Lincoln on Democracy

"RESIST . .. SUCH RECOGNITION"

276 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY ing their Commander, and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can, to put it down. Neither you, nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army, while such a spirit prevails in it. And now, beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with energy, and sleepless vigilance, go forward, and give us victories. Yours very truly A. LINCOLN "RESIST . .. SUCH RECOGNITION" Resolution Condemning Pro-Slavery Nations [APRIL 15, 1863] For much ofhispresidency, Lincoln worried that European nations would intervene in America's Civil War-on the side of the Confederacy. He drafted this resolution in the hope that it would be adopted at pro-Union meetings in England, and at the least influence the British government to remain neutral. Senator Charles Sumner, who was summoned to the White House to receive the resolution, forwarded it to John Bright, a pro-Lincoln member of British Parliament. Whereas, while heretofore, States, and Nations, have tolerated slavery, recently, for the first [time] in the world, an attempt has been made to construct a new Nation, upon the basis of, and with the primary, and fundamental object to maintain, enlarge, and perpetuate human slavery , therefore, Resolved, That no such embryo State should ever be recognized by, or admitted into, the family of christian and civilized nations; and that all ch[r]istian and civilized men everywhere should, by all lawful means, resist to the utmost, such recognition or admission. ...