Executive Mansion Washington, August 22, 1862 Hon. Horace Greeley: Dear Sir. I have just read yours of the 19th. addressed to myself through the New-YorkTribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which Imay know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If therebe in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do notnow and here, argue against them. If there be perceptable [sic] in it animpatient 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 toleave any one in doubt. I would save the union. I would save it in the shortest way under theConstitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearerthe Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would notsave the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do notagree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless theycould at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. Myparamount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either tosave or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing anyslave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves Iwould do it; and if I could save it by freeing some some and leaving othersalone 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 forebear, Iforebear because I do not believe it would save the Union. I shall do lesswhenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall domore whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall tryto correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views sofast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and Iintend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all meneverywhere could be free. Yours, A. Lincoln. Contributed by Ron Colson - Florida

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