“There are those who are dissatisfied with me. To such I would say: You desire peace; and you blame me that we do not have it. But how can we attain it? . . .
“But to be plain, you are dissatisfied with me about the Negro. . . . You dislike the emancipation proclamation; and, perhaps, would have it retracted. You say it is unconstitutional—I think differently. I think the Constitution invests its commander-in-chief, with the law of war, in time of war. The most that can be said, if so much, is, that slaves are property. Is there—has there ever been—any question that by the law of war, property, both of enemies and friends, may be taken when needed? And is it not needed whenever taking it, helps us, or hurts the enemy? . . .
“You say you will not fight to free Negroes. Some of them seem willing to fight for you. . . . I issued the proclamation on purpose to aid you in saving the Union. . . . Why should they do anything for us, if we will do nothing for them? If they stake their lives for us, they must be prompted by the strongest motive—even the promise of freedom. And the promise being made, must be kept.”
President Abraham Lincoln, letter to James Conkling explaining why he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, 1863
Question
Lincoln’s rhetoric in the excerpt would most likely have been interpreted as promoting which of the following arguments?
Responses
Allowing slavery to exist was still a political option.
Allowing slavery to exist was still a political option.
Maintaining the blockade of Southern states was difficult.
Maintaining the blockade of Southern states was difficult.
Changing the purpose of the war would strengthen the Union cause.
Changing the purpose of the war would strengthen the Union cause.
Achieving the Confederacy’s unconditional surrender was the Union’s main objective.