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Orly Borges Personal Collection |
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Written during the heart of the
Civil War, this letter is said to be one of the most
widely read
in American history. Abraham Lincoln's letter to Hon. Horace
Greeley, editor of
the influential New York Tribune,
explains
the reasons
for the Civil War. |
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Letter to Hon. Horace Greeley
(New York Tribune editor) |
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 22, 1862. |
Hon. Horace Greeley:
Dear Sir. |
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 the
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;
and if I could save the Union
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 the Union;
and what I
forbear, I forbear because I do not believe
it would help 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 so fast
they shall appear to be
true views. |
I have here stated my purpose according to my view of
official duty; and I intend no modification of my
oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere
could be free. |
Yours, |
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MAS
"PALABRAS FAMOSAS NORTEAMERICANAS"
FORO
INICIO |
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