第31章

Buttheycannotberequiredtotakeanoathofallegiancetothisgovernment，becauseitconflictswiththedutytheyowetotheirownsovereigns。Allsuchobligationsheretoforetakenarethereforeremittedandannulled。Militarycommanderswillabstainfromimposingsimilarobligationsinfuture，andwillinlieuthereofadoptsuchotherrestraintsofthecharacterindicatedastheyshallfindnecessary，convenient，andeffectualforthepublicsafety。ItisfurtherdirectedthatwheneveranyordershallbemadeaffectingthepersonallibertyofanalienreportsofthesameandofthecausesthereofshallbemadetotheWarDepartmentfortheconsiderationoftheDepartmentofState。

ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar：

L。THOMAS，Adjutant—General。

ORDERAUTHORIZINGEMPLOYMENTOF"CONTRABANDS。"

WARDEPARTMENT，July22，1862。

Ordered：

1。ThatmilitarycommanderswithintheStatesofVirginia，SouthCarolina，Georgia，Florida，Alabama，Mississippi，Louisiana，Texas，andArkansasinanorderlymannerseizeanduseanyproperty，realorpersonal，whichmaybenecessaryorconvenientfortheirseveralcommandsassuppliesorforothermilitarypurposes；andthatwhilepropertymaybedestroyedforpropermilitaryobjects，noneshallbedestroyedinwantonnessormalice。

2。ThatmilitaryandnavalcommandersshallemployaslaborerswithinandfromsaidStatessomanypersonsofAfricandescentascanbeadvantageouslyusedformilitaryornavalpurposes，givingthemreasonablewagesfortheirlabor。

3。ThatastobothpropertyandpersonsofAfricandescentaccountsshallbekeptsufficientlyaccurateandindetailtoshowquantitiesandamountsandfromwhombothpropertyandsuchpersonsshallhavecome，asabasisuponwhichcompensationcanbemadeinpropercases；

andtheseveraldepartmentsofthisgovernmentshallattendtoandperformtheirappropriatepartstowardtheexecutionoftheseorders。

ByorderofthePresident：

EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。

WARNINGTOREBELSYMPATHIZERS

PROCLAMATION，JULY25，1862。

THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA：

AProclamation。

InpursuanceofthesixthsectionoftheactofCongressentitled"Anacttosuppressinsurrectionandtopunishtreasonandrebellion，toseizeandconfiscatepropertyofrebels，andforotherpurposes，"

approvedJuly17，1862，andwhichactandthejointresolutionexplanatorythereofareherewithpublished，I，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，doherebyproclaimtoandwarnallpersonswithinthecontemplationofsaidsixthsectiontoceaseparticipatingin，aiding，countenancing，orabettingtheexistingrebellionoranyrebellionagainsttheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesandtoreturntotheirproperallegiancetotheUnitedStates，onpainoftheforfeituresandseizuresaswithinandbysaidsixthsectionprovided。

IntestimonywhereofIhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。

DoneatthecityofWashington，thistwenty—fifthdayofJuly，A。D。

1862，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—seventh。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

HOLDMYHANDWHILSTTHEENEMYSTABSME

TOREVERDYJOHNSON。

(Private。)

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July26，1862。

HON。REVERDYJOHNSON。

MYDEARSIR：——Yoursofthe16thisreceived……

YouarereadytosayIapplytofriendswhatisdueonlytoenemies。

Idistrustthewisdomifnotthesincerityoffriendswhowouldholdmyhandswhilemyenemiesstabme。Thisappealofprofessedfriendshasparalyzedmemoreinthisstrugglethananyotheronething。Youremembertellingme，thedayaftertheBaltimoremobinApril，1861，thatitwouldcrushallUnionfeelinginMarylandformetoattemptbringingtroopsoverMarylandsoiltoWashington。Ibroughtthetroopsnotwithstanding，andyettherewasUnionfeelingenoughlefttoelectaLegislaturethenextautumn，whichinturnelectedaveryexcellentUnionUnitedStatessenator！Iamapatientman——alwayswillingtoforgiveontheChristiantermsofrepentance，andalsotogiveampletimeforrepentance。Still，Imustsavethisgovernment，ifpossible。WhatIcannotdo，ofcourse，Iwillnotdo；butitmayaswellbeunderstood，onceforall，thatIshallnotsurrenderthisgameleavinganyavailablecardunplayed。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOCUTHBERTBULLITT。

