"As one of the Millions who would gladly have avoided this struggle, at any sacrifice but that of principle and honor, but who now feel that the triumph of the Union is indispensable not only to the existence of our Country, but to the well-being of mankind, I entreat you to render a hearty and unequivocal obedience to the Law of the Land. "Yours, "HORACE GREELEY." To this letter, President Lincoln at once made the following memorable reply: "EXECUTIVE MANSION, "WASHINGTON, Friday, August 22, 1862. "HON. HORACE GREELEY "DEAR SIR:--I have just read yours of 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: