女神电子书 > 浪漫言情电子书 > the writings-6 >

第66部分

the writings-6-第66部分

小说: the writings-6 字数: 每页4000字

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!




extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften

even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever…watchful

providence of Almighty God。  In the midst of a civil war of

unequalled magnitude and severity which has sometimes seemed to

invite and provoke the aggressions of foreign states; peace has been

preserved with all nations; order has been maintained; the laws have

been respected and obeyed; and harmony has prevailed everywhere

except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has

been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the

Union。  The needful diversion of wealth and strength from the fields

of peaceful industry; to the national defense has not arrested the

plough; the shuttle; or the ship: The axe has enlarged the borders of

our settlements; and the mines; as well of; iron and coal as of the

precious metals; have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore。

Population has steadily increased; notwithstanding the waste that has

been made in the camp; the siege; and the battle…field; and the

country; rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and

vigor; is permitted to expect a continuance of years; with large

increase of freedom。



No human counsel hath devised; nor hath any mortal hand worked out

these great things。 They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God;

who; while dealing with us in anger for our sins; hath nevertheless

remembered mercy。



It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be reverently;

solemnly; and gratefully acknowledged; as with one heart and voice;

by the whole American people。  I do; therefore; invite my

fellow…citizens in every part of the United States; and also those

who are at sea; and those who are sojourning in foreign lands; to set

apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of

thanksgiving and prayer to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the

heavens。  And I recommend to them that; while offering up the

ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and

blessings; they do also; with humble penitence for our national

perverseness and disobedience; commend to His tender care all those

who have become widows; orphans; mourners; or sufferers in the

lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged; and

fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the

wounds of the nation; and to restore it; as soon as may be consistent

with divine purposes; to the full enjoyment of peace; harmony;

tranquillity; and union。



In testimony whereof; I have hereunto set my hand; and caused the

seal of the United States to be affixed。



Done at the city of Washington; this third day of October; in the

year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty…three; and of

the independence of the United States the eighty…eighth。



ABRAHAM LINCOLN。



By the President:

WILLIAM H。 SEWARD;

Secretary of State









TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 M。 SCHOFIELD。



WASHINGTON D。C。; OCTOBER 4; 1863



MAJOR…GENERAL SCHOFIELD; St。  Louis; Mo。:



I think you will not have just cause to complain of my action。



A。 LINCOLN。









TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W。 S。 ROSECRANS。



WAR DEPARTMENT; October 4; 1863。  11。30 A。M。



MAJOR…GENERAL ROSECRANS; Chattanooga; Tenn。:



Yours of yesterday received。  If we can hold Chattanooga and East

Tennessee; I think the rebellion must dwindle and die。  I think you

and Burnside can do this; and hence doing so is your main object。  Of

course to greatly damage or destroy the enemy in your front would be

a greater object; because it would include the former and more; but

it is not so certainly within your power。  I understand the main body

of the enemy is very near you; so near that you could 〃board at

home;〃 so to speak; and menace or attack him any day。  Would not the

doing of this be your best mode of counteracting his raid on your

communications?  But this is not an order。  I intend doing something

like what you suggest whenever the case shall appear ripe enough to

have it accepted in the true understanding rather than as a

confession of weakness and fear。



A。 LINCOLN。









TO C。 D。 DRAKE AND OTHERS。



EXECUTIVE MANSION ;WASHINGTON;

October 5; 1863。



HON。 CHARLES D。 DRAKE AND OTHERS; Committee。



GENTLEMEN:…Your original address; presented on the 30th ult。; and the

four supplementary ones presented on the 3d inst。; have been

carefully considered。  I hope you will regard the other duties

claiming my attention; together with the great length and importance

of these documents; as constituting a sufficient apology for not

having responded sooner。



These papers; framed for a common object; consist of the things

demanded and the reasons for demanding them。



The things demanded are



First。  That General Schofield shall be relieved; and General Butler

be appointed as Commander of the Military Department of Missouri。



Second。  That the system of enrolled militia in Missouri may be

broken up; and national forces he substituted for it; and



Third。  That at elections persons may not be allowed to vote who are

not entitled by law to do so。



Among the reasons given; enough of suffering and wrong to Union men

is certainly; and I suppose truly; stated。  Yet the whole case; as

presented; fails to convince me that General Schofield; or the

enrolled militia; is responsible for that suffering and wrong。   The

whole can be explained on a more charitable; and; as I think; a more

rational hypothesis。



We are in a civil war。  In such cases there always is a main

question; but in this case that question is a perplexing compound

Union and slavery。  It thus becomes a question not of two sides

merely; but of at least four sides; even among those who are for the

Union; saying nothing of those who are against it。  Thus; those who

are for the Union with; but not without slavery; those for it

without; but not with; those for it with or without; but prefer it

with; and those for it with or without; but prefer it without。



Among these; again; is a subdivision of those who are for gradual;

but not for immediate; and those who are for immediate; but not for

gradual extinction of slavery。



It is easy to conceive that all these shades of opinion; and even

more; may be sincerely entertained by honest and truthful men。  Yet;

all being for the Union; by reason of these differences each will

prefer a different way of sustaining the Union。  At once; sincerity

is questioned; and motives are assailed。  Actual war coining; blood

grows hot and blood is spilled。  Thought is forced from old channels

into confusion。  Deception breeds and thrives。  Confidence dies; and

universal suspicion reigns。  Each man feels an impulse to kill his

neighbor; lest he be killed by him。  Revenge and retaliation follow。

And all this; as before said; may be among honest men only。  But this

is not all。  Every foul bird comes abroad; and every dirty reptile

rises up。  These add crime to confusion。  Strong measures deemed

indispensable; but harsh at best; such men make worse by

maladministration。  Murders for old grudges; and murders for self;

proceed under any cloak that will best serve for the occasion。



These causes amply account for what has occurred in Missouri; without

ascribing it to the weakness or wickedness of any general。  The

newspaper files; those chroniclers of current events; will show that

the evils now complained of were quite as prevalent under Fremont;

Hunter; Halleck; and Curtis; as under Schofield。  If the former had

greater force opposed to them; they also had greater force with which

to meet it。  When the organized rebel army left the State; the main

Federal force had to go also; leaving the department commander at

home relatively no stronger than before。  Without disparaging any; I

affirm with confidence that no commander of that department has; in

proportion to his means; done better than General Schofield。



The first specific charge against General Schofield is; that the

enrolled militia was placed under his command; whereas it had not

been placed under the command of General Curtis。  The fact is; I

believe; true; but you do not point out; nor can I conceive; how that

did; or could; injure loyal men or the Union cause。



You charge that; General Curtis being superseded by General

Schofield; Franklin A。 Dick was superseded by James O。 Broadhead as

Provost…Marshal General。  No very specific showing is made as to how

this did or could injure the Union cause。  It recalls; however; the

condition of things; as presented to me; which led to a change of

commander of that department。



To restrain contraband intelligence and trade; a system of searches;

seizures; permits; and passes; had been introduced; I think; by

General Fremont。  When General Halleck came; he found and continued

the system; and add

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的