The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-07-19
The Emancipation Question.

The representatives Oft the Border States spent
some time in conference, on Monday night
over the commun icatiOn submitted to the
by The President on Sunday, urging actio OF
their Stats favorable to the President
gradual emancipation views. The first and
natural expression of these rrpresrn natives
was that the subject was not within the scope
of their official duties. They were not here
to mould or in any way direct the domestic
legislation Of their States. But they waived
this point and agreed to enter into cvnsdera-
t"n, with the President, of question so
vital to the national interests. After full
| interchange Of views on all the points pre-.
scented by Mr.. Lincoln. committee of seven
was appointed to prepare response. Several
drafts of II reply have been madc--one by
Garlic. Of Virginia, one by Mallory. of Ken
| lucky, and one by CriSlirld. OF Mary land -
The committee will meet an6 agree on one to
be sent. The main features of the reply, as
indicated TO you last night, will be retained
as follows:
!. That the Border States have come up to
the full demands Of the Government hereto
I fore made on them, they having raised fully
80 600 men now fighting for the Union, and
they will raise their new quota under the new
call.
.. In regard to the Presidents Emancipa-
tion offer, heretofore embodied in Congress
sional resolution, these men say that it is not
practical nor specific. |: proposes Il change
which can only be effected through State
Conventions and there it requires ye. rs
krntucky'S present Constitution requires
four years to call Convention and have it
meet and then, after gong through the pre-
| lninary stages, and grttin. States con-
| sent, there would be no act of Congress to con-
| sunnatc. and the question would be an open
one whether the National Government would
or could appropriate the millions of money
| needed to carry out the scheme. This spc-
ciic legislation should prcccdc the State S
preparation.
3. To obvatc the dclayg of org mixed State
action, the Border State representatives. thinl;
the otter should be made at once, and directly
to the individual citizens of the Slave States
| aud then the questions would be NJ once
solved, and in time to aid the Government. -
Congress wOnld at once prove its willingness
to appropriate the money, and the people OF
the States show their readiness to aid the
Union even at the sacrifice Of radical change
in their social organization.
In conclusion, the representatives will
assure the President that their cuStincnt.
revere the Constitution and Union deeply as
ever; thar they admire his heroic efforts st
lar to preserve both, and on that platform viii
not be surpassed by any portion of the Union
III furnishing men and money for the work.
| And this one addit ional will be embodied
That the Border Slave States are loyal to
the Constitution and Union; enemies OF
secession; and, though the Government,
should be overwhelmed in its struggle iol
the Union and Constitution, the Border
States will not join their broken fortunes &c
the Southern Conted-racy, but seek else.
where new alliances and II new career"
The whole reply will breathe the mos
exalted spirit of Unionism and loyalty.
New York Times.