The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-28
An Interesting Leaf CT Historv-How
the Emancipation Proclamation was
Written.

Written.
Mr.. F. B. Carpenter gives the his.
tory Of the Emancipation Procama.
tiols, as Mr.. Lincoln gave it to him, on
the OCCASION of their first interview, as
wri'ten down by himself soon after.
ward. We quote:
1T lad got to sbe,' said he, 'mid-
summer, 1862. Things had gone on
from bad to worse, until 1 telt that we
had reached the end of our rope on
the plan of operations we had been
pursuing: that we had abou, played
our last card, and must change ou,
tactics, or lose the game!. 1 now de.
termned on the adoption Of the
emancipation proclamation; and, with
"ut consultation with, tr the knowledge
of the Cabinet, prepared the original
draft OF the proclamation. and, after
much anxious Thought, called Cabinet
meeting upon the subject. This was
the last Of July, or she first part of the
4non,h Of August, 1862 The exact
date he did not 'rc!n"lnber.) This
Cabinet meeting tuek place, I think,
upon Il Saturday. All were present
excepting Mr.. Blair, tile Postmaster
General, who was absent at the opening
OF the discussion, but came in subse-
qnentIy. | said to Tive Cabinet that I
had resolved upon this step, and had
not called them together to ask their
advice, but to lay the subject matter
Of proclamation Before them; sug.
geslions as to which would he in order,
after they heard it read. Mr.. Love-
jov. said he, was in error when b.
informed you that it excited no COM
ment, excepting Oh the part Of Secre-
larv Seward.
" ariou> suggestions were offered.
Secretary Chase wished the language
stronger IN reference to the arminy OF
the blacks. Mr. Blair. after he came
in, deprecated the policy, on the
ground that it would cost the Admins
istration the Fail elections. Nothing,
however. was offered that l had not
already fully anticipated and settled in
my own mnd, unit; Secretary Seward
spoke. Said lie, MIR. President,
approve of the proclamation, tut
question the expediency of it's issue at
this jnnc'urc. The depression OF the
public mind, consequent upon our
repeated reverses, is so great that
fear the effect of so importan: step.
1t may I've viewed as the last measure
OF an exhausted Government "A cry
for help; the Government stretching
torth its hands to Ethiopia instead OF
Ethiopia stretching forth her hands to
the Government. His idea said the
President, was that it would be con-
sIdered our'Iast shrek, on the retreat
THIS was his precise expression. Now
continued Mr.. Seward, while l ap-
prove the measure. l suggest, sir, that
YOU postpone its issue, until you can
give it to the country supported by
military success, instead Of issuing il
as would be the case now upon the
greatest disaster of the war; Said
Mr.. LsQcoIn: The wisdom of the view
of ths Secretary of State struck me
with very great force. It was ar
aspect of the case that, in all my
thought upon the subject, had en-
tirely overlooked. The result was
that / put the daft Of the proclama
ton aside, as you do your sketch for
picture, waiting for victory. From
tipe to time l added or changed 4;
line, touching it.bere and there, wait
ing the progress of events. Well, tn,
next news we had was Of Pope's dis
as'er, at Bull kuu. Things looked
darker than eyet Finally came the