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use them； but when the need is past； it is not for him to fix their
permanent future condition。 That must be settled according to laws
made by law…makers； and not by military proclamations。 The
proclamation in the point in question is simply 〃dictatorship。〃 It
assumes that the general may do anything he pleases confiscate the
lands and free the slaves of loyal people； as well as of disloyal
ones。 And going the whole figure； I have no doubt； would be more
popular with some thoughtless people than that which has been done；
But I cannot assume this reckless position； nor allow others to
assume it on my responsibility。
You speak of it as being the only means of saving the government。 On
the contrary； it is itself the surrender of the government。 Can it
be pretended that it is any longer the Government of the United
Statesany government of constitution and laws wherein a general or
a president may make permanent rules of property by proclamation？ I
do not say Congress might not with propriety pass a law on the point；
just such as General Fremont proclaimed。
I do not say I might not； as a member of Congress； vote for it。 What
I object to is； that I； as President； shall expressly or impliedly
seize and exercise the permanent legislative functions of the
government。
So much as to principle。 Now as to policy。 No doubt the thing was
popular in some quarters； and would have been more so if it had been
a general declaration of emancipation。 The Kentucky Legislature
would not budge till that proclamation was modified； and General
Anderson telegraphed me that on the news of General Fremont having
actually issued deeds of manumission； a whole company of our
volunteers threw down their arms and disbanded。 I was so assured as
to think it probable that the very arms we had furnished Kentucky
would be turned against us。 I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the
same as to lose the whole game。 Kentucky gone； we cannot hold
Missouri； nor； as I think； Maryland。 These all against us； and the
job on our hands is too large for us。 We would as well consent to
separation at once； including the surrender of this Capital。 On the
contrary； if you will give up your restlessness for new positions；
and back me manfully on the grounds upon which you and other kind
friends gave me the election and have approved in my public
documents； we shall go through triumphantly。 You must not understand
I took my course on the proclamation because of Kentucky。 I took the
same ground in a private letter to General Fremont before I heard
from Kentucky。
You think I am inconsistent because I did not also forbid General
Fremont to shoot men under the proclamation。 I understand that part
to be within military law； but I also think； and so privately wrote
General Fremont； that it is impolitic in this； that our adversaries
have the power； and will certainly exercise it； to shoot as many of
our men as we shoot of theirs。 I did not say this in the public
letter； because it is a subject I prefer not to discuss in the
hearing of our enemies。
There has been no thought of removing General Fremont on any ground
connected with his proclamation； and if there has been any wish for
his removal on any ground； our mutual friend Sam。 Glover can
probably tell you what it was。 I hope no real necessity for it
exists on any ground。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN
MEMORANDUM FOR A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
＇OCTOBER 1？＇ 1861
On or about the 5th of October （the exact date to be determined
hereafter） I wish a movement made to seize and hold a point on the
railroad connecting Virginia and Tennessee near the mountain…pass
called Cumberland Gap。 That point is now guarded against us by
Zollicoffer； with 6000 or 8000 rebels at Barboursville Ky。；say
twenty…five miles from the Gap； toward Lexington。 We have a force
of 5000 or 6000 under General Thomas； at Camp Dick Robinson； about
twenty…five miles from Lexington and seventy…five from Zollicoffer's
camp； On the road between the two。 There is not a railroad anywhere
between Lexington and the point to be seized； and along the whole
length of which the Union sentiment among the people largely
predominates。 We have military possession of the railroad from
Cincinnati to Lexington； and from Louisville to Lexington； and some
home guards； under General Crittenden； are on the latter line。 We
have possession of the railroad from Louisville to Nashville； Tenn。；
so far as Muldraugh's Hill； about forty miles； and the rebels have
possession of that road all south of there。 At the Hill we have a
force of 8000； under General Sherman； and about an equal force of
rebels is a very short distance south； under General Buckner。
We have a large force at Paducah； and a smaller at Port Holt； both on
the Kentucky side； with some at Bird's Point； Cairo； Mound City；
Evansville； and New Albany； all on the other side； and all which；
with the gunboats on the river； are perhaps sufficient to guard the
Ohio from Louisville to its mouth。
About supplies of troops； my general idea is that all from Wisconsin；
Minnesota； Iowa； Illinois； Missouri； and Kansas； not now elsewhere；
be left to Fremont。 All from Indiana and Michigan； not now
elsewhere； be sent to Anderson at Louisville。 All from Ohio needed
in western Virginia be sent there； and any remainder be sent to
Mitchell at Cincinnati； for Anderson。 All east of the mountains be
appropriated to McClellan and to the coast。
As to movements； my idea is that the one for the coast and that on
Cumberland Gap be simultaneous； and that in the meantime preparation；
vigilant watching； and the defensive only be acted upon； this；
however； not to apply to Fremont's operations in northern and middle
Missouri。 That before these movements Thomas and Sherman shall
respectively watch but not attack Zollicoffer and Buckner。 That when
the coast and Gap movements shall be ready Sherman is merely to stand
fast； while all at Cincinnati and all at Louisville； with all on the
line； concentrate rapidly at Lexington； and thence to Thomas's camp；
joining him； and the whole thence upon the Gap。 It is for the
military men to decide whether they can find a pass through the
mountains at or near the Gap which cannot be defended by the enemy
with a greatly inferior force； and what is to be done in regard to
this。
The coast and Gap movements made； Generals McClellan and Fremont； in
their respective departments； will avail themselves of any advantages
the diversions may present。
＇He was entirely unable to get this started； Sherman would have taken
an active part if given him； the others were too busy getting lines
of communication guardedand discovering many 〃critical〃 supply
items that had not been sent them。 Also the commanding general did
not like it。 D。W。＇
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； October 4； 1861
HONORABLE SECRETARY OF STATE。
DEAR SIR：Please see Mr。 Walker； well vouched as a Union man and
son…in…law of Governor Morehead； and pleading for his release。 I
understand the Kentucky arrests were not made by special direction
from here； and I am willing if you are that any of the parties may be
released when James Guthrie and James Speed think they should be。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE VICEROY OF EGYPT。
WASHINGTON； October 11； 1861。
GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND：I have received from Mr。 Thayer； Consul…
General of the United States at Alexandria； a full account of the
liberal； enlightened； and energetic proceedings which； on his
complaint； you have adopted in bringing to speedy and condign
punishment the parties； subjects of your Highness in Upper Egypt； who
were concerned in an act of criminal persecution against Faris； an
agent of certain Christian missionaries in Upper Egypt。 I pray your
Highness to be assured that these proceedings； at onc