Lincoln and His Cabinet: A Lecture Delivered on Tuesday, March 10, 1896, Before the New Haven Colony Historical Society |
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Abraham Lincoln amendment armies Attorney-General Baltimore became President began believe Born boss cabinet Chase coln Connecticut Constitution County Dana deal Democrat dent Lincoln Department deputation destroy slavery died at Washington died there June duty Everett's fight found the President genius gentlemen haps heard him say idea Jacob Thompson judgment Kentucky knew LEMPERLY let him run Lincoln was elected Massachusetts merchants military MONTGOMERY BLAIR Morse navy Nevada never heard never stepped never took Ohio politician Portland Postmaster-General President Lincoln Presidential election proclamation question raise another million rebel Republican party right of taking save the Union seceding Secretary Secretary of War Seward Simon Cameron slaves speech Stanton statesmen step too late step too soon superior that intellectual take their property take twenty minutes telegram tell another story thing tion Union unless vote War Department White House York
Popular passages
Page 39 - 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 destroy Slavery.
Page 40 - 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....
Page 56 - I don't know. It makes no difference, though, what they want. Here is the alternative: that we carry this vote, or be compelled to raise another million, and I don't know how many more, men, and fight no one knows how long. It is a question of three votes or new armies.
Page 40 - 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.
Page 55 - There is James E. English, of Connecticut; I think he is sure, isn't he?" "Oh, yes; he is sure on the merits of the question." "Then," said I, "there's 'Sunset' Cox, of Ohio. How is he?" "He is sure and fearless. But there are some others that I am not clear about. There are three that you can deal with better than anybody else, perhaps, as you know them all. I wish you would send for them.
Page 53 - Nevada was organized and admitted into the Union to answer that purpose. I have sometimes heard people complain of Nevada as superfluous and petty, not big enough to be a State; but when I hear that complaint, I always hear Abraham Lincoln saying, " It is easier to admit Nevada than to raise another million of soldiers.
Page 35 - The college that he had attended was that which a man attends who gets up at daylight to hoe the corn, and sits up at night to read the best book he can find, by the side of a burning pine knot. What education he had. he picked up in that way. He had read a great many books ; and all the books that he had read, he knew. He had a tenacious memory, just as he had the ability to see the essential thing. He never took an unimportant point and went off upon that; but he always laid hold of the real...
Page 57 - you shall have it." " I understand, of course," said he, " that you are not saying this on your own authority? " " Oh, no," said I; " I am saying it on the authority of the President.
Page 67 - No, I rather think not. When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run.
Page 56 - what shall I say to these gentlemen?" "I don't know," said he; "but whatever promise you make to them I will perform." I sent for the men and saw them one by one. I found that they were afraid of their party. They said that some fellows in the party would be down on them. Two of them wanted internal revenue collector's appointments. "You shall have it,