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A。 LINCOLN。
BROKEN EGGS CANNOT BE MENDED
EXTRACT FROM LETTER TO AUGUST BELMONT。
July 31； 1862。
Broken eggs cannot be mended； but Louisiana has nothing to do now but
to take her place in the Union as it was； barring the already broken
eggs。 The sooner she does so； the smaller will be the amount of that
which will be past mending。 This government cannot much longer play
a game in which it stakes all； and its enemies stake nothing。 Those
enemies must understand that they cannot experiment for ten years
trying to destroy the government； and if they fail； still come back
into the Union unhurt。 If they expect in any contingency to ever
have the Union as it was； I join with the writer in saying； 〃Now is
the time。〃
How much better it would have been for the writer to have gone at
this； under the protection of the army at New Orleans； than to have
sat down in a closet writing complaining letters northward！
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO COUNT GASPARIN。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
August 4； 1863。
TO COUNT A。 DE GASPARIN。
DEAR SIR …Your very acceptable letter； dated Orbe； Canton de Vaud；
Switzerland； 18th of July； 1862； is received。 The moral effect was
the worst of the affair before Richmond； and that has run its course
downward。 We are now at a stand； and shall soon be rising again； as
we hope。 I believe it is true that； in men and material； the enemy
suffered more than we in that series of conflicts； while it is
certain that he is less able to bear it。
With us every soldier is a man of character； and must be treated with
more consideration than is customary in Europe。 Hence our great
army； for slighter causes than could have prevailed there； has
dwindled rapidly； bringing the necessity for a new call earlier than
was anticipated。 We shall easily obtain the new levy； however。 Be
not alarmed if you shall learn that we shall have resorted to a draft
for part of this。 It seems strange even to me； but it is true； that
the government is now pressed to this course by a popular demand。
Thousands who wish not to personally enter the service are
nevertheless anxious to pay and send substitutes； provided they can
have assurance that unwilling persons； similarly situated； will be
compelled to do likewise。 Besides this； volunteers mostly choose to
enter newly forming regiments； while drafted men can be sent to fill
up the old ones； wherein man for man they are quite doubly as
valuable。
You ask； 〃Why is it that the North with her great armies so often is
found with inferiority of numbers face to face with the armies of the
South？〃 While I painfully know the fact； a military man； which I am
not； would better answer the question。 The fact I know has not been
overlooked； and I suppose the cause of its continuance lies mainly in
the other facts that the enemy holds the interior and we the exterior
lines； and that we operate where the people convey information to the
enemy； while he operates where they convey none to us。
I have received the volume and letter which you did me the honor of
addressing to me； and for which please accept my sincere thanks。 You
are much admired in America for the ability of your writings； and
much loved for your generosity to us and your devotion to liberal
principles generally。
You are quite right as to the importance to us； for its bearing upon
Europe； that we should achieve military successes； and the same is
true for us at home as well as abroad。 Yet it seems unreasonable
that a series of successes； extending through half a year； and
clearing more than 100；000 square miles of country； should help us so
little； while a single half…defeat should hurt us so much。 But let
us be patient。
I am very happy to know that my course has not conflicted with your
judgment of propriety and policy I can only say that I have acted
upon my best convictions； without selfishness or malice； and that by
the help of God I shall continue to do so。
Please be assured of my highest respect and esteem。
A。 LINCOLN。
SPEECH AT A WAR MEETING；
WASHINGTON； AUGUST 6； 1862
FELLOW CITIZENS： I believe there is no precedent for my appearing
before you on this occasion； but it is also true that there is no
precedent for your being here yourselves； and I offer in
justification of myself and of you that； upon examination； I have
found nothing in the Constitution against it。 I； however； have an
impression that； there are younger gentlemen who will entertain you
better and better address your understanding than I will or could；
and therefore I propose but to detain you a moment longer。 I am very
little inclined on any occasion to say anything unless I hope to
produce some good by it。 The only thing I think of just now not
likely to be better said by some one else is a matter in which we
have heard some other persons blamed for what I did myself There has
been a very widespread attempt to have a quarrel between General
McClellan and the Secretary of War Now； I occupy a position that
enables me to believe that these two gentlemen are not nearly so deep
in the quarrel as some presuming to be their friends。 General
McClellan's attitude is such that in the very selfishness of his
nature he cannot but wish to be successfuland I hope he willand
the Secretary of War is precisely in the same situation。 If the
military commanders in the field cannot be successful； not only the
Secretary of War； but myself； for the time being the master of both；
cannot but be failures。 I know General McClellan wishes to be
successful； and I know he does not wish it any more than the
Secretary of War for him； and both of them together no more than I
wish it。 Sometimes we have a dispute about how many men General
McClellan has had； and those who would disparage him say he has had a
very large number； and those who would disparage the Secretary of War
insist that General McClellan has had a very small number。 The basis
for this is； there is always a wide difference； and on this occasion
perhaps a wider one； between the grand total on McClellan's rolls and
the men actually fit for duty； and those who would disparage him talk
of the grand total on paper； and those who would disparage the
Secretary of War talk of those at present fit for duty。 General
McClellan has sometimes asked for things that the Secretary of War
did not give him。 General McClellan is not to blame for asking for
what he wanted and needed； and the Secretary of War is not to blame
for not giving when he had none to give。 And I say here； so far as I
know； the Secretary of War has withheld no one thing at any time in
my power to give him。 I have no accusation against him。 I believe
he is a brave and able man； and I stand here； as justice requires me
to do； to take upon myself what has been charged on the Secretary of
War as withholding from him。