第23章

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，October15，1860

L。MONTGOMERYBOND，Esq。

MYDEARSIR：IcertainlyaminnotemperandhavenopurposetoembitterthefeelingsoftheSouth，butwhetherIaminclinedtosuchacourseaswouldinfactembittertheirfeelingsyoucanbetterjudgebymypublishedspeechesthanbyanythingIwouldsayinashortletterifIwereinclinednow，asIamnot，todefinemypositionanew。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

LETTERSUGGESTINGABEARD

TOMISSGRACEBEDELL，RIPLEYN。Y。

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，October19，1860

MISSGRACEBEDELL。

MYDEARLITTLEMISS：——Yourveryagreeableletterofthe15thisreceived。IregretthenecessityofsayingIhavenodaughter。I

havethreesons——oneseventeen，onenine，andoneseven。Theywiththeirmotherconstitutemywholefamily。Astothewhiskers，asI

haveneverwornany，doyounotthinkthatpeoplewouldcallitapieceofsillyaffectationwereItobeginwearingthemnow？

Iamyourtruefriendandsincerewell—wisher，A。LINCOLN。

EARLYINFORMATIONONARMYDEFECTIONINSOUTH

TOD。HUNTER。

(PrivateandConfidential。)

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，October26，1860

MAJORDAVIDHUNTER

MYDEARSIR：——Yourverykindletterofthe20thwasdulyreceived，forwhichpleaseacceptmythanks。Ihaveanotherletter，fromawriterunknowntome，sayingtheofficersofthearmyatFortKearnyhavedeterminedincaseofRepublicansuccessattheapproachingPresidentialelection，totakethemselves，andthearmsatthatpoint，south，forthepurposeofresistancetothegovernment。WhileIthinktherearemanychancestoonethatthisisahumbug，itoccurstomethatanyrealmovementofthissortintheArmywouldleakoutandbecomeknowntoyou。Insuchcase，ifitwouldnotbeunprofessionalordishonorable(ofwhichyouaretobejudge)，I

shallbemuchobligedifyouwillapprisemeofit。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOHANNIBALHAMLIN

(Confidential。)

SPRINGFIELD。ILLINOIS，November8，1860

HON。HANNIBALHAMLIN。

MYDEARSIR：——Iamanxiousforapersonalinterviewwithyouatasearlyadayaspossible。Canyou，withoutmuchinconvenience，meetmeatChicago？Ifyoucan，pleasenameasearlyadayasyouconvenientlycan，andtelegraphme，unlesstherebesufficienttimebeforethedaynamedtocommunicatebymail。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOSAMUELHAYCRAFT。

(PrivateandConfidential。)

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，Nov。13，1860

HON。SAMUELHAYCRAFT。

MYDEARSIR：——Yoursofthe9thisjustreceived。Icanonlyanswerbriefly。RestfullyassuredthatthegoodpeopleoftheSouthwhowillputthemselvesinthesametemperandmoodtowardsmewhichyoudowillfindnocausetocomplainofme。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

REMARKSATTHEMEETINGATSPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS

TOCELEBRATELINCOLN’SELECTION，NOVEMBER20，1860

FRIENDSANDFELLOW—CITIZENS：——Pleaseexcusemeonthisoccasionfrommakingaspeech。IthankyouincommonwithallthosewhohavethoughtfitbytheirvotestoindorsetheRepublicancause。I

rejoicewithyouinthesuccesswhichhasthusfarattendedthatcause。Yetinallourrejoicingsletusneitherexpressnorcherishanyhardfeelingstowardanycitizenwhobyhisvotehasdifferedwithus。LetusatalltimesrememberthatallAmericancitizensarebrothersofacommoncountry，andshoulddwelltogetherinthebondsoffraternalfeeling。Letmeagainbegyoutoacceptmythanks，andtoexcusemefromfurtherspeakingatthistime。

