Lincoln, full of
unjust accusations, his general charge being that the President
and many army officers were neglecting their duty through a
kindly feeling for slavery. The open letter which Mr. Lincoln
wrote in reply is remarkable not alone for the skill with which
he answered this attack, but also for its great dignity.
"As to the policy I 'seem to be pursuing,' as you say, I have not
meant to leave anyone in doubt. . . . My paramount object in this
struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to
destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any
slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the
slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and
leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about
slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to
save the Union, and what I forbear I forbear because I do not
believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever
I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do
more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I
shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall
adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I
have here stated my purpose according to my view of official
duty, and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal
wish that all men everywhere could be free.
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