Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-29
From the Springfield Register
The Presidents PrOclamatiOn.-Eis
Argument against his own Propo-
Sition.

The committee of cergymen appointed by the
meeting of christians" at Chicago on the 9TH
of September, TO present a memorial to the Pres
ident III favor OF negro emancipation. have made
report OF their interview with the President. which
is published in the Chicago paper. The commit
tee report Dir. Lincoln as responding to their ap
peal. thus:
The subject presented in the memorial is one
upon which have thought much for weeks past
and may even say Tor months | am approach
ed with the most opposite opinions and advice
and that by religious men, who are equally Ger
tam that they represent the Divine will am
sure that either the one or the other class Is mis-
taken IN that belief and perhaps in some respects
both. | hope il will not be irreverent for me 10
say, that II 1t is probable that God would reveal
his will to others, on a point so connected with
my duty. IL might be supposed he would reveal il
directly to me. For, unless | am more deceived
III myself than often am. it is nv earnest desire
70 know the will of Providence in this matter
And It can learn what it i, | will do IT, These
are not, however. the DAYS OF miracles and sup
pose u will be granted that ! am not to EXPECT a
direct revelation. | must study the plain phys
zeal facts of the case. ascertain what - possible
and learn what appears 20 be wise and right. The
subject Is difficult, and good men do not agree
For instance, the other day four gentlemen OF
standing and intelligence tnaming one or two of
Il n. a
ton connected with the war; but, before leaving,
tw0oithem earnestly beset me to proclaim general
emancipation. upon which the other a
attacked them. You know, also, that the late
session of Congress had "a decided majority OF
autI-siavery men, vet they could not unite on this
policy And the same is true of the religious
people. Why. the rebel soldiers are praying,
with great deal more earnestness, | fear, than
our own troops. ana expecting God to favor their
side; .or one OF our soldiers, who had been taken
prisoner, told Senator Wilson, few DAYS since
that he met with nothing so discoura eins as the
evident sincerity of those he among, in their
prayers. But wewill DIX over the merits of the
case
What good would proclamation Of emanci-
patton from me do; especially a. we aye now stu
ated. no not rant 10 issue document that The
iraole rorid rH musi necessary be in0perafiue,
lake Lie Pope's ball against tls comet, Woud my
Word free the slaves. when | cannot even enforce
the Constitution IN the rebel Statesy T. there
single court. or magistrate. or individual That
would be influenced by Il there! Aud what rel-
son Is there To think il would have anv greater
effect upon the slaves than the late law of Con.
gress. which approved. and which offers protec
ton and freedom TO the slaves of rebel masters
who come within our lines. Yet cannot learn
that that law has caused a sin lie slave to come
over 10 Us. And suppose they could be induced.
by proclamation Of freedom from me. to throw
themselves upon Us. what would We do with them
How can We feesl and care for sCch multiudcl
General Butler wrote me. a few DAYS since, that
he was issuing more rations 10 the slaves Who
have ruslti to him. than to all the white troors
under his command. They eat. and that Is al:
although it IS true General Butler is feeding the
whites also. BY the thousand for II nearly mounts
% a famine there II. now. the pressure OF the
Wat should call OF QUE forces from New Orleans,
Ia defend some other point. what is u prevent
the misters from reducing the blacks 10 slavery
again; Tor ! am told thst whenever the rebels
take any black prisoners, free OF slave, they i'm
mediafeiy auction them offs They did - with
those they took from a boat that was aground on
the Tennessee river. few DAYS ago And then
l am very unsenerouSiy attacked for it, For in
stance when afWr the iate battles AT and near
Bull Run. an expedition went out from Washing
ton. under fisg OF truce. To bury the dead and
bring in the wounded, and the rebels seized the
blacks who went along 10 help, and sent them
into slavery. Horace Greeley said in his paper
that the Gov ernment would probably 10 nothing
about IL What cou q doy
Now then. tell me, if you please. irhsf possible
rssWif Of coed roHld foiior fks issaiao Of suck a