TOALEXANDERH。STEPHENS

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。NOV。30，1860

HON。A。H。STEPHENS。

MYDEARSIR：——Ihavereadinthenewspapersyourspeechrecentlydelivered(Ithink)beforetheGeorgiaLegislature，oritsassembledmembers。Ifyouhaverevisedit，asisprobable，Ishallbemuchobligedifyouwillsendmeacopy。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOHANNIBALHAMLIN

(Private)

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，December8，1860

HON。HANNIBALHAMLIN。

DEARSIR：——Yoursofthe4thwasdulyreceived。TheinclosedtoGovernorSewardcoverstwonotestohim，copiesofwhichyoufindopenforyourinspection。ConsultwithJudgeTrumbull；andifyouandheseenoreasontothecontrary，deliverthelettertoGovernorSewardatonce。Ifyouseereasontothecontrarywritemeatonce。

IhaveanintimationthatGovernorBankswouldyetacceptaplaceintheCabinet。Pleaseascertainandwritemehowthisis，Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

BLOCKING"COMPROMISE"ONSLAVERYISSUE

TOE。B。WASHBURNE

(PrivateandConfidential。)

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，December13，1860

HON。E。B。WASHBURNE。

MYDEARSIR：——Yourlongletterreceived。Prevent，asfaraspossible，anyofourfriendsfromdemoralizingthemselvesandourcausebyentertainingpropositionsforcompromiseofanysorton"slaveryextension。"Thereisnopossiblecompromiseuponitbutwhichputsusunderagain，andleavesallourworktodooveragain。

WhetheritbeaMissourilineorEliThayer’spopularsovereignty，itisallthesame。Leteitherbedone，andimmediatelyfilibusteringandextendingslaveryrecommences。Onthatpointholdfirm，aswithachainofsteel。

Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。

OPINIONONSECESSION

TOTHURLOWWEED

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，DECEMBER17，1860

MYDEARSIR：——Yoursofthe11thwasreceivedtwodaysago。Shouldtheconvocationofgovernorsofwhichyouspeakseemdesiroustoknowmyviewsonthepresentaspectofthings，tellthemyoujudgefrommyspeechesthatIwillbeinflexibleontheterritorialquestion；butI

probablythinkeithertheMissourilineextended，orDouglas’sandEliThayer’spopularsovereigntywouldloseuseverythingwegainbytheelection；thatfilibusteringforallsouthofusandmakingslaveStatesofitwouldfollowinspiteofus，ineithercase；alsothatI

probablythinkallopposition，realandapparent，tothefugitiveslaveclauseoftheConstitutionoughttobewithdrawn。

Ibelieveyoucanpretendtofindbutlittle，ifanything，inmyspeeches，aboutsecession。ButmyopinionisthatnoStatecaninanywaylawfullygetoutoftheUnionwithouttheconsentoftheothers；andthatitisthedutyofthePresidentandothergovernmentfunctionariestorunthemachineasitis。

Trulyyours，A。LINCOLN。

SOMEFORTSSURRENDEREDTOTHESOUTH

TOE。B。WASHBURNE

(Confidential)

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，December21，1860

HON。E。B。WASHBURNE。

MYDEARSIR：——LastnightIreceivedyourlettergivinganaccountofyourinterviewwithGeneralScott，andforwhichIthankyou。PleasepresentmyrespectstotheGeneral，andtellhim，confidentially，I

shallbeobligedtohimtobeaswellpreparedashecantoeitherholdorretaketheforts，asthecasemayrequire，atandaftertheinauguration。

Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。

TOA。H。STEPHENS。

(Foryourowneyeonly)

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，DECEMBER22，1860

HON。ALEXANDERSTEVENS

MYDEARSIR：——Yourobliginganswertomyshortnoteisjustreceived，andforwhichpleaseacceptmythanks。Ifullyappreciatethepresentperilthecountryisin，andtheweightofresponsibilityonme。DothepeopleoftheSouthreallyentertainfearthataRepublicanadministrationwould，directlyorindirectly，interferewiththeslaves，orwiththemabouttheslaves？Iftheydo，Iwishtoassureyou，asonceafriend，andstill，Ihope，notanenemy，thatthereisnocauseforsuchfears。TheSouthwouldbeinnomoredangerinthisrespectthanitwasinthedaysofWashington。I

suppose，however，thisdoesnotmeetthecase。Youthinkslaveryisrightandoughttobeextended，whilewethinkitiswrongandoughttoberestricted。That，Isuppose，istherub。Itcertainlyistheonlysubstantialdifferencebetweenus。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

