the writings-6-第51部分
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and such a loss of time； as to make it； I fear； inadmissible。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。Since writing the above； getting additional information； I am
enabled to say that the draft may be made in subdistricts； as the
enrolment has been made； or is in process of making。 This will
amount practically to drafting by townships； as the enrollment
subdistricts are generally about the extent of townships。
A。L。
To GENERAL G。 G。 MEADE。
（Private。）
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 27； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL MEADE：
I have not thrown General Hooker away； and therefore I would like to
know whether it would be agreeable to you； all things considered； for
him to take a corps under you； if he himself is willing to do so。
Write me in perfect freedom； with the assurance that I will not
subject you to any embarrassment by making your letter or its
contents known to any one。 I wish to know your wishes before I
decide whether to break the subject to him。 Do not lean a hair's
breadth against your own feelings； or your judgment of the public
service； on the idea of gratifying me。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A。 B。 BURNSIDE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； July 27； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL BURNSIDE； Cincinnati； O。：
Let me explain。 In General Grant's first despatch after the fall of
Vicksburg； he said； among other things； he would send the Ninth Corps
to you。 Thinking it would be pleasant to you； I asked the Secretary
of War to telegraph you the news。 For some reasons never mentioned
to us by General Grant； they have not been sent； though we have seen
outside intimations that they took part in the expedition against
Jackson。 General Grant is a copious worker and fighter； but a very
meager writer or telegrapher。 No doubt he changed his purpose in
regard to the Ninth Corps for some sufficient reason； but has
forgotten to notify us of it。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK。
EXECUTIVE MANSION；
July 29； 1863
MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK：
Seeing General Meade's despatch of yesterday to yourself causes me to
fear that he supposes the Government here is demanding of him to
bring on a general engagement with Lee as soon as possible。 I am
claiming no such thing of him。 In fact； my judgment is against it；
which judgment； of course； I will yield if yours and his are the
contrary。 If he could not safely engage Lee at Williamsport； it
seems absurd to suppose he can safely engage him now； when he has
scarcely more than two thirds of the force he had at Williamsport；
while it must be that Lee has been reinforced。 True； I desired
General Meade to pursue Lee across the Potomac； hoping； as has proved
true； that he would thereby clear the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad；
and get some advantages by harassing him on his retreat。 These being
past； I am unwilling he should now get into a general engagement on
the impression that we here are pressing him； and I shall be glad for
you to so inform him； unless your own judgment is against it。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
H。 W。 HALLECK； General…in…Chief。
TO SECRETARY STANTON。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 29； 1863
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR。
SIR：Can we not renew the effort to organize a force to go to
western Texas？
Please consult with the general…in…chief on the subject。
If the Governor of New Jersey shall furnish any new regiments； might
not they be put into such an expedition？ Please think of it。
I believe no local object is now more desirable。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ORDER OF RETALIATION。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 30； 1863。
It is the duty of every government to give protection to its
citizens； of whatever class； color； or condition； and especially to
those who are duly organized as soldiers in the public service。 The
law of nations and the usages and customs of war； as carried on by
civilized powers； permit no distinction as to color in the treatment
of prisoners of war as public enemies。 To sell or enslave any
captured person； on account of his color and for no offense against
the laws of war； is a relapse into barbarism； and a crime against the
civilization of the age。
The Government of the United States will give the same protection to
all its soldiers； and if the enemy shall sell or enslave any one
because of his color； the offense shall be punished by retaliation
upon the enemy's prisoners in our possession。
It is therefore ordered that for every soldier of the United States
killed in violation of the laws of war； a rebel soldier shall be
executed； and for every one enslaved by the enemy or sold into
slavery； a rebel soldier shall be placed at hard labor on the public
works； and continued at such labor until the other shall be released
and receive the treatment due to a prisoner of war。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL S。 A。 HURLBUT。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 31； 1863。
MY DEAR GENERAL HURLBUT：
Your letter by Mr。 Dana was duly received。 I now learn that your
resignation has reached the War Department。 I also learn that an
active command has been assigned you by General Grant。 The Secretary
of War and General Halleck are very partial to you； as you know I
also am。 We all wish you to reconsider the question of resigning；
not that we would wish to retain you greatly against your wish and
interest； but that your decision may be at least a very well…
considered one。
I understand that Senator ＇William K。＇ Sebastian； of Arkansas； thinks
of offering to resume his place in the Senate。 Of course the Senate；
and not I； would decide whether to admit or reject him。 Still I
should feel great interest in the question。 It may be so presented
as to be one of the very greatest national importance； and it may be
otherwise so presented as to be of no more than temporary personal
consequence to him。
The Emancipation Proclamation applies to Arkansas。 I think it is
valid in law； and will be so held by the courts。 I think I shall not
retract or repudiate it。 Those who shall have tasted actual freedom
I believe can never be slaves or quasi…slaves again。 For the rest； I
believe some plan substantially being gradual emancipation would be
better for both white and black。 The Missouri plan recently
adopted； I do not object to on account of the time for ending the
institution； but I am sorry the beginning should have been postponed
for seven years； leaving all that time to agitate for the repeal of
the whole thing。 It should begin at once； giving at least the
new…born a vested interest in freedom which could not be taken away。
If Senator Sebastian could come with something of this sort from
Arkansas； I； at least； should take great interest in his case； and I
believe a single individual will have scarcely done the world so
great a service。 See him if you can； and read this to him； but
charge him not to make it public for the present。 Write me again。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM FROM GOVERNOR SEYMOUR。
ALBANY； August 1； 1863。 Recvd 2 P。M。
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES：
I ask that the draft be suspended in this State until I can send you
a communication I am preparing。
HORATIO SEYMOUR。
TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR
WASHINGTON； D。C。； August 1； 1863。 4 P。M。
HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SEYMOUR； Albany； N。Y。：
By what day may I expect your communication to reach me？ Are you
anxious about any part except the city and vicinity？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； August 3； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL FOSTER （or whoever may be in command of the military
department with headquarters at Fort Monroe； Va。）：
If Dr。 Wright； on trial at Norfolk； has been or shall be convicted；
send me a transcript of his trial and conviction； and do not let
execution be done upon him until my further order。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL N。 P。 BANKS。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
August 5；1863。
MY DEAR GENERAL BANKS：
While I very well know what I would be glad for Louisiana to do； it
is quite a different thing for me to assume direction of the matter。
I would be glad for her to make a new constitution； recognizing the
emancipation proclamation； and adopting emancipation in those parts
of the State to which the proclamation does not apply。 And while she
is at it； I think it would not be objectionable for her to adopt some
practical system by which the two races could gradually live
themselves out of their old relation to each other； and both come out
better prepared for the new。 Education for young blacks should be
included in the plan。 After all； the power or element of 〃contract〃
may be sufficient for this probationary period； and by its simplicity
and flexibility may be the better。
As an antislavery man； I have a motive to desire emancipation which
proslavery men do not have but even they have strong enough reason to
thus place themselves again under the shield of the Union； and to
thus perpetually hedge against the recurrence of the scenes through
which we are now passing。
Governor Shepley has informed me that Mr。 Durant is now taking a
registry； with a view to the election of a constitutional convention
in Louisiana。 This； to me； appears proper。 If such convention were
to ask my views； I could present little else than what I now say to
you。 I think the thing should be pushed forward； so that； if
possible； its mature work may reach here by the meeting of Congress。
For my own part； I think I shall not； in any event； retract the
emancipation proclamation： nor； as executive； ever return to slavery
any
