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LETTER TO GEN. JOSEPH HOOKER,

JAN. 26, 1863.

"And now, beware of rashness,—

beware of rashness !-but,

rashness-but, with

energy and sleepless vigilance, go forward and give us victories!"

LETTER TO THE WORKINGMEN OF MANCHESTER, ENG., FEB. 9, 1863.

"A fair examination of history has seemed to authorize a belief that the past action and influence of the United States were generally regarded as having been beneficial toward mankind. I have therefore reckoned on the forbearance of nations."

OPINION OF THE DRAFT ACT, 1863.

"The principle of the draft, which simply is involuntary or enforced service, is not new. It has been practised in all ages of the world. It was well known to the

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framers of our Constitution as one of the modes of raising armies, at the time they placed in that instrument the provision that the Congress shall have power to raise, and support armies.' It had been used just before, in establishing our independence, and it was also used, under the Constitution, in 1812. Wherein is the peculiar hardship now? Shall we shrink from the necessary means to maintain our free government, which our grandfathers employed to establish it and our fathers have already employed! once to maintain it? Are we degenerate? Has the manhood of our race run out?"

LETTER TO GENERAL HOOKER, June 5, 1863.

"In one word, I would not take any risk of being entangled upon

the river, like an ox jumped half over a fence and liable to be torn by dogs front and rear, without a fair chance to gore one way or kick the other."

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER, JUNE 14, 1863.

"If the head of Lee's army is at Martinsburg and the tail of it on the plank road between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, the animust be slim somewhere.

mal

Could you not break him?"

IN RESPONSE TO A SERENADE, JULY,

1863.

"I would like to speak in terms of praise due to the many brave officers and soldiers who have fought in the cause of the Union and liberties of their country, from

the beginning of the war. These are trying occasions, not only in success but for the want of success. I dislike to mention the name of one single officer, lest I might do wrong to those I might forget."

IN CONVERSATION WITH HON. W. D. KELLEY, 1853.

"I am not so sure that we are not in search of a housekeeper (as general of the army). I tell you, Kelley, the successful management of an army requires a good deal of faithful housekeeping. More can be got out of well fed and well cared for men and animals than can be got out of those who are required to make long marches on empty stomachs, and whose strength and cheerfulness are impaired by the failure to distribute proper rations at proper seasons."

REPLY TO FAULT-FINDERS AT

EXECUTIVE MANSION.

"Gentlemen, suppose all the property you were worth was in gold, and you had put it in the hands of Blondin to carry across the Niagara river on a rope, would you shake the cable, or keep shouting out to him :—‘Blondin, stand up a little straighter-Blondin, stoop a little more-go a little faster, lean a little more to the north-lean a little more to the south'?—No, you would hold your breath as well as your tongue, and keep your hands off until he was safe over. The Government are carrying an immense weight. Untold treasures are in their hands. They are doing the best they can. Don't badger them. Keep silence, and we'll get you safe across."

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