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the 19th inst. addressed to myself through the New York Tribune. "If there be in it any statements or assumptions of fact which I may know to be erroneous, I do not now and here controvert them. "If there be any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here argue against them. "If there be perceptible in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend whose heart I have always supposed to be right. "As to the policy I 'seem to be pursuing,' as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt. I would save the Union. I would save it in the shortest way under the Constitution. "The sooner the National authority can be restored, the nearer the Union will be--the Union as it was. "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 is to save the Union and not either to save or destroy Slavery. "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. "I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and shall do more whenever I 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 purpose according to my view of official duty, and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free. "Yours, "A. LINCOLN." On the 13th of September, 1862, a deputation from all the religious denominations of Chicago presented to President Lincoln a memorial for the immediate issue of a Proclamation of Emancipation, to which, and the Chairman's remarks, he thus replied: "The subject presented in the Memorial is one upon which I have thought much for weeks past, and I may even say, for months. I am approached with the most
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