I wish to see, in process of disappearing, that only thing which ever could bring this nation to civil war.
In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party.
I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing, that no man desires for himself.
Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease.
We want, and must have, a national policy, as to slavery, which deals with it as being wrong.
It is bad to be poor. I shall go to the wall for bread and meat, if I neglect my business this year as well as last.
We must work earnestly in the best light He gives us.
Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay.
Now, at the end of three years struggle the nation’s condition is not what either party, or any man devised, or expected. God alone can claim it.
We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein.
The will of God prevails.
God can not be for, and against the same thing at the same time.
The unpleasant events you are passing from will not have been profitless to you.
There may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury. Cast about, and see if this feeling has not injured every person you have ever known to fall into it.
My father, at the death of his father, was but six years of age; and he grew up, literally without education.
Every head should be cultivated.
In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak, and as strong; as silly and as wise; asbad and good.
A right result, at this time, will be worth more to the world, than ten times the men, and ten times the money.
If the union of these States, and the liberties of this people, shall be lost, it is but little to any one man of fifty-two yearsof age, but a great deal to the thirty millions of people who inhabit these United States, and to their posterity in all coming time.
The government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for allcommanders.