*TELEGRAM TO GILLET F. WATSON

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 21, 1862.

Gillet F. Watson, Williamsburg, Va.: Your telegram in regard to the lunatic asylum has been received. It is certainly a case of difficulty, but if you cannot remain, I cannot conceive who under my authority can. Remain as long as you safely can, and provide as well as you can for the poor inmates of the institution. A. LINCOLN.

D

LETTER TO HORACE GREELEY 1

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

WASHINGTON, August 22, 1862.

EAR SIR: I have just read yours of

the 19th, addressed to myself through the New York "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 the shortest way under the Constitution. The

'Greeley had published an open letter to Lincoln in the "Tribune" of August 20, under the title "The Prayer of Twenty Millions," in which he accused Lincoln of conciliating pro-slavery sentiment too much. The President had constantly to take a decided stand against Greeley and other radical extremists who seemed to regard the question of slavery as the one issue of the war.

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; and 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 the 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 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 as 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,

A. LINCOLN.

MEMORANDUM

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

WASHINGTON, August 27, 1862.

To-day Hon. F. A. Conkling asks that Marshal B. Blake be collector in the Sixth District, instead of the Seventh as recommended.

The Sixth is Mr. Conkling's, and Mr. Blake resides in the Sixth and not in the Seventh. On something I said to Mr. Conkling, he did not get up recommendation of Mr. Blake.

Says both are good men-Blake has never had anything. Orton has an office of $1200 in same district. Is for Blake. Says Orton could go to Seventh.

LETTER TO WASHINGTON TALCOTT

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

WASHINGTON, August 27, 1862. My dear Sir: I have determined to appoint you collector. I now have a very special request to make of you, which is, that you will make no war upon Mr. Washburne, who is also my friend, and of longer standing than yourself. I will even be obliged if you can do something for him if occasion presents.

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR RAMSEY

EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 27, 1862.

Governor Ramsey, St. Paul, Minn.: Yours received. Attend to the Indians. If the draft cannot proceed, of course it will not proceed. Necessity knows no law. The government cannot extend the time.

A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN WASHINGTON CITY, August 27, 1862. 4 P. M. Major-General McClellan, Alexandria, Va.: A. LINCOLN.

What news from the front?

* TELEGRAMS TO GENERAL BURNSIDE

August 27, 1862. 4:30 P. M.

Major-General Burnside, Famouth, Va.: Do

you hear anything from Pope?

A. LINCOLN.

August 28, 1862. 2:40 P. M.

Major-General Burnside, Falmouth, Va.:

Any news from General Pope?

A. LINCOLN.

* TELEGRAM TO COLONEL HAUPT

August 28, 1862. 2:40 P. M.

Colonel Haupt, Alexandria, Va.: Yours received. How do you learn that the rebel forces