The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, vol 6 | Page 6

declare that the Government of the United States, had no knowledge,
information, or belief of an intention on the part of General Hunter to
issue such a proclamation; nor has it yet any authentic information that
the document is genuine. And further, that neither General Hunter nor

any other commander or person has been authorized by the
Government of the United States to make a proclamation declaring the
slaves of any State free; and that the supposed proclamation now in
question, whether genuine or false, is altogether void so far as respects
such a declaration.
I further make known that whether it be competent for me, as
commander-in-chief of the army and navy, to declare the slaves of any
State or States free, and whether, at any time, in any case, it shall have
become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of the government
to exercise such supposed power, are questions which under my
responsibility I reserve to myself, and which I cannot feel justified in
leaving to the decision of commanders in the field.
These are totally different questions from those of police regulations in
armies and camps.
On the sixth day of March last, by special message, I recommended to
Congress the adoption of a joint resolution, to be substantially as
follows:
Resolved, That the United States ought to co-operate with any State
which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State
pecuniary aid, to be used by such State, in its discretion, to compensate
for the inconvenience, public and private, produced by such change of
system.
The resolution in the language above quoted was adopted by large
majorities in both branches of Congress, and now stands an authentic,
definite, and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people
most immediately interested in the subject-matter. To the people of
those States I now earnestly appeal. I do not argue--I beseech you to
make arguments for yourselves. You cannot, if you would, be blind to
the signs of the times. I beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration
of them, ranging, if it may be, far above personal and partisan politics.
This proposal makes common cause for a common object, casting no
reproaches upon any. It acts not the Pharisee. The change it
contemplates would come gently as the dews of heaven, not rending or
wrecking anything. Will you not embrace it? So much good has not
been done, by one effort, in all past time, as in the providence of God it
is now your high privilege to do. May the vast future not have to
lament that you have neglected it.

In witness 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 nineteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the
independence of the United States the eighty-sixth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. E. McCLELLAN.
WASHINGTON, May 21, 1862.
MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN:
I have just been waited on by a large committee who present a petition
signed by twenty-three senators and eighty-four representatives asking
me to restore General Hamilton to his division. I wish to do this, and
yet I do not wish to be understood as rebuking you. Please answer at
once.
A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 22, 1862.
MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN:
Your long despatch of yesterday just received. You will have just such
control of General McDowell and his forces as you therein indicate.
McDowell can reach you by land sooner than he could get aboard of
boats, if the boats were ready at Fredericksburg, unless his march shall
be resisted, in which case the force resisting him will certainly not be
confronting you at Richmond. By land he can reach you in five days
after starting, whereas by water he would not reach you in two weeks,
judging by past experience. Franklin's single division did not reach you
in ten days after I ordered it.
A. LINCOLN, President United States.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN.
WASHINGTON, May 24, 1862. 4 PM.
MAJOR-GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN:
In consequence of General Banks's critical position, I have been

compelled to suspend General McDowell's movements to join you. The
enemy are making a desperate push upon Harper's Ferry, and we are
trying to throw General Fremont's force and part of General
McDowell's in their rear.
A. LINCOLN, President.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN
WASHINGTON May 24, 1862.
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN:
I left General McDowell's camp at dark last evening. Shields's
command is there, but it is so worn that he cannot move before Monday
morning, the 26th. We have so thinned our line