My  dear  sir,  it  is  not  intended  to  be  insinuated  that  you  have  been
remiss  in  the  performance  of  the  arduous  and  responsible  duties  of  your
Department,  which,  I  take  pleasure  in  affirming,  has  in  your  hands  been


Abraham  Lincoln  177

conducted  with  admirable  success.  Yet,  while  your  subordinates  are
almost  of  necessity  brought  into  angry  collision  with  the  subjects  of  for-
eign states,  the  representatives  of  those  states  and  yourself  do  not  come
into  immediate  contact  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  peace,  in  spite  of
such  collisions.  At  that  point  there  is  an  ultimate  and  heavy  responsi-
bility upon  me.
What  I  propose  is  in  strict  accordance  with  international  law,  and  is
therefore  imobjectionable;  whilst,  if  it  does  no  other  good,  it  will  con-
tribute to  sustain  a  considerable  portion  of  the  present  British  ministry
in  their  places,  who,  if  displaced,  are  sure  to  be  replaced  by  others  more
unfavorable  to  us.
Your  obedient  servant,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN.
KxKCuTivE  Mansion,

Washington ,  Ju ly  30,  i86j.
It  is  the  duty  of  every  government  to  give  protection  to  its  citizens,  of
whatever  class,  color,  or  condition,  and  especially  to  those  who  are  duly
organized  as  soldiers  in  the  public  service.  The  law  of  nations  and  the
usages  and  customs  of  war,  as  carried  on  by  civilized  powers,  permit  no
distinction  as  to  color  in  the  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war  as  public  ene-
mies. To  sell  or  enslave  any  captured  person  on  account  of  his  color,
and  for  no  offense  against  the  laws  of  war,  is  a  relapse  into  barbarism
and  a  crime  against  the  civilization  of  the  age.