(Private。)

WASHINGTON，D。C。，July28，1862。

CUTHBERTBULLITT，Esq。，NewOrleans，Louisiana。

SIR：——ThecopyofaletteraddressedtoyourselfbyMr。ThomasJ。

Duranthasbeenshowntome。Thewriterappearstobeanable，adispassionate，andanentirelysincereman。ThefirstpartoftheletterisdevotedtoanefforttoshowthatthesecessionordinanceofLouisianawasadoptedagainstthewillofamajorityofthepeople。Thisisprobablytrue，andinthatfactmaybefoundsomeinstruction。Whydidtheyallowtheordinancetogointoeffect？

Whydidtheynotassertthemselves？Whystandpassiveandallowthemselvestobetroddendownbyminority？WhydidtheynotholdpopularmeetingsandhaveaconventionoftheirowntoexpressandenforcethetruesentimentoftheState？Ifpreorganizationwasagainstthemthen，whynotdothisnowthattheUnitedStatesarmyispresenttoprotectthem？Theparalysis——thedeadpalsy——ofthegovernmentinthiswholestruggleisthatthisclassofmenwilldonothingforthegovernment，nothingforthemselves，exceptdemandingthatthegovernmentshallnotstrikeitsopenenemies，lesttheybestruckbyaccident！

Mr。Durantcomplainsthatinvariouswaystherelationofmasterandslaveisdisturbedbythepresenceofourarmy，andheconsidersitparticularlyvexatiousthatthis，inpart，isdoneundercoverofanactofCongress，whileconstitutionalguarantiesaresuspendedonthepleaofmilitarynecessity。Thetruthis，thatwhatisdoneandomittedaboutslavesisdoneandomittedonthesamemilitarynecessity。Itisamilitarynecessitytohavemenandmoney；andwecangetneitherinsufficientnumbersoramountsifwekeepfromordrivefromourlinesslavescomingtothem。Mr。Durantcannotbeignorantofthepressureinthisdirection，norofmyeffortstoholditwithinboundstillheandsuchasheshallhavetimetohelpthemselves。

IamnotpostedtospeakunderstandinglyonallthepoliceregulationsofwhichMr。Durantcomplains。Ifexperienceshowsanyoneofthemtobewrong，letthembesetright。IthinkIcanperceiveinthefreedomoftradewhichMr。Duranturgesthathewouldrelievebothfriendsandenemiesfromthepressureoftheblockade。

Bythishewouldservetheenemymoreeffectivelythantheenemyisabletoservehimself。Idonotsayorbelievethattoservetheenemyisthepurpose，ofMr。Durant，orthatheisconsciousofanypurposeotherthannationalandpatrioticones。Still，iftherewereaclassofmenwho，havingnochoiceofsidesinthecontest，wereanxiousonlytohavequietandcomfortforthemselveswhileitrages，andtofallinwiththevictorioussideattheendofitwithoutlosstothemselves，theiradviceastothemodeofconductingthecontestwouldbepreciselysuchashisis。Hespeaksofnoduty——apparentlythinksofnone——restinguponUnionmen。HeeventhinksitinjurioustotheUnioncausethattheyshouldberestrainedintradeandpassagewithouttakingsides。Theyaretotouchneitherasailnorapump，buttobemerelypassengers——deadheadsatthat——tobecarriedsnuganddrythroughoutthestorm，andsafelylandedrightsideup。

Nay，more：evenamutineeristogountouched，lestthesesacredpassengersreceiveanaccidentalwound。OfcoursetherebellionwillneverbesuppressedinLouisianaiftheprofessedUnionmentherewillneitherhelptodoitnorpermitthegovernmenttodoitwithouttheirhelp。Now，IthinkthetrueremedyisverydifferentfromwhatissuggestedbyMr。Durant。Itdoesnotlieinroundingtheroughanglesofthewar，butinremovingthenecessityforthewar。ThepeopleofLouisianawhowishprotectiontopersonandpropertyhavebuttoreachforththeirhandsandtakeit。Letthemingoodfaithreinauguratethenationalauthority，andsetupaStategovernmentconformingtheretoundertheConstitution。Theyknowhowtodoitandcanhavetheprotectionofthearmywhiledoingit。ThearmywillbewithdrawnsosoonassuchStategovernmentcandispensewithitspresence；andthepeopleoftheStatecanthen，upontheoldconstitutionalterms，governthemselvestotheirownliking。Thisisverysimpleandeasy。