SUPPORTOFTHEFUGITIVESLAVECLAUSE

MEMORANDUM

December[22？]，1860

Resolved：

ThatthefugitiveslaveclauseoftheConstitutionoughttobeenforcedbyalawofCongress，withefficientprovisionsforthatobject，notobligingprivatepersonstoassistinitsexecution，butpunishingallwhoresistit，andwiththeusualsafeguardstoliberty，securingfreemenagainstbeingsurrenderedasslaves。

ThatallStatelaws，iftherebesuch，reallyorapparentlyinconflictwithsuchlawofCongress，oughttoberepealed；andnooppositiontotheexecutionofsuchlawofCongressoughttobemade。

ThattheFederalUnionmustbepreserved。

PreparedfortheconsiderationoftheRepublicanmembersoftheSenateCommitteeofThirteen。

TOD。HUNTER。

(Confidential。)

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOISDecember22，1860

MAJORDAVIDHUNTER。

MYDEARSIR：——Iammuchobligedbythereceiptofyoursofthe18th。

Themostwecandonowistowatchevents，andbeaswellpreparedaspossibleforanyturnthingsmaytake。Ifthefortsfall，myjudgmentisthattheyaretoberetaken。WhenIshalldeterminedefinitelymytimeofstartingtoWashington，Iwillnotifyyou。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOI。N。MORRIS

(Confidential。)

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，Dec24，1860

HON。I。N。MORRIS。

MYDEARSIR：——WithoutsupposingthatyouandIareanynearertogether，politically，thanheretofore，allowmetotenderyoumysincerethanksforyourUnionresolution，expressiveofviewsuponwhichweneverwere，and，Itrust，neverwillbeatvariance。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

ATTEMPTTOFORMACOALITIONCABINET

TOHANNIBALHAMLIN

SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，December14，1860。

HON。HANNIBALHAMLIN。

MYDEARSIR：——IneedamanofDemocraticantecedentsfromNewEngland。Icannotgetafairshareofthatelementinwithout。ThisstandsinthewayofMr。Adams。IthinkofGovernorBanks，Mr。

Welles，andMr。Tuck。WhichofthemdotheNewEnglanddelegationprefer？OrshallIdecideformyself？

Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。

1861

TOWILLIAMH。SEWARD。

(Private。)

SPRINGFIELD。ILL。，January3，1861。

HON。W。H。SEWARD。

DEARSIR：——Yourswithoutsignaturewasreceivedlastnight。IhavebeenconsideringyoursuggestionsastomyreachingWashingtonsomewhatearlierthanisusual。Itseemstometheinaugurationisnotthemostdangerouspointforus。OuradversarieshaveusnowclearlyatdisadvantageonthesecondWednesdayofFebruary，whenthevotesshouldbeofficiallycounted。Ifthetwohousesrefusetomeetatall，ormeetwithoutaquorumofeach，whereshallwebe？Idonotthinkthatthiscountingisconstitutionallyessentialtotheelection，buthowarewetoproceedintheabsenceofit？Inviewofthis，IthinkitisbestformenottoattemptappearinginWashingtontilltheresultofthatceremonyisknown。

ItcertainlywouldbeofsomeadvantageifyoucouldknowwhoaretobeattheheadsoftheWarandNavydepartments，butuntilIcanascertaindefinitelywhetherIcangetanysuitablemenfromtheSouth，andwho，andhowmany，Icannotwelldecide。Asyet，IhavenowordfromMr。Gilmerinanswertomyrequestforaninterviewwithhim。Ilookforsomethingonthesubject，throughyou，beforelong。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOW。H。SEWARD。

(Private。)

