Show OUR REVIEW of the past and the future of the american negro Negm by D FT culpi culp A M at D 2 rv IV ON the day of august 1862 president lincoln replied to horace greelegs greeleys Gree CEree leys letter entitled the prayer of twenty millions 3 which appeared in the last issue of the broad ax and mr Lincol ns letter can be found on page volume 11 of greeleys greelegs Gree leys great american conflict the following letter voices the sentiments which president lincoln entertained upon the slavery question at that time EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHING washington TONI D C aug 22 62 hon horace greeley greeky deab adma SIR I 1 have just reid read yours of the addressed to myself through the new york tribune if there be in it any statement or assumptions of fact which I 1 may know to he be erroneous I 1 do not now and here controvert them if there be any inferences which I 1 may believe to be falsely drawn I 1 do not now and here argue against them if there be perceptible in it an impatient and dictatorial tone I 1 wave it in I 1 m ference difference def to an old friend whose heart I 1 have always supposed to be right sas As to the policy I 1 seem eem to be pursuing as you say I 1 have not meant to leave anyone in doubt I 1 would save the union I 1 would save it in the shortest way under the constitution the inthe sooner the national authority can be restored the nearer the union will be the union as it 1 was off if the there be those who would not save the union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery I 1 do not aggee agree with them eg my paramount object is to save the union and not either to tave save or destroy aistroye slavery lavery t if fh I 1 could save sava the union without freeing any slave I 1 would do it IS if I 1 could save give it hy by freeing an all thia the slaves 1 I would do it and if I 1 could do it by freeing some and leaving others 81 alone one I 1 would also aho do that what 1 do about a slavery lavery and the coland acea I 1 do because I 1 believe lievert it helps hs to save the union and what shaf I 1 forbear I 1 forbear f 0 abear be not believe it wo would wad h hel to save the 00 union 1 I shall do less jess whenever I 1 shall t t an am doing d hurts the caum causel and 4 1 jh ahall j alado 7 do more whenever I 1 believe le lieve eda doing in 1902 more ore will help 1 the baui cause 1 Y Youra W A ta the uk 7 are vari varia a ref fia py afaf pro ent pea people i from raf Ili kiry 40 jt ys y I 1 i of ur MAX i a proclamation which W r qi cip ci pate ail yr the se 6 slaves MAR ww throughout ilir rev me 1 a a f to aoa mm 7 b y a tise ay ij klai z e V comets re M A ME 0 R 1 I admit that slavery is at the root of the rebellion or at least its sine qua the ambition of politicians may have instigated them thein to act but ant they would have been impotent without slavery as their instrument I 1 will also concede that emancipation would help us in europe and convince them that we are incited by something more than ambition I 1 grant further that it would help somewhat at the north though not so much I 1 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 1 am not so sure we could do much with the blacks it if we were to arin arm them thein I 1 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 1 will mention another thing though it meet only your scorn and contempt there are bayonets in the union army from the slaveholding 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 1 do not think they all would not so many indeed as a year ago or six months ago not so man many y today as yesterday every day increases their union feeling a they are also getting their pride enlisted aud want to beat the rebels let me say one thing anore laore I 1 think you should admit that we already have an important principle to rally and unite the people in the fact that constitutional tut ional government is at stake this is a fundamental idea going down about as deep as anything tto to he be continued |