I Saw The Man My Friendwants Pardoned,

No Person Connected With Me By Blood Or Marriage Will Be Appointed To Office.

For Character, To Prepare For The Inevitable I Recommend Selections From [ralph Waldo] Emerson. His Writings Have Done For Me Far More Than All Other Reading.

These Semi-traitors [union Generals Who Were Not Hostile To Slavery] Must Be Watched. Let Us Be Careful Who Become Army Leaders In The Reorganized Army At The End Of This Rebellion. The Man Who Thinks That The Perpetuity Of Slavery Is Essential To The Existence Of The Union, Is Unfit To Be Trusted. The Deadliest Enemy The Union Has Is Slavery - In Fact, Its Only Enemy.

I Saw The Man My Friendwants Pardoned, Thomas Flinton. He Is A Bright, Good-looking Fellow.... Of His Innocence All Are Confident. The Governor Strikes Me As A Man Seeking Popularity, Who Lacks The Independence And Manhood To Do Right At The Risk Of Losing Popularity. Afraid Of What Will Be Said. He Is Prejudiced Against The Irish And Democrats.

While I Am In Favor Of The Government Promptly Enforcing The Laws For The Present, Defending The Forts And Collecting The Revenue,i Am Not In Favor Of A War Policy With A View To The Conquest Of Any Of The Slave States; Except Such As Are Needed To Give Us A Good Boundary. If Maryland Attempts To Go Off, Suppress Her In Order To Save The Potomac And The District Of Columbia. Cut A Piece Off Of Western Virginia And Keep Missouri And All The Territories.