With Malice Toward None

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition    

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George Prentice, a staunch Whig and Unionist, edited the Louisville Journal. Anticipating Lincoln’s election as president, Prentice had earlier encouraged Lincoln to stem the tide of secession by publishing a letter “setting forth your conservative views and intentions.” Prentice hoped such a letter would take away from secessionists “every excuse or pretext for treason.” Convinced that anything further he might say on the subject would be deliberately misconstrued, Lincoln refused the request.

* Currently on Exhibit

(Transcription)

Your suggestion that I, in a certain event, shall write a letter, setting forth my conservative views. . .


<p>George Prentice, a staunch Whig and Unionist, edited the <em>Louisville Journal</em>. Anticipating Lincoln’s election as president, Prentice had earlier encouraged Lincoln to stem the tide of secession by publishing a letter “setting forth your conservative views and intentions.” Prentice hoped such a letter would take away from secessionists “every excuse or pretext for treason.” Convinced that anything further he might say on the subject would be deliberately misconstrued, Lincoln refused the request.</p>