CONTEMPLATION OF EMANCIPATING THE SLAVES

It’s late August, 1862 and I have disturbing 
thoughts about how long this war will go on.  
We have not been very successful in our 
attempts to crush the Confederate rebels and 
drive them into defeat.  This country is still 
divided and I must find a way to unite us again.

General McClellan although a fine strategist 
and organizer has not displayed the fighting 
commander that I need to lead our army.  The 
Army of the Potomac has been organized, 
drilled and moved around the countryside but 
the full force of what we are capable of has 
not yet shown itself.

I’ve been talking with my cabinet about freeing 
the slaves.  My cabinet however advises me that 
to free the slaves without a Northern victory 
under our belts would be very hard for the 
people to swallow. It would be better to make 
that decision from strength than out of 
weakness. 

It is true that the press has not been very 
favourable of the war, and of course, of me.  
I’ve been called a killer of men, a war monger 
and they’ve even penned the war as "my war".  
It irritates me and deeply upsets me for I did 
not want war, but war has come and it is my vow 
to keep this Union together and we will fight 
to do that.  "I shall not leave any card 
unplayed.  I expect to maintain this contest 
until surrender, til I die or am conquered or 
my term expires, or til Congress or the country 
forsakes me!"

In any event, I’ve taken my cabinet’s advice and 
have decided not to pursue emancipating the slaves 
til after we have won a military victory.