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，January12，1861

HON。W。H。SEWARD。

MYDEARSIR：——Yoursofthe8threceived。IstillhopeMr。Gilmerwill，onafairunderstandingwithus，consenttotakeaplaceintheCabinet。ThepreferenceforhimoverMr。HuntorMr。Gentryisthat，uptodate——hehasalivingpositionintheSouth，whiletheyhavenot。HeisonlybetterthanWinterDavisinthatheisfarthersouth。Ifear，ifwecouldget，wecouldnotsafelytakemorethanonesuchman——thatis，notmorethanonewhoopposedusintheelection——thedangerbeingtolosetheconfidenceofourownfriends。

YourselectionfortheStateDepartmenthavingbecomepublic，Iamhappytofindscarcelyanyobjectiontoit。IshallhavetroublewitheveryotherNorthernCabinetappointment——somuchsothatI

shallhavetodeferthemaslongaspossibletoavoidbeingteasedintoinsanity，tomakechanges。

Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN

TOE。D。MORGAN

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。FEB。4，1861

SIR：——Yourletterofthe30thult。invitingme，onbehalfoftheLegislatureofNewYork，topassthroughthatStateonmywaytoWashington，andtenderingmethehospitalitiesofherauthoritiesandpeople，hasbeendulyreceived。WiththefeelingsofdeepgratitudetoyouandthemforthistestimonialofregardandesteemIbegyoutonotifythemthatIaccepttheinvitationsokindlytendered。

Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN

P。S。——Pleaselettheceremoniesbeonlysuchastotaketheleasttimepossible。A。L。

PATRONAGECLAIMS

TOTHURLOWWEED

SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，February4，1861

DEARSIR：——IhavebothyourlettertomyselfandthattoJudgeDavis，inrelationtoacertaingentlemaninyourStateclaimingtodispensepatronageinmyname，andalsotobeauthorizedtousemynametoadvancethechancesofMr。GreeleyforanelectiontotheUnitedStatesSenate。

Itisverystrangethatsuchthingsshouldbesaidbyanyone。ThegentlemanyoumentiondidspeaktomeofMr。Greeleyinconnectionwiththesenatorialelection，andIrepliedintermsofkindnesstowardMr。Greeley，whichIreallyfeel，butalwayswithanexpressedprotestthatmynamemustnotbeusedinthesenatorialelectioninfavoroforagainstanyone。Anyotherrepresentationofmeisamisrepresentation。

Astothematterofdispensingpatronage，itperhapswillsurpriseyoutolearnthatIhaveinformationthatyouclaimtohavemyauthoritytoarrangethatmatterinNewYork。Idonotbelieveyouhavesoclaimed；butstillsosomemensay。OnthatsubjectyouknowallIhavesaidtoyouis"justicetoall，"andIhavesaidnothingmoreparticulartoanyone。IsaythistoreassureyouthatIhavenotchangedmyposition。

Inthehope，however，thatyouwillnotusemynameinthematter，I

am，Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

FAREWELLADDRESSATSPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，FEBRUARY11，1861

MYFRIENDS：——Onewhohasneverbeenplacedinalikepositioncannotunderstandmyfeelingsatthishour，northeoppressivesadnessI

feelatthisparting。Formorethantwenty—fiveyearsIhavelivedamongyou，andduringallthattimeIhavereceivednothingbutkindnessatyourhands。Herethemostcherishedtiesofearthwereassumed。Heremychildrenwereborn，andhereoneofthemliesburied。Toyou，myfriends，IoweallthatIhave，allthatIam。

Allthestrangecheckeredpastseemstocrowduponmymind。To—dayI

leaveyou。IgotoassumeataskmoredifficultthanthatwhichdevolveduponGeneralWashington。UnlessthegreatGodwhoassistedhimshallbewithandaidmeIcannotprevail；butifthesamealmightyarmthatdirectedandprotectedhimshallguideandsupportmeIshallnotfail；Ishallsucceed。LetuspraythattheGodofourfathersmaynotforsakeusnow。ToHimIcommendyouall。

PermitmetoaskthatwithequalsincerityandfaithyouwillallinvokeHiswisdomandgoodnessforme。

