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the writings-6-第58部分
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as a butcher drives bullocks into the slaughter…pen。 No time is
wasted; no argument is used。 This produces an army which will soon
turn upon our now victorious soldiers already in the field; if they
shall not be sustained by recruits as they should be。 It produces an
army with a rapidity not to be matched on our side if we first waste
time to re…experiment with the volunteer system; already deemed by
Congress; and palpably; in fact; so far exhausted as to be
inadequate; and then more time to obtain a court decision as to
whether a law is constitutional; which requires a part of those not
now in the service to go to the aid of those who are already in it;
and still more time to determine with absolute certainty that we get
those who are to go in the precisely legal proportion to those who
are not to go。 My purpose is to be in my action just and
constitutional; and yet practical; in performing the important duty
with which I am charged; of maintaining the unity and the free
principles of our common country。
Your obedient servant;
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL U。S。 GRANT。
EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON;
August 9; 1863。
MY DEAR GENERAL GRANT:
I see by a despatch of yours that you incline quite strongly toward
an expedition against Mobile。 This would appear tempting to me also;
were it not that in view of recent events in Mexico I am greatly
impressed with the importance of re…establishing the national
authority in western Texas as soon as possible。 I am not making an
order; however; that I leave; for the present at least; to the
general…in…chief。
A word upon another subject: General Thomas has gone again to the
Mississippi Valley; with the view of raising colored troops。 I have
no reason to doubt that you are doing what you reasonably can upon
the same subject。 I believe it is a resource which if vigorously
applied now will soon close the contest。 It works doubly; weakening
the enemy and strengthening us。 We were not fully ripe for it until
the river was opened。 Now; I think at least one hundred thousand can
and ought to be rapidly organized along its shores; relieving all
white troops to serve elsewhere。 Mr。 Dana understands you as
believing that the Emancipation Proclamation has helped some in your
military operations。 I am very glad if this is so。
Did you receive a short letter from me dated the 13th of July?
Yours very truly;
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL W。 S。 ROSECRANS。
EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON;
August 10; 1863。
MY DEAR GENERAL ROSECRANS:
Yours of the 1st was received two days ago。 I think you must have
inferred more than General Halleck has intended; as to any
dissatisfaction of mine with you。 I am sure you; as a reasonable
man; would not have been wounded could you have heard all my words
and seen all my thoughts in regard to you。 I have not abated in my
kind feeling for and confidence in you。 I have seen most of your
despatches to General Halleckprobably all of them。 After Grant
invested Vicksburg I was very anxious lest Johnston should overwhelm
him from the outside; and when it appeared certain that part of
Bragg's force had gone and was going to Johnston; it did seem to me
it was exactly the proper time for you to attack Bragg with what
force he had left。 In all kindness let me say it so seems to me yet。
Finding from your despatches to General Halleck that your judgment
was different; and being very anxious for Grant; I; on one occasion;
told General Halleck I thought he should direct you to decide at once
to immediately attack Bragg or to stand on the defensive and send
part of your force to Grant。 He replied he had already so directed
in substance。 Soon after; despatches from Grant abated my anxiety
for him; and in proportion abated my anxiety about any movement of
yours。 When afterward; however; I saw a despatch of yours arguing
that the right time for you to attack Bragg was not before; but would
be after; the fall of Vicksburg; it impressed me very strangely; and
I think I so stated to the Secretary of War and General Halleck。 It
seemed no other than the proposition that you could better fight
Bragg when Johnston should be at liberty to return and assist him
than you could before he could so return to his assistance。
Since Grant has been entirely relieved by the fall of Vicksburg; by
which Johnston is also relieved; it has seemed to me that your chance
for a stroke has been considerably diminished; and I have not been
pressing you directly or indirectly。 True; I am very anxious for
East Tennessee to be occupied by us; but I see and appreciate the
difficulties you mention。 The question occurs; Can the thing be done
at all? Does preparation advance at all? Do you not consume
supplies as fast as you get them forward? Have you more animals to…
day than you had at the battle of Stone's River? And yet have not
more been furnished you since then than your entire present stock? I
ask the same questions as to your mounted force。
Do not misunderstand: I am not casting blame upon you; I rather think
by great exertion you can get to East Tennessee; but a very important
question is; Can you stay there? I make no order in the casethat I
leave to General Halleck and yourself。
And now be assured once more that I think of you in all kindness and
confidence; and that I am not watching you with an evil eye。
Yours very truly;
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR。
EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON;
August 11。1863。
HIS EXCELLENCY HORATIO SEYMOUR;
Governor of New York:
Yours of the 8th; with Judge…Advocate…Genera1 Waterbury's report; was
received to…day。
Asking you to remember that I consider time as being very important;
both to the general cause of the country and to the soldiers in the
field; I beg to remind you that I waited; at your request; from the
1st until the 6th inst。; to receive your communication dated the 3d。
In view of its great length; and the known time and apparent care
taken in its preparation; I did not doubt that it contained your full
case as you desired to present it。 It contained the figures for
twelve districts; omitting the other nineteen; as I suppose; because
you found nothing to complain of as to them。 I answered accordingly。
In doing so I laid down the principle to which I purpose adhering;
which is to proceed with the draft; at the same time employing
infallible means to avoid any great wrong。 With the communication
received to…day you send figures for twenty…eight districts;
including the twelve sent before; and still omitting three; for which
I suppose the enrolments are not yet received。 In looking over the
fuller list of twenty…eight districts; I find that the quotas for
sixteen of them are above 2000 and below 2700; while; of the rest;
six are above 2700 and six are below 2000。 Applying the principle
to these new facts; the Fifth and Seventh districts must be added to
the four in which the quotas have already been reduced to 2200 for
the first draft; and with these four others just be added to those to
be re…enrolled。 The correct case will then stand: the quotas of the
Second; Fourth; Fifth; Sixth; Seventh; and Eighth districts fixed at
2200 for the first draft。 The Provost…Marshal…General informs me
that the drawing is already completed in the Sixteenth; Seventeenth;
Eighteenth; Twenty…second; Twenty…fourth; Twenty…sixth; Twenty…
seventh; Twenty…eighth; Twenty…ninth; and Thirtieth districts。 In
the others; except the three outstanding; the drawing will be made
upon the quotas as now fixed。 After the first draft; the Second;
Fourth; Fifth; Sixth; Seventh; Eighth; Sixteenth; Seventeenth;
Twenty…first; Twenty…fifth; Twenty…ninth; and Thirty…first will be
enrolled for the purpose and in the manner stated in my letter of the
7th inst。 The same principle will be applied to the now outstanding
districts when they shall come in。 No part of my former letter is
repudiated by reason of not being restated in this; or for any other
cause。
Your obedient servant;
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL J。 A。 McCLERNAND。
EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON;
August 12; 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLERNAND。
MY DEAR SIR:Our friend William G。 Greene has just presented a kind
letter in regard to yourself; addressed to me by our other friends
Yates; Hatch; and Dubois。
I doubt whether your present position is more painful to you than to
myself。 Grateful for the patriotic stand so early taken by you in
this life…and…death struggle of the nation; I have done whatever has
appeared practicable to advance you and the public interest together。
No charges; with a view to a trial; have been preferred against you
by any one; nor do I suppose any will be。 All there is; so far as I
have heard; is General Grant's statement of his reaso
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