The Lincoln Mailbag: America Writes to the President, 1861-1865

1862

r862 Lincoln in a contemplative mood, captured at Mathew Brady's Washington photographic studio sometime in 1862, the year of the Union defeat at Second Bull Run and the bloody victory at Antietam. Courtesy Library of Congress. Protesting an Abolitionist Speech at the Smithsonian Washington, D.C January 5th I862 Mr. President. Dear Sir: Allow me with all due respect, to protest against the use of the Smithsonian Institute (of which you are one of the Regents) for the purpose of advancing the political Sentiments of any party. I regard the lecture of Mr. Horace Greeley delivered at the Institute on the evening of the 3d inst. So far as it related to the question of Slavery highly objectionable . I think the Institution was not endowed for partizan purposes, If we are to avoid the fatal consequences of division amongst our Selves, these Abolition lectures at the Institute Should be immediately stopd. I have given your Administration a cordial Support, and my best efforts in its defence with the understanding that your policy was, to put down this wicked Rebellion, to save the Constitution, and the Union, and reestablish the Supremacy of the iaws, without reference to the Slavery question, or in other words, the object of the war was to save the Union, and not to free the Slaves. The deep Solicitude I feel for our bleeding Country is the apology I have to offer for thus freely advising you. I am impressed with the immense responsibilities of your position, and I feel the destiny of this Nation is in a great degree in your hands. May God give you wisdom to direct, and Controll it for our good. It may not be proper for me to intrude my opinions on your consideration, but trusting that no harm will result, I hope to be excused for Saying, that it is my firm opinion that if we fall in putting down this Rebellion it will be the result of our having acted unwisely on the Negro question. I think the very best we can do under all the circumstances, is to let that Subject alone, and if Slavery Suffers under the laws of war, we can not help it and as we did not begin this war, we Should not be held responsible for its legitimate consequences. Let us not close our eyes to the fact, that if we change the policy of the war, and attempt through its instrumentality to Emancipate four millions of Slaves, we Shall immediately loose all the border Slave States and Send them into the vortex of Revolution, Soon to be followed by all the border free States, whose Natural Channels of trade and Commerce is, and must for ever be, with the South. We can not 1862 37 afford to make any blunders in the present distressed condition of our country. We must gird up our loins like men, and look our destiny in the face. Abolitionism and Secessionism must be met and crushed or we must prepare for a long and bloody war which will at last, end in Seperation , or consolidated despotism, these are the Sentiments of the Democracy without any official authority on my part to give them, and I believe they are the Sentiments of all Conservative Republicans. Whilst Conservatism marks the policy of your Administration on the war question I am prepared to sustain it. Any change to radicalism blasts the last hope of putting down the Rebellion. With the best wishes of my heart that you may be instrumental in Saving the Union, I am Your Obt. Servt. J. A. Cravens, M. C. There is no record of a reply from Lincoln to Congressman Cravens, a Democrat . The letter was returned to its original envelope, and the following file notation was added by a secretary, probably John Hay, in pencil: "Indignantly protests against abolition lectures at the Smithsonian." General Sherman's Wife Pleads for His Transfer East Lancaster Ohio; Jan 9. 1862. Mr. Lincoln dear Sir; Having always entertained a high regard for you and believing you to possess the kindest feelings as well as the truest honor I appeal with confidence to you for some intervention in my husband's favor & in vindication of his slandered name. Left, for several weeks, in an enemy's country, with but thirty thousand raw recruits to protect an extent of territory, larger than that which General McClellan held his...