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the writings-5-第47章

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law; I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable。



The chief magistrate derives all his authority from the people; and

they have conferred none upon him to fix terms for the separation of

the States。  The people themselves can do this also if they choose;

but the executive; as such; has nothing to do with it。  His duty is

to administer the present government; as it came to his hands; and to

transmit it; unimpaired by him; to his successors。



Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice

of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? In our

present differences is either party without faith of being in the

right? If the Almighty Ruler of nations; with his eternal truth and

justice; be on your side of the North; or on yours of the South; that

truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgment of this

great tribunal of the American people。



By the frame of the government under which we live; this same people

have wisely given their public servants but little power for

mischief; and have; with equal wisdom; provided for the return of

that little to their own hands at very short intervals。  While the

people retain their virtue and vigilance; no administration; by any

extreme of wickedness or folly; can very seriously injure the

government in the short space of four years。



My countrymen; one and all; think calmly and well upon this whole

subject。  Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time。  If there be

an object to hurry any of you in hot haste to a step which you would

never take deliberately; that object will be frustrated by taking

time; but no good object can be frustrated by it。  Such of you as are

now dissatisfied still have the old Constitution unimpaired; and; on

the sensitive point; the laws of your own framing under it; while the

new administration will have no immediate power; if it would; to

change either。  If it were admitted that you who are dissatisfied

hold the right side in the dispute; there still is no single good

reason for precipitate action。  Intelligence; patriotism;

Christianity; and a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken

this favored land; are still competent to adjust in the best way all

our present difficulty。



In your hands; my dissatisfied fellow…countrymen; and not in mine; is

the momentous issue of civil war。  The government will not assail

you。  You can have no conflict without being yourselves the

aggressors。  You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the

government; while I shall have the most solemn one to 〃preserve;

protect; and defend〃 it。



I am loath to close。  We are not enemies; but friends。  We must not

be enemies。  Though passion may have strained; it must not break; our

bonds of affection。  The mystic chords of memory; stretching from

every battle…field and patriot grave to every living heart and

hearthstone all over this broad land; will yet swell the chorus of

the Union when again touched; as surely they will be; by the better

angels of our nature。









REFUSAL OF SEWARD RESIGNATION



TO WM。 H。 SEWARD。



EXECUTIVE MANSION; March 4; 1861。



MY DEAR SIR:Your note of the 2d instant; asking to withdraw your

acceptance of my invitation to take charge of the State Department;

was duly received。  It is the subject of the most painful solicitude

with me; and I feel constrained to beg that you will countermand the

withdrawal。  The public interest; I think; demands that you should;

and my personal feelings are deeply enlisted in the same direction。

Please consider and answer by 9 A。M。 to…morrow。



Your obedient servant;



A。 LINCOLN。









REPLY TO THE PENNSYLVANIA DELEGATION;



WASHINGTON; MARCH 5; 1861



Mr。 CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PENNSYLVANIAN  DELEGATION:As I

have so frequently said heretofore; when I have had occasion to

address the people of the Keystone; in my visits to that State; I can

now but repeat the assurance of my gratification at the support you

gave me at the election; and at the promise of a continuation of that

support which is now tendered to me。



Allusion has been made to the hope that you entertain that you have a

President and a government。  In respect to that I wish to say to you

that in the position I have assumed I wish to do more than I have

ever given reason to believe I would do。  I do not wish you to

believe that I assume to be any better than others who have gone

before me。  I prefer rather to have it understood that if we ever

have a government on the principles we profess; we should remember;

while we exercise our opinion; that others have also rights to the

exercise of their opinions; and that we should endeavor to allow

these rights; and act in such a manner as to create no bad feeling。

I hope we have a government and a President。  I hope; and wish it to

be understood; that there may he no allusion to unpleasant

differences。



We must remember that the people of all the States are entitled to

all the privileges and immunities of the citizens of the several

States。  We should bear this in mind; and act in such a way as to say

nothing insulting or irritating。  I would inculcate this idea; so

that we may not; like Pharisees; set ourselves up to be better than

other people。



Now; my friends; my public duties are pressing to…day; and will

prevent my giving more time to you。  Indeed; I should not have left

them now; but I could not well deny myself to so large and

respectable a body。









REPLY TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATION;



WASHINGTON; MARCH 5; 1861



I am thankful for this renewed assurance of kind feeling and

confidence; and the support of the old Bay State; in so far as you;

Mr。 Chairman; have expressed; in behalf of those whom you represent;

your sanction of what I have enunciated in my inaugural address。

This is very grateful to my feelings。  The object was one of great

delicacy; in presenting views at the opening of an administration

under the peculiar circumstances attending my entrance upon the

official duties connected with the Government。  I studied all the

points with great anxiety; and presented them with whatever of

ability and sense of justice I could bring to bear。  If it met the

approbation of our good friends in Massachusetts; I shall be

exceedingly gratified; while I hope it will meet the approbation of

friends everywhere。  I am thankful for the expressions of those who

have voted with us; and like every other man of you; I like them as

certainly as I do others。  As the President in the administration of

the Government; I hope to be man enough not to know one citizen of

the United States from another; nor one section from another。  I

shall be gratified to have good friends of Massachusetts and others

who have thus far supported me in these national views still to

support me in carrying them out。









TO SECRETARY SEWARD



EXECUTIVE CHAMBER; MARCH 7; 1861



MY DEAR SIR:Herewith is the diplomatic address and my reply。  To

whom the reply should be addressedthat is; by what title or style

I do not quite understand; and therefore I have left it blank。



Will you please bring with you to…day the message from the War

Department; with General Scott's note upon it; which we had here

yesterday? I wish to examine the General's opinion; which I have not

yet done。



Yours very truly

A。 LINCOLN。









REPLY TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS



WASHINGTON; THURSDAY; MARCH 7; 1861



Mr。 FIGANIERE AND GENTLEMEN OF THE DIPLOMATIC BODY:Please accept my

sincere thanks for your kind congratulations。  It affords me pleasure

to confirm the confidence you so generously express in the friendly

disposition of the United States; through me; towards the sovereigns

and governments you respectively represent。  With equal satisfaction

I accept the assurance you are pleased to give; that the same

disposition is reciprocated by your sovereigns; your governments; and

yourselves。



Allow me to express the hope that these friendly relations may remain

undisturbed; arid also my fervent wishes for the health and happiness

of yourselves personally。









TO SECRETARY SEWARD



EXECUTIVE MANSION; MARCH 11;1861



HON。 SECRETARY OF STATE。

DEAR SIR:What think you of sending ministers at once as follows:

Dayton to England; Fremont to France; Clay to Spain; Corwin to

Mexico?



We need to have these points guarded as strongly and quickly as

possible。  This is suggestion merely; and not dictation。



Your obedient servant;

A。 LINCOLN。









TO J。 COLLAMER



EXECUTIVE MANSION; MARCH 12; 1861



HON。 JACOB COLLAMER。

MY DEAR SIR:God help me。  It is said I have offended you。  I hope

you will tell me how。



Yours very truly;

A。 LINCOLN。





March 14; 1861。

DEAR SIR:I am entirely unconscious that you have any way offended

me。  I 
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