Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-14
A HISTORICAL ENIGMA.


Mr.. MALLORY, of Kentucky, expressed the opin-
ion that the whole theory of the Administration
in the conduct of the war had been changed by the
preliminary proclamation of emancipation issued by
Mr.. Lincoln on the 22d of September, 1862; and he
further intimateda belief that it was the pressure
of certain Republican Governors, assembled in con-
vention at Altoona, in Pennsylvania, which, in
connection with other Influences tending to the same
end, had caused the President to abandon his ori
ginal policy in this matter. 1t was in the pre-
sence of this statement that Mr. boutwell,, of
Massachusetts,, (well known as an urgent patron
of the proclamation, and who at the time of its
PRONUNCIATION was holding an important Office in
the Treasury Department rose in his place in the
House of Representatives and made the following
announcement, which elected much curiosity:
Mr.. boutwell, The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr
MALLORY said this morning that the whole policy of the
country was changed by the proclamation of the Presi-
dent and he attributed that procamat to the meeting
of the Governors of certain States at Altoona am not
here to be put upon the witness stand but 1t so happens
that hDc the means Of knotoing that the proclamation of
September 1862 entirely independent of and auffee
dent 10 the meeting Of the Governors at Aho0na The meet
ing Of the Governors had connection with the procla
nation The gentleman from Kentucky should remember
Lhht prior OF tndt proclamation had
with but few and that we had endured mapy
many Lee had batled for four days under the
Notifications of the capital aud had finally crossed the Po
tomac into Maryland. 1t was not until the country put
itself on the side Of justice that it had right expect the
favor OF Divine Providence any of those successes
which have rendered this glorious in the cause of free
DOM truth, aud justice.
Mr.. MALLORY. Will the gentleman state when that
convention Of Governors assembled at Altoona7
Mr.. BOUTWELL, / think it assembled at Altoona pre-
yous to the 22d of September but as within my
l nu uJladua atuoni cf
determined upon previous to the meeting at Altoona
Mr.. MALLORY. Can the gentleman inform me when
the issnna of that reclamation determined uponY
MT boUTWELL. cannot go far in this matter. Tas-
sc distinctly the fact Dhtch icin mp oon kao,oledge
that the President previous to The meeting the GorcTnors
at dhoOna had decided IN certain contingency ,oieh
happened upon The Wednesday preceding the ED of ptm-
ber to Issue the proclamation and therefore the Inference
draw is in contravenon OF the declaration of the gentle
man from Kentucky that that proclamation the result
OF the meeting Of the Governors at Altoona
Mr. MALLORY. Will the gentleman tell us the contin-
gency On the happening of which that proclamation was
be issuedf
Mr.. BOUTWELL, said, Mr.. Speaker. when msn,ionea
this fact that was not to be put upon the stand as wit
hare made statement of fact ,ohin mn o,on
kno,otedge and history piH confirm The statement.
Mr., MALLORY. Ii the gentleman from Massachusetts,
does not wsh TO answer the question to slate the
will not insist.
Mr.. boutwell, 1 have done nothing more than this
to put my statement OF fact which assert e. be within
my knowledge, against the declaration Of The ger
from Kentucky that the proclamation of emancipa
hou, the monory proclamation Of emancipation was
issued in consequence OF the meeting Of Governors Al
toona.
Mr. MALLORY. We know that the President himself
stated the 18th OF that month that he had no idea al
issuing such proclamation, aud that he argued against
issuing IT, Iwant to know from the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts whether 1t between the 9th and ODD and
so, ut whs point between these two periods the Pres
dent had prepared the proclamation aud had determined
to issue II upon certain contingency I ,ooud also like
TO knoD rhat that contingency ioas
Mr. boutwell,. The gentleman from Kentucky is good
at questioning but have to keep myself within the pcs
tion which stated.
Mr.. DAWES. Courtesy is an exchaugeable commodity
Mr. BOUTWELL, l trust shall lose nothing by my
courtesy.
Mr. MALLORY OF course not. | decline to ask apy
more questions
We thus have it distinctly stated BY Mr.. BoUT-
WELL, as fact within his own personal know
ledge, that the President previous to the date OF
| the PRONUNCIATION of his emancipation edict, had
determined to issue it upon ga certain contingent
| cy," and that this particular contingency, upon
which were suspended results SO momentous, h.p.
pened on the Wednesday preceding the 22d Of
September, on which day the edict was issued But
what this contingency" was Mr.. Boutwell, per
sistently declined to say. For, after he had re-
fused to answer the interrogatories Of Mr. Mallory
on the subject, the following colloquy ensued:
Mr. PENDLEToN. Will the gentleman allow me to ask
him one question before he passes from the subject he
| now discussing
Mr., BOUTWELL, Certainly
Mr. PENDLEToN. desire to ask the gentleman wbe
ther ne knows when the proclamation of the President
was hnaly agreed upon mot when it was issued for we
al know that; but have doubt the gentleman knows
when II was decided upon
Mr.. BOUTWELL,. The gentleman from Ohio s,cribes IA
| me knowledge which have never claimed
Mr.. PENDLEToN He has given the House and the
counyto understand that it agreed upon before the
EGme 10 issued
Mr. BOUTWELL,. have not given the House or the
country 10 understand that it agreed upon at any
| tine.
Mr PENDLEToN. When the gentleman SAYS that II was
agreed upon or determined upon that ID should be issued
before certsin time, certainly understood him to
s-knows was determined upon, that the President
desired 20 issue prior TO the Wednesday before the Odd
o September, when IL issued-and that its being s
SUED depended upon contingency which expected TO
happen and did happen that Wednesday desire him to
answer he at liberty to answer and if he not to say
SO, what that contingency
Mr. BOUTWELL,. gave notice in the outset that did
not mean to be drawn into any explanation beyond the
| statement which made
Mr.. PESDLEToN / desire to know then, whether it
was the genemans purpose when he made the announce.
men that he would not be put upon the witness stand to
simply state TO the House such parts Of transaction
which he says within his knowledge az he NAV
t and that he will not be induced to state any thing
| beyond
Mr.. BOUTWELL,, Exactly.
Mr. PENDLEToH. The gentleman then knows when IA
was intended to be issued but declines ~ state il to the
House. " -