按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the pressure of the war should call off our forces from New Orleans
to defend some other point； what is to prevent the masters from
reducing the blacks to slavery again？ for I am told that whenever
the rebels take any black prisoners； free or slave； they immediately
auction them off。 They did so with those they took from a boat that
was aground in the Tennessee River a few days ago。 And then I am
very ungenerously attacked for it！ For instance； when； after the
late battles at and near Bull Run； an expedition went out from
Washington under a flag of truce to bury the dead and bring in the
wounded； and the rebels seized the blacks who went along to help； and
sent them into slavery； Horace Greeley said in his paper that the
government would probably do nothing about it。 What could I do？
Now； then； tell me； if you please； what possible result of good would
follow the issuing of such a proclamation as you desire？ Understand；
I raise no objections against it on legal or constitutional grounds；
for； as commander…in…chief of the army and navy； in time of war I
suppose I have a right to take any measure which may best subdue the
enemy； nor do I urge objections of a moral nature； in view of
possible consequences of insurrection and massacre at the South。 I
view this matter as a practical war measure； to be decided on
according to the advantages or disadvantages it may offer to the
suppression of the rebellion。
I admit that slavery is the root of the rebellion； or at least its
sine qua non。 The ambition of politicians may have instigated them
to act； but they would have been impotent without slavery as their
instrument。 I will also concede that emancipation would help us in
Europe； and convince them that we are incited by something more than
ambition。 I grant； further； that it would help somewhat at the
North； though not so much； I fear； as you and those you represent
imagine。 Still； some additional strength would be added in that way
to the war； and then； unquestionably； it would weaken the rebels by
drawing off their laborers； which is of great importance； but I am
not so sure we could do much with the blacks。 If we were to arm
them； I fear that in a few weeks the arms would be in the hands of
the rebels； and； indeed； thus far we have not had arms enough to
equip our white troops。 I will mention another thing； though it meet
only your scorn and contempt。 There are fifty thousand bayonets in
the Union armies from the border slave States。 It would be a serious
matter if； in consequence of a proclamation such as you desire； they
should go over to the rebels。 I do not think they all wouldnot so
many； indeed； as a year ago； or as six months agonot so many to…day
as yesterday。 Every day increases their Union feeling。 They are
also getting their pride enlisted； and want to beat the rebels。 Let
me say one thing more： I think you should admit that we already have
an important principle to rally and unite the people； in the fact
that constitutional government is at stake。 This is a fundamental
idea going down about as deep as anything。
Do not misunderstand me because I have mentioned these objections。
They indicate the difficulties that have thus far prevented my action
in some such way as you desire。 I have not decided against a
proclamation of liberty to the slaves； but hold the matter under
advisement； and I can assure you that the subject is on my mind； by
day and night； more than any other。 Whatever shall appear to be
God's will； I will do。 I trust that in the freedom with which I have
canvassed your views I have not in any respect injured your feelings。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H。 G。 WRIGHT。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； D。 C。； September 14； 1862。
GENERAL WRIGHT； Cincinnati； Ohio：
Thanks for your despatch。 Can you not pursue the retreating enemy；
and relieve Cumberland Gap？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON；
September 15； 1862。 2。45 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
Your despatch of to…day received。 God bless you； and all with you。
Destroy the rebel army if possible。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO J。 K。 DUBOIS。 WASHINGTON； D。C。；
September 15； 1862。 3 P。M。
HON。 K。 DUBOIS； Springfield； Illinois：
I now consider it safe to say that General McClellan has gained a
great victory over the great rebel army in Maryland； between
Fredericktown and Hagerstown。 He is now pursuing the flying foe。
A。 LINCOLN。
＇But not very fastand he did not catch them！ D。W。＇
TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN；
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； September 16； 1862。 Noon。
GOVERNOR CURTIN； Harrisburg：
What do you hear from General McClellan's army？ We have nothing from
him to…day。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR MORTON。
WASHINGTON； D。C。； September 17； 1862。
GOVERNOR O。 P。 MORTON； Indianapolis； Indiana：
I have received your despatch in regard to recommendations of General
Wright。 I have received no such despatch from him； at least not that
I can remember。 I refer yours for General Halleck's consideration。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL KETCHUM。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； September 20； 1862。
GENERAL KETCHUM； Springfield； Illinois：
How many regiments are there in Illinois； ready for service but for
want of arms？ How many arms have you there ready for distribution？
A。 LINCOLN。
PRELIMINARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION；
SEPTEMBER 22； 1862。
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA：
A Proclamation。
I； Abraham Lincoln； President of the United States of America and
Commander…in…Chief of the Army and Navy thereof； do hereby proclaim
and declare that hereafter； as heretofore； the war will be prosecuted
for the object of practically restoring the constitutional relation
between the United States and each of the States and the people
thereof in which States that relation is or may be suspended or
disturbed。
That it is my purpose； upon the next meeting of Congress； to again
recommend the adoption of a practical measure tendering pecuniary aid
to the free acceptance or rejection of all slave States； so called；
the people whereof may not then be in rebellion against the United
States； and which States may then have voluntarily adopted； or
thereafter may voluntarily adopt； immediate or gradual abolishment of
slavery within their respective limits； and that the effort to
colonize persons of African descent with their consent upon this
continent or elsewhere； with the previously obtained consent of the
governments existing there； will be continued。
That on the 1st day of January； A。D。 1863； all persons held as slaves
within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof
shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then；
thenceforward； and forever free； and the executive government of the
United States； including the military and naval authority thereof；
will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will do
no act or acts to repress such persons； or any of them； in any
efforts they may make for their actual freedom。
That the Executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid； by
proclamation； designate the States and parts of States； if any； in
which the people thereof； respectively； shall then be in rebellion
against the United States； and the fact that any State or the people
thereof shall on that day be in good faith represented in the
Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections
wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have
participated shall； in the absence of strong countervailing
testimony； be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the
people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United States。
That attention is hereby called to an act of Congress entitled 〃An
act to make an additional article of war；〃 approved March 13； 1862；
and which act is in the words and figure following：
〃Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assemb1ed； That hereafter the
following shall be promulgated as an additional article of war for
the government of the Army of the United States and shall be obeyed
and observed as such。
〃ART。 All officers or persons in the military or naval service of
the United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces
under their respective commands for the purpose of returning
fugitives from service or labor who may have escaped from any person；
to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due； and any officer
who shall be found guilty by a court…martial of violating this
article shall be dismissed from the service。
SEC。 2。 And be it further enacted； That this act shal