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SPEECH AT THE PHILADELPHIA FAIR, JUNE 16, 1864.

WAR, at the best, is terrible, and this war of ours, in its magnitude and in its duration, is one of the most terrible. It has deranged business totally in many localities, and partially in all localities. It has destroyed property and ruined homes; it has produced a national debt and taxation unprecedented, at least in this country; it has carried mourning to almost every home, until it can almost be said that the "heavens are hung in black." Yet the war continues, and several relieving coincidents have accompanied it from the very beginning, which have not been known, as I understand, or have any knowledge of, in any former wars in the history of the world. The Sanitary Commission, with all its benevolent labors; the Christian Commission, with all its Christian and benevolent labors, and the various places, arrangements, so to speak, and institutions, have contributed to the comfort and relief of the soldiers.

It is a pertinent question, often asked in the mind. privately, and from one to the other, "When is the war to end?" Surely I feel as deep an interest in this question as any other can, but I do not wish to name a day, a month, or a year when it is to end. I do not wish to run any risk of seeing the time come, without our being ready for the end, for fear of disappointment because the time has come and not the end. We accepted this war for an

SPEECH AT THE PHILADELPHIA FAIR. 321

object, a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained. Under God, I hope it never will end until that time. Speaking of the present campaign, General Grant is reported to have said, "I am going through on this line, if it takes all summer." This war has taken three years; it was begun or accepted upon the line of restoring the national authority over the whole national domain, and for the American people, as far as my knowledge enables me to speak, I say we are going through on this line, if it takes three years more.

I have never been in the habit of making predictions in regard to the war, but I am almost tempted to make one. If I were to hazard it, it is this: That Grant is this evening, with General Meade and General Hancock, and the brave officers and soldiers with him, in a position from whence he will never be dislodged until Richmond. is taken. And I have but one single proposition to put now, and, perhaps, I can best put it in the form of an interrogative-If I shall discover that General Grant and the noble officers and men under him can be greater facilitated in their work by a sudden pouring forward of men and assistance, will you give them to me? Are you ready to march? [Cries of "yes."] Then, I say, stand ready, for I am watching for the chance.

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FROM HIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE,

JUNE 27, 1864.

I AM especially gratified that the soldier and the seaman were not forgotten by the convention, as they forever must and will be remembered by the grateful country for whose salvation they devote their lives.

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MAN of great ability, pure patriotism, unselfish nature, full of forgiveness to his enemies, bearing malice toward none, he proved to be the man above all others for the great struggle through which the nation had to pass to place itself among the greatest in the family of nations. His fame will grow brighter as time passes and his great work is better understood.

GALENA, 1880.

SAVING A LIFE.

SOME of our generals complain that I impair discipline and subordination in the army by my pardons and res pites, but it makes me rested, after a day's hard work, if I can find some good excuse for saving a man's life; and I go to bed happy as I think how joyous the signing of my name will make him and his family and his friends.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Any propositions which embrace the restoration of peace, the integrity of the whole Union, and the abandonment of slavery, and which come by and with an authority that can control the armies now at war against the United States, will be received and considered by the Executive Government of the United States, and will be met by liberal terms on other substantial and collateral points; and the bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe conduct both ways.

JULY 18, 1864.

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