[Idabilly]

Lincoln was willing to leave the slavery issue just as it was if the south would just not secede

Very well said, Ma'am. Let us see if that 'Saint' can defrost Ice Pick's process of critical thinking..

In the Conkling letter before mentioned, I said: “Whenever you shall have conquered all resistance to the Union, if I shall urge you to continue fighting, it will be an apt time then to declare that you will not fight to free Negroes.” I repeat this now. If Jefferson Davis wishes, for himself, or for the benefit of his friends at the North, to know what I would do if he were to offer peace and reunion, saying nothing about slavery, let him try me (…). disHonest Abe

[Non-Sequitur]

Lincoln was willing to leave the slavery issue just as it was if the south would just not secede.

Not quite. Lincoln was willing to leave slavery alone where it existed but was not willing to support its expansion into the territories. That's what killed any deal with the rebel states.

I repeat this now. If Jefferson Davis wishes, for himself, or for the benefit of his friends at the North, to know what I would do if he were to offer peace and reunion, saying nothing about slavery, let him try me.

And about 6 months later Davis did. It was called the Hampton Roads Peace Conference, and Lincoln made it clear that the South could have peace with reunification and without their slaves.

disHonest Abe

disHonest Idabilly