the writings-6-第54节
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representatives； assembled and declared as a self…evident truth that
all men are created equal。〃 That was the birthday of the United
States of America。 Since then the Fourth of July has had several
very peculiar recognitions。 The two men most distinguished in the
framing and support of the Declaration were Thomas Jefferson and John
Adams； the one having penned it； and the other sustained it the most
forcibly in debatethe only two of the fifty…five who signed it and
were elected Presidents of the United States。 Precisely fifty years
after they put their hands to the paper； it pleased Almighty God to
take both from this stage of action。 This was indeed an
extraordinary and remarkable event in our history。 Another
President； five years after； was called from this stage of existence
on the same day and month of the year； and now on this last Fourth of
July just passed； when we have a gigantic rebellion； at the bottom of
which is an effort to overthrow the principle that all men were
created equal； we have the surrender of a most powerful position and
army on that very day。 And not only so； but in the succession of
battles in Pennsylvania； near to us； through three days； so rapidly
fought that they might be called one great battle； on the first；
second； and third of the month of July； and on the fourth the cohorts
of those who opposed the Declaration that all men are created equal；
〃turned tail〃 and run。
Gentlemen； this is a glorious theme； and the occasion for a speech；
but I am not prepared to make one worthy of the occasion。 I would
like to speak in terms of praise due to the many brave officers and
soldiers who have fought in the cause of the Union and liberties of
their country from the beginning of the war。 These are trying
occasions； not only in success； but for the want of success。 I
dislike to mention the name of one single officer； lest I might do
wrong to those I might forget。 Recent events bring up glorious
names； and particularly prominent ones； but these I will not mention。
Having said this much； I will now take the music。
SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG TO GENERAL GRANT
TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL HALLECK
TO GENERAL G。 C。 MEADE。
WASHINGTON； D。C。； July 7； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL MEADE； Army of the Potomac：
I have received from the President the following note； which I
respectfully communicate：
〃We have certain information that Vicksburg surrendered to General
Grant on the Fourth of July。 Now if General Meade can complete his
work； so gloriously prosecuted this far； by the literal or
substantial destruction of Lee's army； the rebellion will be over。
〃Yours truly；
〃A。 LINCOLN。〃
H。 W。 HALLECK。
General…in…Chief。
TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL HALLECK
TO GENERAL G。 C。 MEADE。
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； July 8； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL MEADE； Frederick； Md。：
There is reliable information that the enemy is crossing at
Williamsport。 The opportunity to attack his divided forces should
not be lost。 The President is urgent and anxious that your army
should move against him by forced marches。
H。 W。 HALLECK；
Genera1…in…Chief
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL THOMAS。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； July 8； 1863。12。30 P。M。
GENERAL LORENZO THOMAS； Harrisburg； Pa。：
Your despatch of this morning to the Secretary of War is before me。
The forces you speak of will be of no imaginable service if they
cannot go forward with a little more expedition。 Lee is now passing
the Potomac faster than the forces you mention are passing Carlisle。
Forces now beyond Carlisle to be joined by regiments still at
Harrisburg； and the united force again to join Pierce somewhere； and
the whole to move down the Cumberland Valley； will in my
unprofessional opinion be quite as likely to capture the 〃man in the
moon〃 as any part of Lee's army。
A。 LINCOLN。
NEWS OF GRANT'S CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG
TELEGRAM TO E。 D。 SMITH。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； D。C。； July 8； 1863。
E。 DELAFIELD SMITH； New York：
Your kind despatch in behalf of self and friends is gratefully
received。 Capture of Vicksburg confirmed by despatch from General
Grant himself。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO F。 F。 LOWE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； D。C。； July 8； 1863。
HON。 F。 F。 LOWE； San Francisco； Cal。：
