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EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； July 26； 1862。
HON。 REVERDY JOHNSON。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 16th is received。。。。。。。。。。。
You are ready to say I apply to friends what is due only to enemies。
I distrust the wisdom if not the sincerity of friends who would hold
my hands while my enemies stab me。 This appeal of professed friends
has paralyzed me more in this struggle than any other one thing。 You
remember telling me； the day after the Baltimore mob in April； 1861；
that it would crush all Union feeling in Maryland for me to attempt
bringing troops over Maryland soil to Washington。 I brought the
troops notwithstanding； and yet there was Union feeling enough left
to elect a Legislature the next autumn； which in turn elected a very
excellent Union United States senator！ I am a patient manalways
willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance； and also to
give ample time for repentance。 Still； I must save this government；
if possible。 What I cannot do； of course； I will not do； but it may
as well be understood； once for all； that I shall not surrender this
game leaving any available card unplayed。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO CUTHBERT BULLITT。
（Private。）
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； July 28； 1862。
CUTHBERT BULLITT； Esq。； New Orleans； Louisiana。
SIR：The copy of a letter addressed to yourself by Mr。 Thomas J。
Durant has been shown to me。 The writer appears to be an able； a
dispassionate； and an entirely sincere man。 The first part of the
letter is devoted to an effort to show that the secession ordinance
of Louisiana was adopted against the will of a majority of the
people。 This is probably true； and in that fact may be found some
instruction。 Why did they allow the ordinance to go into effect？
Why did they not assert themselves？ Why stand passive and allow
themselves to be trodden down by minority？ Why did they not hold
popular meetings and have a convention of their own to express and
enforce the true sentiment of the State？ If preorganization was
against them then； why not do this now that the United States army is
present to protect them？ The paralysisthe dead palsyof the
government in this whole struggle is that this class of men will do
nothing for the government； nothing for themselves； except demanding
that the government shall not strike its open enemies； lest they be
struck by accident！
Mr。 Durant complains that in various ways the relation of master and
slave is disturbed by the presence of our army； and he considers it
particularly vexatious that this； in part； is done under cover of an
act of Congress； while constitutional guaranties are suspended on the
plea of military necessity。 The truth is； that what is done and
omitted about slaves is done and omitted on the same military
necessity。 It is a military necessity to have men and money； and we
can get neither in sufficient numbers or amounts if we keep from or
drive from our lines slaves coming to them。 Mr。 Durant cannot be
ignorant of the pressure in this direction； nor of my efforts to hold
it within bounds till he and such as he shall have time to help
themselves。
I am not posted to speak understandingly on all the police
regulations of which Mr。 Durant complains。 If experience shows any
one of them to be wrong； let them be set right。 I think I can
perceive in the freedom of trade which Mr。 Durant urges that he would
relieve both friends and enemies from the pressure of the blockade。
By this he would serve the enemy more effectively than the enemy is
able to serve himself。 I do not say or believe that to serve the
enemy is the purpose； of Mr。 Durant； or that he is conscious of any
purpose other than national and patriotic ones。 Still； if there were
a class of men who； having no choice of sides in the contest； were
anxious only to have quiet and comfort for themselves while it rages；
and to fall in with the victorious side at the end of it without loss
to themselves； their advice as to the mode of conducting the contest
would be precisely such as his is。 He speaks of no dutyapparently
thinks of noneresting upon Union men。 He even thinks it injurious
to the Union cause that they should be restrained in trade and
passage without taking sides。 They are to touch neither a sail nor a
pump； but to be merely passengersdeadheads at thatto be carried
snug and dry throughout the storm； and safely landed right side up。
Nay； more： even a mutineer is to go untouched； lest these sacred
passengers receive an accidental wound。 Of course the rebellion will
never be suppressed in Louisiana if the professed Union men there
will neither help to do it nor permit the government to do it without
their help。 Now； I think the true remedy is very different from what
is suggested by Mr。 Durant。 It does not lie in rounding the rough
angles of the war； but in removing the necessity for the war。 The
people of Louisiana who wish protection to person and property have
but to reach forth their hands and take it。 Let them in good faith
reinaugurate the national authority； and set up a State government
conforming thereto under the Constitution。 They know how to do it
and can have the protection of the army while doing it。 The army
will be withdrawn so soon as such State government can dispense with
its presence； and the people of the State can then； upon the old
constitutional terms； govern themselves to their own liking。 This is
very simple and easy。
If they will not do thisif they prefer to hazard all for the sake
of destroying the governmentit is for them to consider whether it
is probable I will surrender the government to save them from losing
all。 If they decline what I suggest； you scarcely need to ask what I
will do。 What would you do in my position？ Would you drop the war
where it is？ Or would you prosecute it in future with elder…stalk
squirts charged with rose water？ Would you deal lighter blows rather
than heavier ones？ Would you give up the contest； leaving any
available means unapplied？ I am in no boastful mood。 I shall not do
more than I can； and I shall do all I can； to save the government；
which is my sworn duty as well as my personal inclination。 I shall
do nothing in malice。 What I deal with is too vast for malicious
dealing。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO LOYAL GOVERNORS。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； D。C。；
July 28； 1862。
GOVERNORS OF ALL LOYAL STATES：
It would be of great service here for us to know； as fully as you can
tell； what progress is made and making in recruiting for old
regiments in your State。 Also about what day the first regiments can
move with you； what the second； what the third； and so on。 This
information is important to us in making calculations。 Please give
it as promptly and accurately as you call。
A。 LINCOLN。
BROKEN EGGS CANNOT BE MENDED
EXTRACT FROM LETTER TO AUG