Lincoln on Democracy

"ALLOW No MAN TO BE SHOT"

226 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY "ALLOW No MAN TO BE SHOT" Letter to General John C. Fremont [SEPTEMBER 2, 1861] The 1856 Republican presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, was now a Union general. He overstepped his authority by proclaiming the confiscation ofthe property ofConfederate sympathizers in Missouri, including property in slaves. His emancipation edict was designed to curtail guerrilla warfare in the West, but also to curry favor with Republican abolitionists . Still worried about holding the border states in the Union, Lincoln was not ready for such a move, especially if it was, in his word, "political." He gently rebuked "the Pathfinder of the West" with this letter, which reflected Lincoln's determination that the civilian authority, and not the military, makepolicy. But Fremont refused to heed the request, and a few days later Lincoln sent a more direct order. Private and confidential. Major General Fremont: Washington D.C. Sept. 2, 1861. My dear Sir: Two points in your proclamation of August 30th give me some anxiety. First, should you shoot a man, according to the proclamation, the Confederates would very certainly shoot our best man in their hands in retaliation; and so, man for man, indefinitely. It is therefore my order that you allow no man to be shot, under the proclamation, without first having my approbation or consent. Secondly, I think there is great danger that the closing paragraph, in relation to the confiscation of property, and the liberating slaves of traiterous owners, will alarm our Southern Union friends, and turn them against us-perhaps ruin our rather fair prospect for Kentucky. Allow me therefore to ask, that you will as of your own motion, modify that paragraph so as to conform to the first and fourth sections of the act of Congress, entitled, "An act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes," approved August, 6th, 1861, and a copy ofwhich act I herewith send you. This letter is written in a spirit of caution and not of censure. Lincoln and Union, 1861 227 I send it by a special messenger, in order that it may certainly and speedily reach you. Yours very truly "I CANNOT ASSUME THIS RECKLESS POSITION" Letter to Orville H. Browning [SEPTEMBER 22, 1861] A. LINCOLN A longtime ally of Lincoln in Illinois politics, Browning was named to fill Stephen A. Douglas's Senate seat afterDouglas's sudden death in 1861. He then disappointed Lincoln by siding with Fremont's Missouri initiatives . Lincoln's response focused not only on ''principle'' but on his fear that border slave states like Kentucky and Maryland might yetfollow the Southern states out ofthe Union ifprovoked. A month after writing this letter, Lincoln relieved Fremont ofcommand in the West. The "Hurlbut" mentioned in the last paragraph was widely rumored a drunkard; but he did not offer to resign for more than two years. Hon. O. H. Browning My dear Sir Private & confidential. Executive Mansion Washington Sept. 22d 1861. Yours of the 17th is just received; and coming from you, I confess it astonishes me. That you should object to my adhering to a law, which you had assisted in making, and presenting to me, less than a month before, is odd enough. But this is a very small part. Genl. Fremont's proclamation, as to confiscation of property, and the liberation of slaves, is purely political, and not within the range of military law, or necessity. If a commanding General finds a necessity to seize the farm ...