There is no doubt that General Meade； now commanding the Army of the
Potomac； beat Lee at Gettysburg； Pa。； at the end of a three days'
battle； and that the latter is now crossing the Potomac at
Williamsport over the swollen stream and with poor means of
crossing； and closely pressed by Meade。 We also have despatches
rendering it entirely certain that Vicksburg surrendered to General
Grant on the glorious old 4th。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO L。 SWETT AND P。 F。 LOWE。
＇Cipher。＇
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY； D。C。；July 9； 1863。
HON。 LEONARD SWETT； HON。 F。 F。 LOWE； San Francisco； Cal。：
Consult together and do not have a riot； or great difficulty about
delivering possession。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO J。 K。 DUBOIS。
WASHINGTON； D。C。； July 11；1863。 9 A。M。
HON。 J。 K。 DUBOIS； Springfield； Ill。：
It is certain that； after three days' fighting at Gettysburg； Lee
withdrew and made for the Potomac； that he found the river so swollen
as to prevent his crossing； that he is still this side； near
Hagerstown and Williamsport； preparing to defend himself； and that
Meade is close upon him； and preparing to attack him； heavy
skirmishing having occurred nearly all day yesterday。
I am more than satisfied with what has happened north of the Potomac
so far； and am anxious and hopeful for what is to come。
A。 LINCOLN。
＇Nothing came！ Lee was allowed to escape again and the war went on
for another two years。 D。W。＇
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK。
＇Cipher。＇
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY； July 11； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL SCHENCK； Baltimore； Md。：
How many rebel prisoners captured within Maryland and Pennsylvania
have reached Baltimore within this month of July？
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL GRANT。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 13； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL GRANT：
MY DEAR GENERAL：I do not remember that you and I ever met
personally。 I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment of the
almost inestimable service you have done the Country。 I write to say
a word further。 When you first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg； I
thought you should do what you finally didmarch the troops across
the neck； run the batteries with the transports； and thus go below；
and I never had any faith except a general hope that you knew better
than I； that the Yazoo Pass expedition and the like could succeed。
When you dropped below； and took Port Gibson； Grand Gulf； and
vicinity； I thought you should go down the river and join General
Banks； and when you turned northward； east of the Big Black； I feared
it was a mistake。 I now wish to make the personal acknowledgment
that you were right and I was wrong。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 M。 SCHOFIELD。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； July 13； 1863。
GENERAL SCHOFIELD。 St。 Louis； Mo。：
I regret to learn of the arrest of the Democrat editor。 I fear this
loses you the middle position I desired you to occupy。 I have not
learned which of the two letters I wrote you it was that the Democrat
published； but I care very little for the publication of any letter I
have written。 Please spare me the trouble this is likely to bring。
A。 LINCOLN。
SON IN COLLEGE DOES NOT WRITE HIS PARENTS
TELEGRAM TO R。 T。 LINCOLN。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON D。C。； July 14； 1863。
ROBERT T。 LINCOLN： New York； Fifth Avenue Hotel：
Why do I hear no more of you？
A。 LINCOLN。
INTIMATION OF ARMISTICE PROPOSALS
FROM JAMES R。 GILMORE
TO GOVERNOR VANCE OF NORTH CAROLINA；
WITH THE PRESIDENT'S INDORSEMENT。
PRESIDENT'S ROOM； WHITE HOUSE； WASHINGTON；
July ＇15？＇ 1864。
HIS EXCELLENCY ZEBULON B。 VANCE。
MY DEAR SIR：My former business partner； Mr。 Frederic Kidder； of
Boston； has forwarded to me a letter he has recently received from
his brother； Edward Kidder； of Wilmington； in which （Edward Kidder）
says that he has had an interview with you in which you expressed an
anxiety for any peace compatible with honor； that you regard slavery
as already dead； and the establishment of the Confederacy as
hopeless； and that you should exert all your influence to bring about
any reunion that would admit the South on terms of perfect equality
with the North。
On receipt of this letter I lost no time in laying it before the
President of the United States） who expressed great gratification at
hearing such sentiments from you； on
