The great Horace Greeley was wont to criticize Lincoln’s plan of
conducting the war. He finally wanted to know “what were the purposes and
aims of the President, anyway?” The following is Lincoln’s reply, showing
that his sole purpose was to save the Union at whatever cost.
“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. If I could save it by
freeing all the slaves, I would do it, and if I could do 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 helps to
save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe that what I am
doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I believe doing more
will help the cause.”