WiththesewordsImustleaveyou；forhowlongIknownot。Friends，oneandall，Imustnowwishyouanaffectionatefarewell。

REMARKSATTOLONO，ILLINOIS，FEBRUARY11，1861

Iamleavingyouonanerrandofnationalimportance，attended，asyouareaware，withconsiderabledifficulties。Letusbelieve，assomepoethasexpressedit，"Behindthecloudthesunisstillshining。"Ibidyouanaffectionatefarewell。

REPLYTOADDRESSOFWELCOME，INDIANAPOLIS，INDIANA，FEBRUARY11，1861

GOVERNORMORTONANDFELLOWCITIZENS

OFTHESTATEOFINDIANA：

MostheartilydoIthankyouforthismagnificentreception，andwhileIcannottaketomyselfanyshareofthecomplimentthuspaid，morethanthatwhichpertainstoamereinstrument，anaccidentalinstrument，perhapsIshouldsay，ofagreatcause，Iyetmustlookuponitasamostmagnificentreception，andassuchmostheartilydothankyouforit。YouhavebeenpleasedtoaddressyourselftomechieflyinbehalfofthisgloriousUnioninwhichwelive，inallofwhichyouhavemyheartysympathy，and，asfarasmaybewithinmypower，willhave，oneandinseparable，myheartyconsideration。

WhileIdonotexpect，uponthisoccasion，oruntilIgettoWashington，toattemptanylengthyspeech，IwillonlysaytothesalvationoftheUnionthereneedsbutonesinglething——theheartsofapeoplelikeyours。

Thepeople——whentheyriseinmassinbehalfoftheUnionandthelibertiesoftheircountry，trulymayitbesaid，"Thegatesofhellcannotprevailagainstthem。"InalltryingpositionsinwhichI

shallbeplaced——and，doubtless，Ishallbeplacedinmanysuch——myreliancewillbeplaceduponyouandthepeopleoftheUnitedStates；andI

wishyoutoremember，nowandforever，thatitisyourbusiness，andnotmine；thatiftheunionoftheseStatesandthelibertiesofthispeopleshallbelost，itisbutlittletoanyonemanoffifty—twoyearsofage，butagreatdealtothethirtymillionsofpeoplewhoinhabittheseUnitedStates，andtotheirposterityinallcomingtime。ItisyourbusinesstoriseupandpreservetheUnionandlibertyforyourselves，andnotforme。

Idesiretheyshouldbeconstitutionallyperformed。I，asalreadyintimated，ambutanaccidentalinstrument，temporary，andtoservebutforalimitedtime；andIappealtoyouagaintoconstantlybearinmindthatwithyou，andnotwithpoliticians，notwithPresidents，notwithoffice—seekers，butwithyouisthequestion，ShalltheUnionandshallthelibertiesofthiscountrybepreservedtothelatestgenerations？

ADDRESSTOTHELEGISLATUREOFINDIANA，ATINDIANAPOLIS，FEBRUARY12，1861

FELLOW—CITIZENSOFTHESTATEOFINDIANA：——Iamheretothankyoumuchforthismagnificentwelcome，andstillmoreforthegeneroussupportgivenbyyourStatetothatpoliticalcausewhichIthinkisthetrueandjustcauseofthewholecountryandthewholeworld。

Solomonsaysthereis"atimetokeepsilence，"andwhenmenwranglebythemouthwithnocertaintythattheymeanthesamethingwhileusingthesameword，itperhapswereaswelliftheywouldkeepsilence。

Thewords"coercion"and"invasion"aremuchusedinthesedays，andoftenwithsometemperandhotblood。Letusmakesure，ifwecan，themeaningofthosewhousethem。Letusgettheexactdefinitionsofthesewords，notfromdictionaries，butfromthementhemselves，whocertainlydeprecatethethingstheywouldrepresentbytheuseofthewords。