Iftheywillnotdothis——iftheyprefertohazardallforthesakeofdestroyingthegovernment——itisforthemtoconsiderwhetheritisprobableIwillsurrenderthegovernmenttosavethemfromlosingall。IftheydeclinewhatIsuggest，youscarcelyneedtoaskwhatI

willdo。Whatwouldyoudoinmyposition？Wouldyoudropthewarwhereitis？Orwouldyouprosecuteitinfuturewithelder—stalksquirtschargedwithrosewater？Wouldyoudeallighterblowsratherthanheavierones？Wouldyougiveupthecontest，leavinganyavailablemeansunapplied？Iaminnoboastfulmood。IshallnotdomorethanIcan，andIshalldoallIcan，tosavethegovernment，whichismysworndutyaswellasmypersonalinclination。Ishalldonothinginmalice。WhatIdealwithistoovastformaliciousdealing。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOLOYALGOVERNORS。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，July28，1862。

GOVERNORSOFALLLOYALSTATES：

Itwouldbeofgreatservicehereforustoknow，asfullyasyoucantell，whatprogressismadeandmakinginrecruitingforoldregimentsinyourState。Alsoaboutwhatdaythefirstregimentscanmovewithyou，whatthesecond，whatthethird，andsoon。Thisinformationisimportanttousinmakingcalculations。Pleasegiveitaspromptlyandaccuratelyasyoucall。

A。LINCOLN。

BROKENEGGSCANNOTBEMENDED

EXTRACTFROMLETTERTOAUGUSTBELMONT。

July31，1862。

Brokeneggscannotbemended；butLouisianahasnothingtodonowbuttotakeherplaceintheUnionasitwas，barringthealreadybrokeneggs。Thesoonershedoesso，thesmallerwillbetheamountofthatwhichwillbepastmending。Thisgovernmentcannotmuchlongerplayagameinwhichitstakesall，anditsenemiesstakenothing。Thoseenemiesmustunderstandthattheycannotexperimentfortenyearstryingtodestroythegovernment，andiftheyfail，stillcomebackintotheUnionunhurt。IftheyexpectinanycontingencytoeverhavetheUnionasitwas，Ijoinwiththewriterinsaying，"Nowisthetime。"

Howmuchbetteritwouldhavebeenforthewritertohavegoneatthis，undertheprotectionofthearmyatNewOrleans，thantohavesatdowninaclosetwritingcomplaininglettersnorthward！

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOCOUNTGASPARIN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，August4，1863。

TOCOUNTA。DEGASPARIN。

DEARSIR—Yourveryacceptableletter，datedOrbe，CantondeVaud，Switzerland，18thofJuly，1862，isreceived。ThemoraleffectwastheworstoftheaffairbeforeRichmond，andthathasrunitscoursedownward。Wearenowatastand，andshallsoonberisingagain，aswehope。Ibelieveitistruethat，inmenandmaterial，theenemysufferedmorethanweinthatseriesofconflicts，whileitiscertainthatheislessabletobearit。

Withuseverysoldierisamanofcharacter，andmustbetreatedwithmoreconsiderationthaniscustomaryinEurope。Henceourgreatarmy，forslightercausesthancouldhaveprevailedthere，hasdwindledrapidly，bringingthenecessityforanewcallearlierthanwasanticipated。Weshalleasilyobtainthenewlevy，however。Benotalarmedifyoushalllearnthatweshallhaveresortedtoadraftforpartofthis。Itseemsstrangeeventome，butitistrue，thatthegovernmentisnowpressedtothiscoursebyapopulardemand。

Thousandswhowishnottopersonallyentertheserviceareneverthelessanxioustopayandsendsubstitutes，providedtheycanhaveassurancethatunwillingpersons，similarlysituated，willbecompelledtodolikewise。Besidesthis，volunteersmostlychoosetoenternewlyformingregiments，whiledraftedmencanbesenttofilluptheoldones，whereinmanformantheyarequitedoublyasvaluable。

