Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-08-19
NUMBER 80.
An Interesting Leaf of History.
How THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS WRITTEN.

/ In the New York Independent, F. B. Carpenter
gives the history OF the Emancipation Proclama-
ton as Mr. Lincoln gave it to him, the occa-
sion of their first interview as written down by
himself soon afterward. We quote
% 1t had got to be- said he, a. midsummer,
/ 1862 Things had gone on from bad to worse,
until felt We had reached the end of your rope,
on the plan of operations we had been pursuing;
that we had about played last card and
must change our tactics or lose the game
now determined on the adoption of the Emanci-
patton Proclamation and without consultation
WITH or the knowledge of the Cabinet, pre-
pared the original draft Of the Proclamation.
and, after much anxious thought, called a Cabi-
net meeting upon the subject. This was the last
OF July, or the first part of the month OF Au-
gust 1862" THE exact date he did not remem-
ber) - This Cabinet meeting took place, think,
upon a Saturday. All were present except Mr..
Blair the Postmaster General, who absent
at the opening of the discussion, but came in
subsequently. said to the Cabinet that had
resolved upon this step, and had not called them
together to ask their advice, but to lay the sub
ect matter of proclamation before them sug-
gestions as to which would be in order, after
they had heard il read. Mr.. Lovejov, said he,
was in error when he informed you that II ex-
cited no comment excepting on the part of Sec
rotary Seward. Various suggestions were offer
ed Secretary Chase wished the language
stronger in reference to the armng OF the blacks.
Mr. Blair. after he came in, deprecated poiicy,
on the ground that it wonld cost the Administra-
ton the Fall elections. Nothing, however, was
offered that I had not already fully anticipated
and settled in nv own mind, until Secretary
Seward spoke. Said he: Mr.. President APP
prove of the proclamation, but question the
expediency of its issue at this juncture The
depression of the public mind, consequent upon
our repeated reverses, is great that ! fear the
hn
as the last measure OF an exhausted Government
IA cry for help the Government stretching
forth its hands to Ethiopia instead of Ethiopia
stretching forth her hands TO the Government.
His idea said the President. - was that IT
would be considered last shrek on the re-
treat (This was his precise expression. y
= Now" continued Mr.. Seward, - while APP
prove the measure, suggest, sir that you post
ponc its issue. until You give it to the coun-
try supported by military success, instead of
issuing it. as would be the case now, upon the
greatest disasters of the war = Said Mr.. Lin
coin: The wisdom of the view of the Secre
tary of State struck me with very great force
1t was ASPECT Of the case that, in all my
thought upon the subject, ! had entirely over
looked. The result that put the draft OF
the Proclamation aside. as You do your sketch for
a picture waiting for "A victory. From time to
time added changed line, touching it mp
here and there. waiting the progress of events
Well, the next news we had was of Popes dsas-
ter at Bull Run. Things looked darker than
ever. Finally, came the week of the battle OF
Antietam. determined to wait no longer The
news came think, on Wednesday, that the adj
vantage side. was then staying at
the Soldiers Home three miles out of Wash
ington) Here | finished writing the second
draft of the preliminary Proclamation came up
on Saturday called the Cabinet together to
hear it, and it published on the following
Monday"
- 1t was a somewhat remarkable fact he
continued, that there was Just one hundred
days between the dates Of the two procamations.
issued upon the 22d of September aud the lst Of
January | had not made the calculation at the
time
At the final meeting on Saturday, another in.
teresting incident occurred in connection with
Secretary Seward. The President had written
the important part Of the Proclamation in these
words
" That on the first dag Of January, in the year
of our Lord thousand eight hundred and
sxty-;hrce, all persons held as slaves within any
State or designated part of State, the people
whereof shall then be in rebellion against the
United States, shall be then, theuceforward and
forever free and the Executive Government Of
the United States including the military and
naval authority thereof, will recognize the free
dom Of such persons. and will do act
acts to repress such persons, any Of them in
any efforts they may make for their actual free
dom.
When finished reading this paragraph,
sumed Mr.. Lincoln, =. Mr.. Seward stopped me
and said think, Mr.. President, that YOU
should insert after the word recognize. in that
sentence the words and maintain. replied
that had already considered the import of that
expression in this connection. but had not in
: troduccd it. because il not nav way prom
Use what was not entirely sure that could
2 perform, and was not prepared to say that
thought were exactly able to maintain
this.
Il But. said he, Mr. Seward insisted that
we ought to take this ground and the words
= finally went in -
Mr. Lincoln then proceeded to show the
{ various positions occupied by himself and the
different members of the Cabinet on the occasion
of the first meeting As nearly as J can re-
member said he, " the Secretary OF the Treas
ury and the Secretary OF War were here at my
K right hand-the others were grouped at the left
: Mr. Chase told me that at the Cabinet meeting.
Immediately after the battle Of Antietam and
inst prior to the issue of the September Procla-
= nation the President entered upon the business
e before them. by saying that . the time Tor the
annunciation of the emancipation poilcy could
no 1onger be DELAYED. Public sentiment, he
tboucbt. would sustain it, many Of his warmest
= friends and supporters demanded it-and he had
promised his God that he would do il - The
last mart of this was uttered in low tone. and
appeared to be heard Dy no one phf secretary
. Chase who sitting near him. He asked the
. President if he understood him. Mr.. Lincoln
replied - | made n solemn before God.
that if General Lee was driven back from Penn
syvaniq, would crown the result by the (ecla-
ration of Freedom to the slaves 81
CoMISG Dowy -EY.-'' His accidcncy,'' tho pre-
decessor Of Governor Stanford, is Il candidate
for Supervisor of Los Angeles COUNTY ..Oh
what fall is there, my counirymen Verify,
- bright things never die. nor can Demo-
Gratis love of office. In the opera Of the Crown
Diamonds" Count Campo Mayor SAYS :: I'll SEN
tence that scpundrel, Lazarus Valliosa to the
stake must condemn somebody" That's the
way with ,Downey nc must be candidate for
something-Goyernor or Poundmaster.-Bee
FELIX 'BYRNE.--This unfortunate individual,
who seems to be Paddy Miles Boy. redv-
, vus, is TO be tried at the Preside for dFanken-
ness and ;nefficiency.