In Lincoln’s home state of Illinois, Peace Democrats or “Copperheads” had drafted resolutions opposing the Emancipation Proclamation (see selection 22), agitating for peace at any price, and decrying Lincoln’s decision to deploy colored troops. Hoping to halt the spread of such views Lincoln’s friend James C. Conkling called a meeting of staunch Unionists to which he invited the president. Instead of attending Lincoln sent the following firmly worded letter with instructions to Conkling to read it “very slowly” to the assembled multitude.

1. Hon. James C. Conkling

2. Executive Mansion,

3. Washington.

4. August 26, 1863

My Dear Sir.

Your letter inviting me to attend a mass-meeting of unconditional Union men, to be held at the Capital of Illinois, on the 3rd day of September, has been received.

It would be very agreeable to me, to thus meet my old friends, at my own home; but I cannot, just now, be absent from here, so long as a visit there would require.

The meeting is to be of all those who maintain unconditional devotion to the Union; and I am sure my old political friends will thank me for tendering, as I do, the nation’s gratitude to those other noble men, whom no partizan malice, or partizan hope, can make false to the nation’s life.

. . .