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. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be
errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall
appear to be true views.

I have here stated my purposes according to my view of
_official_ duty; and I intend no modification of my
oft-expressed _personal_ wish that all men, everywhere,
should be free.

Yours,
A. LINCOLN

Everything--humanity, justice, posterity--was placed upon the
sacrificial altar of the Union, and the slave-power was repeatedly and
earnestly invited to lay down its traitorous arms, be forgiven, and
keep its slaves. With Mr. Lincoln, as President, it was the Union,
first, last, and all the time. And he but echoed the prevailing
opinions of his time. I do not question or criticise his _personal_
attitude; but what he himself called his "view of official duty" was
to execute the will of the people, and that was _not_ to abolish
slavery, at that time.

As the politicians only took hold of the great question when they