Famous Quotes | If there be those who would not...

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 objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to 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. - Abraham Lincoln
Attribution: Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), U.S. president. letter to Horace Greeley, Aug. 22, 1862. Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 5, p. 388, Rutgers University Press (1953, 1990). Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, as he knew that he would, in a month.

Categories: President, Slavery, Union, The

Dictionary Tip:

Lookup any word on eNotes with our dictionary. Highlight the word and press SHIFT + D for a definition, or SHIFT + T for a synonym.