“I am a little uneasy about the abolishment of slavery in this District, not but I would be glad to see it abolished, but as to the time and manner of doing it.”
—March 24, 1862 Letter to Horace Greeley
What I did, I did after very full deliberation, and under a heavy and solemn sense of responsibility. I can only trust in God that I have made no mistake.
—September 24, 1862 Reply to Serenade in Honor of [Preliminary] Emancipation Proclamation