What，then，iscoercion？Whatisinvasion？WouldthemarchingofanarmyintoSouthCarolina，withouttheconsentofherpeople，andwithhostileintenttowardthem，beinvasion？Icertainlythinkitwould，anditwouldbecoercionalso，iftheSouthCarolinianswereforcedtosubmit。ButiftheUnitedStatesshouldmerelyholdandretakeitsownfortsandotherproperty，andcollectthedutiesonforeignimportations，orevenwithholdthemailsfromplaceswheretheywerehabituallyviolated，wouldanyorallofthesethingsbeinvasionorcoercion？DoourprofessedloversoftheUnion，whospitefullyresolvethattheywillresistcoercionandinvasion，understandthatsuchthingsasthese，onthepartoftheUnitedStates，wouldbecoercionorinvasionofaState？Ifso，theirideaofmeanstopreservetheobjectoftheirgreataffectionwouldseemtobeexceedinglythinandairy。Ifsick，thelittlepillsofthehomoeopathistwouldbemuchtoolargeforittoswallow。Intheirview，theUnion，asafamilyrelation，wouldseemtobenoregularmarriage，butratherasortof"free—love"arrangement，tobemaintainedonpassionalattraction。

Bytheway，inwhatconsiststhespecialsacrednessofaState？I

speaknotofthepositionassignedtoaStateintheUnionbytheConstitution，forthatisabondweallrecognize。Thatposition，however，aStatecannotcarryoutoftheUnionwithit。IspeakofthatassumedprimaryrightofaStatetoruleallwhichislessthanitself，andtoruinallwhichislargerthanitself。IfaStateandacounty，inagivencase，shouldbeequalinnumberofinhabitants，inwhat，asamatterofprinciple，istheStatebetterthanthecounty？Wouldanexchangeofnamebeanexchangeofrights？Uponwhatprinciple，uponwhatrightfulprinciple，mayaState，beingnomorethanonefiftiethpartofthenationinsoilandpopulation，breakupthenation，andthencoerceaproportionablylargesubdivisionofitselfinthemostarbitraryway？Whatmysteriousrighttoplaytyrantisconferredonadistrictofcountry，withitspeople，bymerelycallingitaState？Fellow—citizens，Iamnotassertinganything。Iammerelyaskingquestionsforyoutoconsider。Andnowallowmetobidyoufarewell。

INTENTIONSTOWARDTHESOUTH

ADDRESSTOTHEMAYORANDCITIZENSOF

CINCINNATI，OHIO，FEBRUARY12，1861

Mr。MAYOR，ANDGENTLEMEN：——Twenty—fourhoursago，atthecapitalofIndiana，Isaidtomyself，"Ihaveneverseensomanypeopleassembledtogetherinwinterweather。"Iamnolongerabletosaythat。Butitiswhatmightreasonablyhavebeenexpected——thatthisgreatcityofCincinnatiwouldthusacquitherselfonsuchanoccasion。Myfriends，Iamentirelyoverwhelmedbythemagnificenceofthereceptionwhichhasbeengiven，Iwillnotsaytome，buttothePresident—electoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。MostheartilydoIthankyou，oneandall，forit。

IhavespokenbutoncebeforethisinCincinnati。ThatwasayearprevioustothelatePresidentialelection。Onthatoccasion，inaplayfulmanner，butwithsincerewords，IaddressedmuchofwhatI

saidtotheKentuckians。Igavemyopinionthatwe，asRepublicans，wouldultimatelybeatthemasDemocrats，butthattheycouldpostponethatresultlongerbynominatingSenatorDouglasforthePresidencythantheycouldbyanyotherway。Theydidnot，inanytruesenseoftheword，nominateMr。Douglas，andtheresulthascomecertainlyassoonaseverIexpected。IalsotoldthemhowIexpectedtheywouldbetreatedaftertheyshouldhavebeenbeaten，andInowwishtocalltheirattentiontowhatIthensaiduponthatsubject。Ithensaid：

"Whenwedoaswesay，beatyou，youperhapswanttoknowwhatwewilldowithyou。Iwilltellyou，asfarasIamauthorizedtospeakfortheOpposition，whatwemeantodowithyou。Wemeantotreatyou，asnearaswepossiblycan，asWashington，Jefferson，andMadisontreatedyou。Wemeantoleaveyoualone，