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acknowledge myself to be the servant of the people； according to the
bond of service； the United States Constitution； and that； as such； I
am responsible to them。
But； to be plain： You are dissatisfied with me about the negro。
Quite likely there is a difference of opinion between you and myself
upon that subject。 I certainly wish that all men could be free；
while you； I suppose； do not。 Yet； I have neither adopted nor
proposed any measure which is not consistent with even your view；
provided you are for the Union。 I suggested compensated
emancipation； to which you replied you wished not to be taxed to buy
negroes。 But I had not asked you to be taxed to buy negroes； except
in such way as to save you from greater taxation to save the Union
exclusively by other means。
You dislike the Emancipation Proclamation； and perhaps would have it
retracted。 You say it is unconstitutional。 I think differently。 I
think the Constitution invests its commander…in…chief with the law of
war in time of war。 The most that can be said； if so much； is； that
slaves are property。 Is there； has there ever been； any question
that by the law of war； property； both of enemies and friends； may be
taken when needed？ And is it not needed whenever it helps us and
hurts the enemy？ Armies； the world over； destroy enemies' property
when they cannot use it； and even destroy their own to keep it from
the enemy。 Civilized belligerents do all in their power to help
themselves or hurt the enemy； except a few things regarded as
barbarous or cruel。 Among the exceptions are the massacre of
vanquished foes and non…combatants； male and female。
But the proclamation； as law； either is valid or is not valid。 If it
is not valid it needs no retraction。 If it is valid it cannot be
retracted； any more than the dead can be brought to life。 Some of
you profess to think its retraction would operate favorably for the
Union； why better after the retraction than before the issue？ There
was more than a year and a half of trial to suppress the rebellion
before the proclamation was issued； the last one hundred days of
which passed under an explicit notice that it was coming； unless
averted by those in revolt returning to their allegiance。 The war
has certainly progressed as favorably for us since the issue of the
proclamation as before。
I know； as fully as one can know the opinions of others； that some of
the commanders of our armies in the field； who have given us our most
important victories； believe the emancipation policy and the use of
colored troops constitute the heaviest blows yet dealt to the
rebellion； and that at least one of those important successes could
not have been achieved when it was but for the aid of black soldiers。
Among the commanders who hold these views are some who have never had
any affinity with what is called 〃Abolitionism；〃 or with 〃Republican
Party politics；〃 but who hold them purely as military opinions。 I
submit their opinions are entitled to some weight against the
objections often urged that emancipation and arming the blacks are
unwise as military measures； and were not adopted as such in good
faith。
You say that you will not fight to free negroes。 Some of them seem
willing to fight for you； but no matter。 Fight you； then；
exclusively； to save the Union。 I issued the proclamation on purpose
to aid you in saving the Union。 Whenever you shall have conquered
all resistance to the Union； if I shall urge you to continue
fighting； it will be an apt time then for you to declare you will not
fight to free negroes。 I thought that in your struggle for the
Union； to whatever extent the negroes should cease helping the enemy；
to that extent it weakened the enemy in his resistance to you。 Do
you think differently？ I thought that whatever negroes can be got to
do as soldiers； leaves just so much less for white soldiers to do in
saving the Union。 Does it appear otherwise to you？ But negroes；
like other people； act upon motives。 Why should they do anything for
us if we will do nothing for them？ If they stake their lives for us
they must be prompted by the strongest motive； even the promise of
freedom。 And the promise； being made； must be kept。
The signs look better。 The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to
the sea。 Thanks to the great Northwest for it； nor yet wholly to
them。 Three hundred miles up they met New England； Empire； Keystone；
and Jersey； hewing their way right and left。 The sunny South； too；
in more colors than one； also lent a helping hand。 On the spot；
their part of the history was jotted down in black and white。 The
job was a great national one； and let none be slighted who bore an
honorable part in it And while those who have cleared the great
river may well be proud； even that is not all。 It is hard to say
that anything has been more bravely and well done than at Antietam；
Murfreesboro； Gettysburg； and on many fields of less note。 Nor must
Uncle Sam's web…feet be forgotten。 At all the watery margins they
have been present； not only on the deep sea； the broad bay； and the
rapid river； but also up the narrow； muddy bayou； and wherever the
ground was a little damp； they have been and made their tracks。
Thanks to all。 For the great Republicfor the principle it lives by
and keeps alivefor man's vast futurethanks to all。
Peace does not appear so distant as it did。 I hope it will come
soon； and come to stay； and so come as to be worth the keeping in all
future time。 It will then have been proved that among freemen there
can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet； and that
they who take such appeal are sure to lose their case and pay the
cost。 And there will be some black men who can remember that with
silent tongue； and clinched teeth； and steady eye； and well…poised
bayonet； they have helped mankind on to this great consummation；
while I fear there will be some white ones unable to forget that with
malignant heart and deceitful speech they have striven to hinder it。
Still； let us not be over…sanguine of a speedy； final triumph。 Let
us be quite sober。 Let us diligently apply the means； never doubting
that a just God； in His own good time； will give us the rightful
result。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JAMES CONKLING。
（Private。）
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY； D。 C。；
August 27。1863。
HON。 JAMES CONKLING。
MY DEAR CONKLING：I cannot leave here now。 Herewith is a letter
instead。 You are one of the best public readers。 I have but one
suggestionread it very slowly。 And now God bless you； and all good
Union men。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO SECRETARY STANTON。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； D。 C。；
August 26； 1863。
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR
SIR：…In my correspondence with Governor Seymour in relation to the
draft； I have said to him； substantially； that credits shall be gi