 That； I suppose； is the rub。 It certainly is the
only substantial difference between us。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
SUPPORT OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE CLAUSE
MEMORANDUM
December ＇22？＇； 1860
Resolved：
That the fugitive slave clause of the Constitution ought to be
enforced by a law of Congress； with efficient provisions for that
object； not obliging private persons to assist in its execution； but
punishing all who resist it； and with the usual safeguards to
liberty； securing free men against being surrendered as slaves。
That all State laws； if there be such； really or apparently in
conflict with such law of Congress； ought to be repealed； and no
opposition to the execution of such law of Congress ought to be made。
That the Federal Union must be preserved。
Prepared for the consideration of the Republican members of the
Senate Committee of Thirteen。
TO D。 HUNTER。
（Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS December 22； 1860
MAJOR DAVID HUNTER。
MY DEAR SIR：I am much obliged by the receipt of yours of the 18th。
The most we can do now is to watch events； and be as well prepared as
possible for any turn things may take。 If the forts fall； my
judgment is that they are to be retaken。 When I shall determine
definitely my time of starting to Washington； I will notify you。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO I。 N。 MORRIS
（Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； Dec 24； 1860
HON。 I。 N。 MORRIS。
MY DEAR SIR：Without supposing that you and I are any nearer
together； politically； than heretofore； allow me to tender you my
sincere thanks for your Union resolution； expressive of views upon
which we never were； and； I trust； never will be at variance。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ATTEMPT TO FORM A COALITION CABINET
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； December 14； 1860。
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：I need a man of Democratic antecedents from New
England。 I cannot get a fair share of that element in without。 This
stands in the way of Mr。 Adams。 I think of Governor Banks； Mr。
Welles； and Mr。 Tuck。 Which of them do the New England delegation
prefer？ Or shall I decide for myself？
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
1861
TO WILLIAM H。 SEWARD。
（Private。）
SPRINGFIELD。 ILL。； January 3； 1861。
HON。 W。 H。 SEWARD。
DEAR SIR：Yours without signature was received last night。 I have
been considering your suggestions as to my reaching Washington
somewhat earlier than is usual。 It seems to me the inauguration is
not the most dangerous point for us。 Our adversaries have us now
clearly at disadvantage on the second Wednesday of February； when the
votes should be officially counted。 If the two houses refuse to meet
at all； or meet without a quorum of each； where shall we be？ I do
not think that this counting is constitutionally essential to the
election； but how are we to proceed in the absence of it？ In view of
this； I think it is best for me not to attempt appearing in
Washington till the result of that ceremony is known。
It certainly would be of some advantage if you could know who are to
be at the heads of the War and Navy departments； but until I can
ascertain definitely whether I can get any suitable men from the
South； and who； and how many； I can not well decide。 As yet； I have
no word from Mr。 Gilmer in answer to my request for an interview with
him。 I look for something on the subject； through you； before long。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO W。 H。 SEWARD。
（Private。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； January 12； 1861
HON。 W。 H。 SEWARD。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 8th received。 I still hope Mr。 Gilmer
will； on a fair understanding with us； consent to take a place in the
Cabinet。 The preference for him over Mr。 Hunt or Mr。 Gentry is that；
up to datehe has a living position in the South； while they have
not。 He is only better than Winter Davis in that he is farther
south。 I fear； if we could get； we could not safely take more than
one such manthat is； not more than one who opposed us in the
electionthe danger being to lose the confidence of our own friends。
Your selection for the State Department having become public； I am
happy to find scarcely any objection to it。 I shall have trouble
with every other Northern Cabinet appointmentso much so that I
shall have to defer them as long as possible to avoid being teased
into insanity； to make changes。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN
TO E。 D。 MORGAN
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。 FEB。 4； 1861
SIR：Your letter of the 30th ult。 inviting me； on behalf of the
Legislature of New York； to pass through that State on my way to
Washington； and tendering me the hospitalities of her authorities and
people； has been duly received。 With the feelings of deep gratitude
to you and them for this testimonial of regard and esteem I beg you
to notify them that I accept the invitation so kindly tendered。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN
P。S。Please let the ceremonies be only such as to take the least
time possible。 A。 L。
PATRONAGE CLAIMS
TO THURLOW WEED
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； February 4； 1861
DEAR SIR：I have both your letter to myself and that to Judge Davis；
in relation to a certain gentleman in your State claiming to dispense
patronage in my name； and also to be authorized to use my name to
advance the chances of Mr。 Greeley for an election to the United
States Senate。
It is very strange that such things should be said by any one。 The
gentleman you mention did speak to me of Mr。 Greeley in connection
with the senatorial election； and I replied in terms of kindness
toward Mr。 Greeley； which I really feel； but always with an expressed
protest that my name must not be used in the senatorial election in
favor of or against any one。 Any other representation of me is a
misrepresentation。
As to the matter of dispensing patronage； it perhaps will surprise
you to learn that I have information that you claim to have my
authority to arrange that matter in New York。 I do not believe you
have so claimed； but still so some men say。 On that subject you know
all I have said to you is 〃justice to all；〃 and I have said nothing
more particular to any one。 I say this to reassure you that I have
not changed my position。
In the hope； however； that you will not use my name in the matter； I
am；
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
FAREWELL ADDRESS AT SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS；
FEBRUARY 11； 1861
MY FRIENDS：One who has never been placed in a like position cannot
understand my feelings at this hour； nor the oppressive sadness I
feel at this parting。 For more than twenty…five years I have lived
among you； and during all that time I have received nothing but
kindness at your hands。 Here the most cherished ties of earth were
assumed。 Here my children were born； and here one of them lies
buried。 To you； my friends； I owe all that I have； all that I am。
All the stra