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classes is certainly very striking； being the difference between an
average of 2200 in one class and 4864 in the other。 Assuming that
the districts are equal one to another in entire population； as
required by the plan on which they were made； this disparity is such
as to require attention。 Much of it； however； I suppose will be
accounted for by the fact that so many more persons fit for soldiers
are in the city than are in the country who have too recently arrived
from other parts of the United States and from Europe to be either
included in the census of 1860； or to have voted in 1862。 Still；
making due allowance for this； I am yet unwilling to stand upon it as
an entirely sufficient explanation of the great disparity。
I shall direct the draft to proceed in all the districts； drawing；
however； at first from each of the four districtsto wit； the
Second； Fourth； Sixth； and Eighthonly； 2200 being the average quota
of the other class。 After this drawing； these four districts； and
also the Seventeenth and Twenty…ninth； shall be carefully re…
enrolled； and； if you please； agents of yours may witness every step
of the process。 Any deficiency which may appear by the new enrolment
will be supplied by a special draft for that object； allowing due
credit for volunteers who may be obtained from these districts
respectively during the interval； and at all points； so far as
consistent with practical convenience； due credits shall be given for
volunteers； and your Excellency shall be notified of the time fixed
for commencing the draft in each district。
I do not object to abide a decision of the United States Supreme
Court； or of the judges thereof； on the constitutionality of the
draft law。 In fact； I should be willing to facilitate the obtaining
of it。 But I cannot consent to lose the time while it is being
obtained。 We are contending with an enemy who； as I understand；
drives every able…bodied man he can reach into his ranks； very much
as a butcher drives bullocks into the slaughter…pen。 No time is
wasted； no argument is used。 This produces an army which will soon
turn upon our now victorious soldiers already in the field； if they
shall not be sustained by recruits as they should be。 It produces an
army with a rapidity not to be matched on our side if we first waste
time to re…experiment with the volunteer system； already deemed by
Congress； and palpably； in fact； so far exhausted as to be
inadequate； and then more time to obtain a court decision as to
whether a law is constitutional； which requires a part of those not
now in the service to go to the aid of those who are already in it；
and still more time to determine with absolute certainty that we get
those who are to go in the precisely legal proportion to those who
are not to go。 My purpose is to be in my action just and
constitutional； and yet practical； in performing the important duty
with which I am charged； of maintaining the unity and the free
principles of our common country。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL U。S。 GRANT。
EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON；
August 9； 1863。
MY DEAR GENERAL GRANT：
I see by a despatch of yours that you incline quite strongly toward
an expedition against Mobile。 This would appear tempting to me also；
were it not that in view of recent events in Mexico I am greatly
impressed with the importance of re…establishing the national
authority in western Texas as soon as possible。 I am not making an
order； however； that I leave； for the present at least； to the
general…in…chief。
A word upon another subject： General Thomas has gone again to the
Mississippi Valley； with the view of raising colored troops。 I have
no reason to doubt that you are doing what you reasonably can upon
the same subject。 I believe it is a resource which if vigorously
applied now will soon close the contest。 It works doubly； weakening
the enemy and strengthening us。 We were not fully ripe for it until
the river was opened。 Now； I think at least one hundred thousand can
and ought to be rapidly organized along its shores； relieving all
white troops to serve elsewhere。 Mr。 Dana understands you as
believing that the Emancipation Proclamation has helped some in your
military operations。 I am very glad if this is so。
Did you receive a short letter from me dated the 13th of July？
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL W。 S。 ROSECRANS。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
August 10； 1863。
MY DEAR GENERAL ROSECRANS：
Yours of the 1st was received two days ago。 I think you must have
inferred more than General Halleck has intended； as to any
dissatisfaction of mine with you。 I am sure you； as a reasonable
man； would not have been wounded could you have heard all my words
and seen all my thoughts in regard to you。 I have not abated in my
kind feeling for and confidence in you。 I have seen most of your
despatches to General Halleckprobably all of them。 After Grant
invested Vicksburg I was very anxious lest Johnston should overwhelm
him from the outside； and when it appeared certain that part of
Bragg's force had gone and was going to Johnston； it did seem to me
it was exactly the proper time for you to attack Bragg with what
force he had left。 In all kindness let me say it so seems to me yet。
Finding from your despatches to General Halleck that your judgment
was different； and being very anxious for Grant； I； on one occasion；
told General Halleck I thought he should direct you to decide at once
to immediately attack Bragg or to stand on the defensive and send
part of your force to Grant。 He replied he had already so directed
in substance。 Soon after； despatches from Grant abated my anxiety
for him； and in proportion abated my anxiety about any movement of
yours。 When afterward； however； I saw a despatch of yours arguing
that the right time for you to attack Bragg was not before； but would
be after； the fall of Vicksburg； it impressed me very strangely； and
I think I so stated to the Secretary of War and General Halleck。 It
seemed no other than the proposition that you could better fight
Bragg when Johnston should be at liberty to return and assist him
than you could before he could so return to his assistance。
Since Grant has been entirely relieved by the fall of Vicksburg； by
which Johnston is also relieved； it has seemed to me that your chance
for a stroke has been considerably diminished； and I have not been
pressing you directly or indirectly。 True； I am very anxious for
East Tennessee to be occupied by us； but I see and appreciate the
difficulties you mention。 The question occurs； Can the thing be done
at all？ Does preparation advance at all？ Do you not consume
supplies as fast as you get them forward？ Have you more animals to…
day than you had at the battle of Stone's River？ And yet have not
more been furnished you since then than your