Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-23
The Emancipation FroelsmatEOfl---
Interesting Sketch OF It's History.


------@--l-lLl- q 49, 100 id g e
The Emancipation ProcIanaatEon.--
Interesting Sketch OF It's History.
Mr.. f. b Carpenter, the well known
artist, contributes to the last number OF
the Independent sketch of the history
of the Emancipation Proclamation, As
given to him BY Mr. Lincoln himself
while the picture illustrative of its con-
sideEstioa by the Cabinet was being
painted. D Hsta.aF .-aaua1 ID a@moG
Up TO September of 1862 the war had
been conducted without interference
with slavery, in accordance with the
views Of Mr. ,Lincoln's letter 90 Col
Hodges, Of Kentucky, in which be said
that, though coustitutiouaily Gnti-slsvety,
be had never felt at liberty 70 act offieis
ally upon this Judgment What brought
about q change of policy is told bslew:s
1t had got to be, said Mr.. Lincoln,
midsummer, 1859 Things had gone
on from bad to worse, until | feltiithat
we had reached the end Of our rope on
the plan of operations We bad besu per-
suing; that we had about played our last
card, and must change our tactics OF
lose the game. now determined upon
the adoption Of the emancipaiion policy;
and, without consultation with or 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 the first
part Of the month Of August 1852. =
(The exact date he did not remember)
This Cabinet meeting took place, /
think, upon q Saturday. Alllwere pres.
ent excepting Mr.. Blair, the Postna aster
General, who was absent at the opening
of the discussion, but came in subse-
queptlyaoI said to the GAbinet that i had
resolved upon this step, and had not
called them together 10 ask theiF.adyiee,
but to lay the subject matter of a pro-
clamstion before them, suggestions rs to
which would be in order after they had
heard it read. Mr. Lovejoy, said he,
Twas in error when he informed you
that it excited nc comment, excepting
on the part of Secretary Seward. oVs-
rious suggestions we're offered secre-
tary Chase wished the language lstroa.
ger in reference 10 arning Of the blacks
! Mr.. Blair, after he came in,I deprecated
the policy, on the groand thnt II would
| cost the Administration the fall elec-
| ton" Nothing, however, was offered
that had not already fully anticipated
and settled in my own mind, until See
retary Seward spoke. Said be- Mr.
President, I approve Of the proelama.
ton, bat I question ths expediehey Of
its issue at this jHHctHre The depres
sion Of the public mind, consequent up
on our repeated reverses, 10 90 great
that fear the effect of so important n
step. 1t may bs viewed as the last
measure of an exhausted Government
q cry for help; the Government stretch
ing forth its hand to Ethiopia, inaiead
of Ethiopia strstchipg forth i.s hands
! TO the GovernmenL" His idea" said
the President, twas that il would be
considered our last shriekp on the re-
treat" This was his precise express
sion "Now," continued Mr.. Seward,
while approve the measure l sug
gest, sir, that you postpous It's issue I'M
til you can give it to the country suppor-
ted by military success, instead of issu'
ing il, as would be the case now, upon
the greatest disasters Of the warf Said
Mr.. Lincoln: 8 The wisdom Of the view
of the Secretary of State struck me with
very great force. Ltswas an aspect OF
the case that, in ell my thoughtupon the
subject, bad entirely overlooked The
result was that put the draft Of the
proclamation aside, as you do your
sketch for picture, waiting TOR vlcto-
ry From time 10 time / added OF
changed line, touching IA mp here and
there, waiting the ptogress Of events.
Well, the next news we had vac oI
Pope's disaster at Ball Run. Thinge
looked darker than eR@Esu-Ein@llgy-em
the week of the battle Of Antietam,
7 determined to Ssit no longer. The
news came, | think, on Wednesday, thai
the advantage was on our side ! was
then standing al the Soldiers, Hea:e,
] lthree miles out Of Washing.on-) Here
6nished writing the second draft Of ths
Preliminary Proclamation; came up on
Saturday; called the Cabinet together "a
hear il, and it vas pablished the follew
ing Monday. fr gisse
ut was 3 somewhat remarkable fact,
be continued, shat there were jual one
hundred days between the date Of th'
I E814G4= u kA91 A1G @@& "
September and the lst of-Janaary.
had not made the caiculatioa Gt th'
time. , aaar t- -ftta rsoS al
u At the 6nal meeting on Saturday
another interesting incident occurred il
connection with Secretary Seward. tn,
President had written an important par
Of the proclamation in these wOrds:01
THAT on the 6rst day of january il
the year of our Lord one thousand sighl
hundred aud sixty-three, all .persoll
held as slaves within any State, or de
signated part Of q State, the peopEl
whereof shall then be IN rebelhor
J against the United States, shall be shen
) thenceforward and forexaE- FRgE; AnC
the Executive GeyerHmsnt Of the Unitas
States, including the military and uaya
/ authority thereof, win recognize. thl
freedom of such persons, aud will do nj
/ act or acts to reprsss such persons, o
: any of them, in any efforts they ma,
: make for their actual freedom. = W hel
! l had finished reading thia paragraph,
resumed Mr., Liaeoln, Ar. SewsF
stopped me, and SAID 4 thfak, MI
|. President, that you sheald insert afse
: the word recognises" in that aentsaes
: the words "and mAintain. yIrepiiel
: that had already fully. consideyed. th
. lIimport of that expression in ghis cor
: uection, but had not introduced II BE-
: cause -itTwas not myawSy to Pronnis
, Whist ! was not entirely sUrs that
{ could perform, and I wAa not prepare
!. 60 say that ! thought We veEs sxaesl
{ able 10 maintain this Bar, SGia hl
: lsMF. SeuGSdiEsiSts6 that ws ought