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"slaves are property"

Abraham Lincoln to James C. Conkling, Wednesday, August 26, 1863 (Draft of letter to be read at Union mass meeting in Springfield) [Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress]

"You dislike the emancipation proclamation; and, perhaps, would have it retracted. You say it is unconstitutional. I think differently. I think the Constitution invests it's Commander-in-Chief, with the laws of war, in time of war-- The most that can be said, is if so much, is that slaves are property-- Is there -- has there ever been -- any question that, by the law of war, property both of enemies and friends, may be taken when needed? And it is needed whenever taking it helps us, or hurts the enemy-- Armies, the world over, destroy enemies property when they can reach it and can not use it; and even destroy their own, to keep it from the enemy--"

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David Upton

Messages In This Thread

August 6, 2011
Lincoln saw Slaves as Property
"that all property, except slaves"
"slaves are property"
Re: "slaves are property"