Youask，"WhyisitthattheNorthwithhergreatarmiessooftenisfoundwithinferiorityofnumbersfacetofacewiththearmiesoftheSouth？"WhileIpainfullyknowthefact，amilitaryman，whichIamnot，wouldbetteranswerthequestion。ThefactIknowhasnotbeenoverlooked，andIsupposethecauseofitscontinuanceliesmainlyintheotherfactsthattheenemyholdstheinteriorandwetheexteriorlines，andthatweoperatewherethepeopleconveyinformationtotheenemy，whileheoperateswheretheyconveynonetous。

Ihavereceivedthevolumeandletterwhichyoudidmethehonorofaddressingtome，andforwhichpleaseacceptmysincerethanks。YouaremuchadmiredinAmericafortheabilityofyourwritings，andmuchlovedforyourgenerositytousandyourdevotiontoliberalprinciplesgenerally。

Youarequiterightastotheimportancetous，foritsbearinguponEurope，thatweshouldachievemilitarysuccesses，andthesameistrueforusathomeaswellasabroad。Yetitseemsunreasonablethataseriesofsuccesses，extendingthroughhalfayear，andclearingmorethan100，000squaremilesofcountry，shouldhelpussolittle，whileasinglehalf—defeatshouldhurtussomuch。Butletusbepatient。

IamveryhappytoknowthatmycoursehasnotconflictedwithyourjudgmentofproprietyandpolicyIcanonlysaythatIhaveacteduponmybestconvictions，withoutselfishnessormalice，andthatbythehelpofGodIshallcontinuetodoso。

Pleasebeassuredofmyhighestrespectandesteem。

A。LINCOLN。

SPEECHATAWARMEETING，WASHINGTON，AUGUST6，1862

FELLOWCITIZENS：Ibelievethereisnoprecedentformyappearingbeforeyouonthisoccasion，butitisalsotruethatthereisnoprecedentforyourbeinghereyourselves，andIofferinjustificationofmyselfandofyouthat，uponexamination，IhavefoundnothingintheConstitutionagainstit。I，however，haveanimpressionthat；thereareyoungergentlemenwhowillentertainyoubetterandbetteraddressyourunderstandingthanIwillorcould，andthereforeIproposebuttodetainyouamomentlonger。IamverylittleinclinedonanyoccasiontosayanythingunlessIhopetoproducesomegoodbyit。TheonlythingIthinkofjustnownotlikelytobebettersaidbysomeoneelseisamatterinwhichwehaveheardsomeotherpersonsblamedforwhatIdidmyselfTherehasbeenaverywidespreadattempttohaveaquarrelbetweenGeneralMcClellanandtheSecretaryofWarNow，Ioccupyapositionthatenablesmetobelievethatthesetwogentlemenarenotnearlysodeepinthequarrelassomepresumingtobetheirfriends。GeneralMcClellan’sattitudeissuchthatintheveryselfishnessofhisnaturehecannotbutwishtobesuccessful——andIhopehewill——andtheSecretaryofWarispreciselyinthesamesituation。Ifthemilitarycommandersinthefieldcannotbesuccessful，notonlytheSecretaryofWar，butmyself，forthetimebeingthemasterofboth，cannotbutbefailures。IknowGeneralMcClellanwishestobesuccessful，andIknowhedoesnotwishitanymorethantheSecretaryofWarforhim，andbothofthemtogethernomorethanI

wishit。SometimeswehaveadisputeabouthowmanymenGeneralMcClellanhashad，andthosewhowoulddisparagehimsayhehashadaverylargenumber，andthosewhowoulddisparagetheSecretaryofWarinsistthatGeneralMcClellanhashadaverysmallnumber。Thebasisforthisis，thereisalwaysawidedifference，andonthisoccasionperhapsawiderone，betweenthegrandtotalonMcClellan’srollsandthemenactuallyfitforduty；andthosewhowoulddisparagehimtalkofthegrandtotalonpaper，andthosewhowoulddisparagetheSecretaryofWartalkofthoseatpresentfitforduty。GeneralMcClellanhassometimesaskedforthingsthattheSecretaryofWardidnotgivehim。GeneralMcClellanisnottoblameforaskingforwhathewantedandneeded，andtheSecretaryofWarisnottoblamefornotgivingwhenhehadnonetogive。AndIsayhere，sofarasI

know，theSecretaryofWarhaswithheldnoonethingatanytimeinmypowertogivehim。Ihavenoaccusationagainsthim。Ibelieveheisabraveandableman，andIstandhere，asjusticerequiresmetodo，totakeuponmyselfwhathasbeenchargedontheSecretaryofWaraswithholdingfromhim。IhavetalkedlongerthanIexpectedtodo，andnowIavailmyselfofmyprivilegeofsayingnomore。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORANDREW。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，D。C。，August12，1862。

