Lincoln on Democracy

"GOVERNMENT W AS SAVEDFROM OVERTHROW"

246 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY ues, the war must also continue; and it is impossible to foresee all the incidents, which may attend and all the ruin which may follow it. Such as may seem indispensable, or may obviously promise great efficiency towards ending the struggle, must and will come. The proposition now made, though an offer only, I hope it may be esteemed no offence to ask whether the pecuniary consideration tendered would not be of more value to the States and private persons concerned, than are the institution, and property in it, in the present aspect of affairs. While it is true that the adoption of the proposed resolution would be merely initiatory, and not within itself a practical measure, it is recommended in the hope that it would soon lead to important practical results. In full view of my great responsibility to my God, and to my country, I earnestly beg the attention of Congress and the people to the subject. ABRAHAM LINCOLN "GOVERNMENT WAS SAVED FROM OVERTHROW" From a Message to the Senate and House of Representatives [MAY 26, 1862] On April 30, the House passed a resolution censuring outgoing secretary of war Simon Cameron for having given New Yorker Alexander Cummings unrestricted authority to use public money to buy emergency military supplies in the early days ofthe Rebellion. Refusing to allow Cameron to take the blame for a decision for which he felt "equally responsible," Lincoln sent a message to Congress recounting those days ofcrisis, when he had to choose between letting "the government fall at once into ruin" or "availing myself of the broader powers conferred by the Constitution in cases ofinsurrection. ... " In this extractfrom the message, he defends some of his actions. Lincoln and Liberty, 1862-1863 247 The several departments of the government at that time contained so large a number of disloyal persons that it would have been impossible to provide safely, through official agents only, for the performance of the duties thus confided to citizens favorably known for their ability, loyalty, and patriotism. The several orders issued upon these occurrences were transmitted by private messengers, who pursued a circuitous way to the seaboard cities, inland, across the States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and the northern lakes. I believe that by these and other similar measures taken in that crisis, some of which were without any authority of law, the government was saved from overthrow. I am not aware that a dollar of the public funds thus confided without authority of law to unofficial persons was either lost or wasted, although apprehensions of such misdirection occurred to me as objections to those extraordinary proceedings , and were necessarily overruled. "OUR COMMON COUNTRY Is IN GREAT PERIL" From an Appeal to Border State Representatives on Compensated Emancipation, the White House [JULY 12, 1862] Eager to promote his plan for voluntary emancipation, Lincoln summoned to the White House a delegation of border state congressmen and senators, and read this formal appeal to them. (As early as 1861 he had personally drafted a billfor compensated emancipation in the border state ofDelaware, although its state legislature never considered it.) Two days after this appeal, a majority voted to reject Lincoln'sproposal. In ten days, Lincoln would reveal to his cabinet his Emancipation Proclamation. Gentlemen. After the adjournment of Congress, now very near, I shall have no opportunity of seeing you for several months. Believing ...