The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-07-28


Tho New York Independent contains
an interesting article from Mr.. i. B. Oar
penter, giving the history OF how the
Emancipation Proclamation was written
Mr.. Lincoln gave the history to Mr.. c.,
and the latter quotes Mr.. Lincoln's words
as follows:
at had got TO be-" said he, "mid.
summer, 1869. Things hsd gone on
from bad 10 worse, until / felt that we
had reached the end Of our rope on the
plan Of operations we lad been pursuing :;
that we had about played our last card,
and must change our tactics or lose tbe
game | now determined on the ado2.
ton OF the Emancipation Proclamation !;
and, without consultation with or the
knowledge OF the Cabinet, 1 prepared
The original draft of the proclaim alton,
and, after much anxious thought, called
Cabinet meeting on the subject. This
was the last Of July, or The first part Of
The month Of August, 1862" (The ex-
act exact date he did not remember. y
"Ihis Cabinet meeting took place,
think, upon Saturday. All were PIES
ent exc pting Mr.. Blair, the Postmaster
General, wlo was absent at the opening
OF the discussion, but came in subsequent.
ly. l said to the Cabinet that had re-
solved upon this step, and had not called
them together TO ask their advice, but TO
lay the subject matter Of the proclamation
before them, suggestions as 10 which
would be in order after they had heard it
read. Mr.. Lovejoy," said he, "was in
error when he informed you that It ex-
cited no comment, excepting on the part
Secretary OF Seward. Various sueges-
tions were offered. Secretary Chase
wished the language stronger in reference
to the arming of the blacks. Mr.. Blair,
after lie came in, deprecated the policy,
on the ground ,bat it would cost The Al.
ministra,ion the fall elections. Noting,
however, was offered that had not al
ready fully anticipated and settled in my
own mind, until Secretary Seward spoke.
Said he: Mr.. President, approve OF
the proclamation, but question the ex.
pediency Of lis issue at this juncture -
The depression Of the public mind, con-
sequent upon our repeated reverses, is so
great that l fear the effect of SO import
ant step. 1t may be viewed as the last
measure of an exhausted governmental
cry for help; the Government stretching
forth its bands to Ethiopia, instead Of
Ethiopia stretching forth her hands 10
the Government His idea," said the
President. "was that it would be consid-
cred our last Shrek on The retreat. -
(Tbis was his precise expression.
Now" continued Mr.. Seward, "while
. approve the measure, suggest, sir, that
you postpone its issue until you can give
1t to The country supported by military
success, instead of issuing it, as would be
tie case now, upon the greatest disasters
of the war 70 Said Mr.. Lincoln "The
wisdom of the view of the Secretary Of
State struck me With very great force. IT.
was an aspect Of the case that, in all my
thought upon the subject, l had entirely
overlooked. The result was, that l pu,
he draft of the proclamation aside, as you
10 your sketch for picture, waiting for
'ictory. From time to time, added 10 |
,r changed line, touching it up here and
here, waiting the progress of events.-
W ell, the next news we had was OF Pope's
disaster at Bull Run. Things looked
larker than ever. Finally, came the
week OF the battle OF Antietam. 1 de-
ermined 10 wait no longer. The news
'ame, l think, on Wednesday, that the
advantage was on our side. | was then
staying at the Soldiers Home (three
niles out OF Washington.) Here fin.
shed writing the second draft of the pre-
iminary proclamation /; come up on Sat
lrday called the Cabinet together to
near it, and it Was published the follow.
ng Monday.
cit was somewhat remarkable fact"
he continued, "that there were just one
hundred days between the dates of the
Two proclamaions, issued upon the 22d
Of September and the lst of January.
had not made the calculation at the
ime."
AT the final meeting on Saturday, an
other interesting incident occurred in
with Secretary Seward. The
President had written the important part
IF the proclamation in these words:
"That on the first day Of January, in
he year OF our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-,hree, all persons held
IS slaves within any State or designated
,art Of State, the people whereof shall
hen be in rebellion against the United
States, shall be then, thenceforwerd and
orever free and the Executive Govern
nent of the United States, including the
military and naval authority thereof, will
ecognize the freedom of such persons,
md will do no act or acts to repress such
ersons, or any of them, in any efforts :
hey may make for their actual freedom"
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