Sincerely your friend in a common affliction,

A. LINCOLN.

LETTER TO HORACE GREELEY

Executive Mansion, Washington, August 22, 1862.

Hon. Horace Greeley: 

Dear Sir:  I have just read yours of the 19th, addressed to myself through the N. Y. Tribune.  If there be in it any statements or assumptions of fact which I may know to be erroneous, I do not now and here controvert them.  If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here argue against them.  If there be perceptible in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.

As to the policy I “seem to be pursuing,” as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.

I would save the Union.  I would save it in the shortest way under the Constitution.

The sooner the National authority can be restored, the nearer the Union will be “the Union as it was.”

If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time save Slavery, I do not agree with them.  If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy Slavery, I do not agree with them.  My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy Slavery.  If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.  What I do about Slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save this Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.  I shall do less whenever I shall believe that what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause.  I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views as fast as they shall appear to be true views.

I have here stated my purpose according to my views of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men, everywhere could be free.  Yours,

A. LINCOLN.

EXTRACT FROM THE SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, DECEMBER 1, 1862

A Nation may be said to consist of its territory, its people, and its laws.  The territory is the only part which is of certain durability.  “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth forever.”  It is of the first importance to duly consider and estimate this ever-enduring part.  That portion of the earth’s surface which is owned and inhabited by the people of the United States is well adapted to be the home of one national family, and it is not well adapted for two or more.  Its vast extent and its variety of climate and productions are of advantage in this age for one people whatever they might have been in former ages.  Steam, telegraphs, and intelligence have brought these to be an advantageous combination for one united people.