Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-02
The Prssidents Emancipation ProcIs
nation.

nation.
tFrom the London Daily News, Jan. isl
Immediately after the receipt of the telegram
which stated that Mr.. Wendell Phillips had
represented President Lincoln as having told
him that the publication of the Emancipation
Proclamation was mistake, gentleman well
known in Liverpool wrote to Mr.. Whiting, So
llcltor to the War Department at Washington,
and well known in this country, asking him II
the report was true. The following Is Mr..
Writings reply:
Statements have been privately and publicly
circulated that the President has said 10 Mr..
Wendell Phillips "that he had no expectation
that the emancipation proclamation would do
any good, or be of more effect than the Pope's
bull against the comet. That the greatest folly
OF his life was Issuing the emancipation proela-
nation" Several letters have been addressed
to me inquiring whether such statements were
true. cannot do Mr.. Phillips the injustice to
believe that. he ever made the assertions attrl-
buted to him, and have the highest authority
for denying that the President ever, on any
occasion, or to any person, used the Language
or expressed the sentiments thus erroneonsly
laid TO his charge.
The proclamation was one of series of meas
ures called for by great public emergency, 1t
was not suddenly resolved upon. Months of
anxious observation, consultation and ref ection
had been given to the subject of military eman-
cipation before II was finally carried into effect
1t was deemed q measure OF solemn import, of
awful responsibility, and, in its ultimate re-
suits, OF immeasurable importance to the
country.
1t is true that the President did not at frat
expect such immediate and extraordinary ef-
fects to now from II as were anticipated by its
sanguine advocates but he had then, and has
now, unbounded confidence that II would be-
come an efficient means of suppressing the
rebellion, and would prepare the way, In the
hostile districts, for that state of society in
which liberty and union would become for ever
"one and inseparable."
The President would not have made proc
lamation If he had no confidence in Its OIL
cacy. He would not have declared to all the
world he believed 1t to be an act of military
necessity, If no such necessity had existed.
Events have occurred since the beginning of
the year which have demonstrated tho power
and wisdom OF that great and irrovocable act
Of Justice and humanity which will render the
name Of President Lincoln illustrious through
all time.
In the language 10 Congress he uses the fol-
lowing language: "While / remain in nv
present position, shall not attempt TO retract
or modify the emancipation proclamation, nor
shall return to slavery any person who is free
by the terms of that proclamation or by any of
the acts of Congress-"
And In the proclamation of amnesty he has
insisted on complete submission to the terms
Of emancipation. WILLIAM WHITING,
Solicitor of the War Department.
I'VE denied, by authority, on Its first publ.
cation the allegation said to have been made
by Wendell Phillips. The above communica-
ton from Solicitor Whiting 10 the gentlemen
in Liverpool upon the subject will be read
with interest.-ED. NAT. RRPUBLIcAN.l