The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

STATE PAPE1:S OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

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concerned in the contest. There were a few in both
Houses, with John C. Breckiuridge, of Kentucky, at their
head, who still insisted that any resort by the Governnlent to the use of the war power against tile rebels was
unconstitutional, and could only end in the destruction
of the Union; but the general sentiment of both Houses
fully sustained the President in the steps lie had taken.
The subject of slavery was introduced into the discussion
commenced by Senator Powell, of Kentucky, who proposed on the 18th to amend the Arnmy Bill by adding a
section that no part of the army should be c llployed " in
subjecting or holding as a conquered provinlce anly sovereign State now or lately one of the United States, or
in abolishing or interfering with African slavery in any of
the States." The debate which ensued,elicited the sentiments of members on this subject. Mr. Sherman, of Ohio,
concurred in the sentiment that the war was i' not to be
waged for the purpose of subjugating any State or freeing
any slave, or to interfere with the social or domestic institutions of any State or any people; it was to preserve
this Union, to maintain the Constitution as it is in all its
clauses, in all its guarantees, without chaw-ig or limitation." Mr. Dixon, of Connecticut, assented to this, but
also declared that if the South should protract the, war,
and "it should turn out that either this Government or
slavery must be destroyed, then the people of tlhe North
-the Conservative people of the North-would say,
rather than let the Government perish, let slavery perish."
Mr. Lane, of Kansas, did not believe that slavery could
survive in any State the march of the Union armies.
These seemed to be the sentiments of both branches of
Congress. The amendment was rejected, and bills were
passed ratifying the acts of the President, authorizing
him to accept the services of half a million of volunteers,
and placing five hundred millions of dollars at the disposal of the Government for the prosecution of the war.
On the 15th of July, Mr. McClernand, a democrat fron
Illinois, offered a resolution pledging tlie House to vote
any amount of money and any number of men necessary