GOVERNORANDREW，Boston，Mass。：

Yourdespatchsaying"Ican’tgetthoseregimentsoffbecauseIcan’tgetquickworkoutoftheV。S。disbursingofficerandthepaymaster"

isreceived。PleasesaytothesegentlementhatiftheydonotworkquicklyIwillmakequickworkwiththem。Inthenameofallthatisreasonable，howlongdoesittaketopayacoupleofregiments？Wewerenevermoreinneedofthearrivalofregimentsthannow——evento—day。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORCURTIN。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，August12，1862。

GOVERNORCURTIN，Harrisburg，Penn。：

Itisveryimportantforsomeregimentstoarrivehereatonce。Whatlackyoufromus？Whatcanwedotoexpeditematters？Answer。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALS。R。CURTIS。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，August12，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALCURTIS，St。Louis，Missouri：

WouldthecompletionoftherailroadsomedistancefartherinthedirectionofSpringfield，Mo。，beofanymilitaryadvantagetoyou？

Pleaseanswer。

A。LINCOLN。

ADDRESSONCOLONIZATIONTOADEPUTATIONOFCOLOREDMEN。

WASHINGTON，Thursday，August14，1862。

ThisafternoonthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesgaveanaudiencetoacommitteeofcoloredmenattheWhiteHouse。TheywereintroducedbyRev。J。Mitchell，CommissionerofEmigration，E。M。Thomas，thechairman，remarkedthattheyweretherebyinvitationtohearwhattheExecutivehadtosaytothem。

Havingallbeenseated，thePresident，afterafewpreliminaryobservations，informedthemthatasumofmoneyhadbeenappropriatedbyCongress，andplacedathisdisposition，forthepurposeofaidingthecolonization，insomecountry，ofthepeople，oraportionofthem，ofAfricandescent，therebymakingithisduty，asithadforalongtimebeenhisinclination，tofavorthatcause。Andwhy，heasked，shouldthepeopleofyourracebecolonized，andwhere？Whyshouldtheyleavethiscountry？Thisis，perhaps，thefirstquestionforproperconsideration。Youandwearedifferentraces。Wehavebetweenusabroaderdifferencethanexistsbetweenalmostanyothertworaces。WhetheritisrightorwrongIneednotdiscuss；butthisphysicaldifferenceisagreatdisadvantagetousboth，asIthink。

Yourracesufferverygreatly，manyofthem，bylivingamongus，whileourssufferfromyourpresence。Inaword，wesufferoneachside。Ifthisisadmitted，itaffordsareason，atleast，whyweshouldbeseparated。Youherearefreemen，Isuppose。

[Avoice—"Yes，sir！"]

Perhapsyouhavelongbeenfree，orallyourlives。Yourracearesuffering，inmyjudgment，thegreatestwronginflictedonanypeople。Butevenwhenyouceasetobeslaves，youareyetfarremovedfrombeingplacedonanequalitywiththewhiterace。Youarecutofffrommanyoftheadvantageswhichtheotherraceenjoys。

Theaspirationofmenistoenjoyequalitywiththebestwhenfree，butonthisbroadcontinentnotasinglemanofyourraceismadetheequalofasinglemanofours。Gowhereyouaretreatedthebest，andthebanisstilluponyou。Idonotproposetodiscussthis，buttopresentitasafact，withwhichwehavetodeal。IcannotalteritifIwould。Itisafactaboutwhichweallthinkandfeelalike，Iandyou。Welooktoourcondition。Owingtotheexistenceofthetworacesonthiscontinent，Ineednotrecounttoyoutheeffectsuponwhitemen，growingoutoftheinstitutionofslavery。

Ibelieveinitsgeneralevileffectsonthewhiterace。Seeourpresentcondition——thecountryengagedinwar——whitemencuttingoneanother’sthroats——noneknowinghowfaritwillextend——andthenconsiderwhatweknowtobethetruth：Butforyourraceamongustherecouldnotbewar，althoughmanymenengagedoneithersidedonotcarefo