Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-06-27
THE PRESIDENT ON EMANCIPATION

II T. II Fol All y Af4N EN- \ N ~ a lAlN.
On Friday Of last week an important in
tervew took place a, Washington between
the President and delegation from the relig-
ious society called the Progressive Friends,
on the subject of general emancipation. during
which the Presidents views were plainly stat
ed The delegation was composed of Thomas
Garrett, Of Delaware; Oliver Johnson, well
known atohuonists of New York Alice
Hambleton, Dinah Mendenhall William Bar
nard, ami Eliza Agucw, Of Pennsy lvania and
were presented to the President by Senator
Wilmot, accompanied by Representatives Kl-
ly, Davis and Campbell, OF Pennsy lvania.-
The correspondent Of the y. Y World gives
the following account of the interview:
Mr. johnson addressed the President, and said thai,
they did not come representing amy personal or ny n
speak but m up ihtif chained hand, gpuizg
tui piicaii0r 1r freedom, which prayer 10 was IN rho
l're dent power IA th' solemn gi,'' 10 rfant lie
hen read memorial adopted 90 late uccuug' calling
on the President Co issue proclamation freeing all
slaves ud stating hat n his speech dei'etcda Spring
hcd before his election 10 The ,oe Of chid magistrate
the President expressly declafcd
IA house divided against itself cannot stand. be-
lieye this government cannot endure permanently haf
slave and half fee do not expect thc house 10 fall
but do expect 81 will cease 10 be divided. IL will be-
come all one thing or the other
After the mrmnisl had been read the President said,
as Ae bad not been furnished eih copy II the memo
rial Ga advance be could not bc expected to make any
lengthy remarks. lle was prascd that the delegation
had not COME office seekers, Tot they caused HIM much
trouble aud pcrpcKiy The next most troublesome
subject slavery. lie agreed with the memorAli,is
that slavery was wrong and differed only in respect TO
the way aud means n getting rid of 10. The extract
frum HE Springfield speech in the memorial he said was
incomplete not including the sentence in which be had
indicated hs views The effect upon slavery itself Of
Resistance 20 It's extension II decree 81 emancipation
would do the work, John Brown would have dom u al
liarpcr's Ferry The Constitution is binding upon the
people VI The south but 1t cannot be enforced preseut
DO you think decree If general emancipation would be
Mr Johnson said "rruc. Mr. President. the Con
sututon cannot be enforced the south, but
do not for that reason give zap the struggle The memo
fa is believe that the extinction of slavery would attain
object The President said that be felt the mag
nitude and Importance IT the task before him, and hoped
20 be rightly directed in the embarrassing circumstances
surrounding him. lie felt deeply his need Of divine aid
and guidance, and had sometimes thought he might De
an instrument in the bands Of God in accomplishing a
great work, and certainly he was willing TO be one Per
haps Gods way Of accomplishing the end which the
memoralists have ia view different from theirs az
any rate, he should endcayor to do his duty with firm
reliance the divine arm, and seeking for light from
above TO do his duty.
The delegation then retired
Although received by President Lincoln in
the most courteous manner, yet the delegation
'hNoN he'N ANNA "iA NhAhh bNN bAHfAh'h ~ thN
response which they received. Next to the
office seekers, the President told them, the
subject of slavery was the most Troublesome
one he had to meet, and expressed his decided
dissent from the views of the memorialsts
saying in substance that no degree Of general
emancipation could be enforced in the seeded
States, but advising them to await the progress
ofevents and trust in an overriding Providence
to work cut his own designs in the trying
emergency through which the country is now
passing. In short, the delegation in seeking
} to dictate to the President a policy for the
treatment of the slavery question run thei'
heads against rock and We hope their sue
j ccss will be a warning TO others not 90 and
; do likewise.
For the benefit of those of our readers who
are clamorous for decree Of emancipation al
a means of the speedy termination of the war
we copy from the Springfield Mass hrp"b
t ican very sensible article on the subject
, 10 which we invite especial attention.