By general law, life and limb must be protected; yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life, but a life is never wisely given to save a limb. I felt that measures, otherwise
unconstitutional, might become lawful by becoming indispensable to the preservation of the
Constitution through the preservation of the nation. Right or wrong, I assumed this ground, and
now avow it. I could not feel that to the best of my ability I had even tried to preserve the
Constitution, if, to save slavery, or any minor matter, I should permit the wreck of government,
country, and Constitution altogether.
When, early in the war, General Fremont attempted military emancipation, I forbade it,
because I did not then think it an indispensable necessity. When, a little later, General Cameron,
then Secretary of War, suggested the arming of the blacks, I objected, because I did not yet think it
an indispensable necessity. When, still later, General Hunter attempted military emancipation,
forbade it, because I did not yet think the indispensable necessity had come. When, in March and
May and July, 1862, I made earnest and successive appeals to the Border States to favor
compensated emancipation, I believed the indispensable necessity for military emancipation and
arming the blacks would come, unless averted by that measure. They declined the proposition; and
I was, in my best judgment, driven to the alternative of either surrendering the Union, and with it
the Constitution, or of laying strong hand upon the colored element. I chose the latter. In choosing
it, I hoped for greater gain than loss; but of this I was not entirely confident...
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln
In a paragraph of three to five sentences, summarize President Lincoln's meaning in the paragraph
in bold. Use proper spelling and grammar.