June 12, 1863---The Corning Letter

JUNE 12, 1863:           

One of President Lincoln’s most celebrated writings was a response to the resolutions approved by a meeting of Democrats in Albany, New York. The meeting, led by Erastus Corning, the president of the New York Central Railroad, criticized Lincoln for his infringements on constitutional liberties in general, and the arrest and trial of former Representative Clement Vallandigham in particular. Lincoln’s letter reads in part:

“It undoubtedly was a well pondered reliance with [the Southern rebels] that in their own unrestricted effort to destroy Union, constitution, and law, all together, the government would, in great degree, be restrained by the same constitution and law, from arresting their progress…

If I be wrong on this question of constitutional power, my error lies in believing certain proceedings are constitutional when, in cases of rebellion or Invasion, the public Safety requires them, which would not be constitutional when, in absence of rebellion or invasion, the public Safety does not require them—in other words, that the constitution is not in its application in all respects the same, in cases of Rebellion or invasion, involving the public Safety, as it is in times of profound peace and public security. The Constitution itself makes the distinction; and I can no more be persuaded that the government can constitutionally take no strong measure in time of rebellion, because it can be shown that the same could not be lawfully taken in time of peace, than I can be persuaded that a particular drug is not good medicine for a sick man, because it can be shown to not be good food for a well one.”