The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-20
fHE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
Interesting Sketch of its HI'tOry by
the Artist, Carpenter.

- 80
week, a sketch of the history of the EmAn-
Proclamation, IS given to him BY
Mr.. Lincoln himself, while he was painting
the picture illustrative of its consideration
by the Cabinet Mr.. Carpenter quotes 8
passage from Mr.. Lineoln's letter to Col.
Hodges, OF Kentucky, and says:
Inow take up the history of the procls-
mation itself, as Mr.. Lincoln gave it TO me,
on the occasion of our FIST interview, as
written down by myself soon after
wards = !
ut bad got to be" said he, "Midsum-
mer, 1862. Things had gone on from bad
to worse, until 1 felt that we had reached
the end of our rope on the plan Of opera
lions we had been pursuing; that we had
about played our last card, and must change
our tactics, or lose the camel I now deter
mined upon the adoption of the emancipa-
lion policy and, without consultation with,
or the knowledge Of the Cabinet, l pre-
pared the original drsft of the Proclsms-
ton, and after much anxious thought,
called q Cabinet m netting upon the sutjsct.
This YVES the last Of July, or the frat part
of the month of August 1862 (The
exact date he did not remember)-
ETbis meeting took place. I think,
upon q Saturday. Alt were present
excepting Mr.. Blair, the Post
master General, who was absent at the
opening of the discussion, but came in sub
seo1ently. 1 said TO the Cabinet tost 1
had resolved upon this step, and had not
called them together to ask their advice,
but to lay the subject matter Of q prOcls-
- 10 ek.-- 1nUrnrNTnnd a q 70
! which would be in order when they had
heard it resd. "Mr. Lovejoy," said he,
twas in error when he informed you that
it excited no comment, excepting on the
psrt of Secretary Seward. Various sUg-
gestions we're offered. Secretary Chase
wished the language stronger in reference
to the arming of the blacks. Mr.. Blair,
after he came in, deprecated the policy, on
4 the grouud. that it would cost the Admins
traiion the fall elections. Nothing, how
ever, was offered that I had not already
fully anticipated and settled in my own
mind, until Secretary Seward spoke. Said
be: Mr.. President, 1 approve of the proc
lRmation, but | question tins expediencY OF
its issue at this junctuIe. The depression
of the public mind consequent upon u RE-
paated reverses, is 80 great that l fear the
effect of so important q step. 1t may be
viewed IS the last measure of an exhausted
Governments cry for help; the Cavern
ment stretching forth lis hands to Ethio-
PTS, instead Of Ethiopi4 stretching forth her
hand totheG Government "Ais idea was
said the President, shat il would becon-
sidered our last shrek on the retreat" This
was his precise expression "Now," con-
tinued Mr.. Seward, while 1 approve the
measure, I suggest, sir, that you postpone
its issue until you can give ittothe country
supported by military success, instead If
Issuing it. IS would be the case now, upon
the greatest disasters OF the war !" Said
Mr.. Lincoln, 1.-The wisdom of the view of
the Secretary STRUCK me with very great
force. 1t was an aspect of the case that, in
al nv thought upon the subject, / had
entirely overlooked. The result was that l
put the draft Of the proclamation aside, as
YOU do your sketch for 8 picture, waiting
for q victory. From time to time I added
or changed a line, touching it up here and
there, waiting the progress Of events.
Well, the next news we had wss of Popes
disaster at Bull Run. Things looked dark
err than ever. Finally, came the week of
the battle of Aniietsm. / determined TO
walt no longer. The news came, 1 think
on Wednesday, that the sdvsntsge was on
our side. 1 was then stsying at the "Sol-
dlers' Home three miles out of Wishing
ton Here 1 finished writing the second
draft Of the preliminary Proclamation
came up on saturday called the Cabinet
together to hear it and it was published
the following Monday.
at was 3 somewhat remarkable fact" he
continued, that there was just one hun
dred days between the dates of the two
proclAmations, Issued upon the I'D of Sep.
- E~J u-usJ EHuu uOI
made the calculation at the time"
At the fnslmeeting on Saturday, anoth.
inter sting incident occurred in connection
with Secretary Seward. The President
had written the important part Of the
proclamation in these words:
"That on the first day of January, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three, all persons held
rs slaves within any State or designated
part of q State, the people whereof shall
then be in rebellion against the United
States, shall be, then, thencsfJrwArd and
forever FREE; and the Executive Cavern.
ment Of the United States, including the
military and naval authority thereof via
recognize the freedom of such persons, and
will do no act or acts to repress such per
sons, or any of them, in any efJrts they
may make for their actual freedom"
"When I Anishsd reading this para.
graph" resumed Mr.. Lincoln, "Mr. Sew.
ard stopped me and said: i think, Mr.
President, that you should insert after the
word "~Teeognize," in that sentence, the
words " and raGtptGiz.R' l replied that
had already considered the import of thai
expression in this connection, but I had moi
introduced it because it was not my way
TO promise what I was not entirely SURF
that 1 could parform, and 1 was not pre-
pared to say that l thought we we're ex.
sctly able to "msintain " this. But" said
he, g MIR. Seward insisted that We ought &c
take this ground, and the words finally
went in"
In February last, q few days after the
passage OF the Constitutional Amend
ment" 1 was in Washington, and was re-
eeived by Mr.. Lincoln with the kindness
and familiarity which had chsra yterized
our previous intercourse. l said to hin
one Day that 1 was very proud 10 have
beun the q list to lave first conceived Of
the design Of painting 8 picture common
orative of the Act of Bmsncipation-thsi
subsequent occurrences had only confirmed
my own first judgment of that act as the
most sublime moral event of our history
"Yes," said he, and never do / remember
TO have noticed in him more esrnestness Of
expression of msnner, "Rs affairs have
turned, It'll the central act of my admins.
t~ralion, and the great event Of the nine
tesnth century"
remember ID have asked him, on one
occasion, if thsre was not some opposition
manifested on the part of several members
of the Cabinet to the emancipation policy
He said in reply Nothing more than
have stated 10 you. Mr.. Blair thought WI
should lose the Fall elections and opposed
it on that ground only" Said !, u have
understood that Secretary Smith was not
in favor of your action. Mr. Blair told me-
that when the meeting closed, he and the
Secretary of the Interior went sway to
gether, and that the latter told him, if the
President carried out that policy, ne might
count on losing lndIsns sure u "He never
said anything of the kind to me" returned
the President sand how" said I, "does
Mr.. Blair feel about it now2' '0h," was
prompt reply, Hhe proved right in regard
to the Fall elections, but he is satisfied
thAt We have since gained more than VIZ