Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-31
THE MISSING PROCLAMATION.
a Remarkable Statement.

Frem the Washington Express, Dec. &c.
The communication which we print be-
low contains most remarkable state
ment, which cannot fail to create q
marked sensation. The writer Of it is
well known to and esteemed by us, and
We have every confidence in the reliabiIs
ity of lis statements
The New York Sun ventilates state
ment by L. A. Pollard of the secret ex>
istence of confidential records of the
Confederate government That this is so
may be readily believed, and that they
will be ultimately discovered is equally
probable. But this mere statement and
belief is not my purpose. desire to cali
attention to other missing records"
from the archives of the government of
the United States; OF, If they be not
missing, to the fact that the public seems
to have no knowledge of them, and | am
but too we'll convinced that the states
mcnt / am about to make will, in some
quarters, awaken smile Of incredulity;
in others, fear of further disclosures
while the general public will give neither
thought nor attention to it.
1t will be remembered that on the in
augnrstion of Mr.. Lincoln South Carolina
deputed three commissioners to nego-
tate Ito be cOncise) terms Of separation,
and settle up the business Of the partner
ship, as far as that State was concerned.
OF course, Mr.. Seward sought to gain
time for the new Administration, and re~
fused to see or acknowledge them officials
ly, ETC., but still lured them to remain.
At last they dispatched to the Executive
OF their State belief in the utter hope
lessness of peaceful solution, and an
nounced their purpose to leave the CAPT,
tai. This resolve was not executed,
simply because Judge Campbell was au>
thOrized to say that if their departure
was delayed results might be obtained |
they little hoped for. On this hint they
fingered, but only to be disappointed, |
and then they took their departure.
If the reader has noticed the overture
OF Judge Campbell to delay the commits
sioners, he will suppose that gentleman
had some ground for his opinion, and had
reasonable assurance that happy issue |
in his judgment, would grow out Of the
delay ne craved. What these grounds
and assurances were can only be con-
jectured but they must have proceeded
from high official sources and, viewed
IN the light of what am about to say,
and which is true as demonstration,
makes conjecture reality.
Shortly after the breaking off Of effort
to avert the dire catastrophe of war a
gentleman having free access to the pri-
vate office of President Lincoln repaired
to the capital of South Carolina and de-
posted with high official of that State
a manuscript proclamation by President
Lincoln, duly prepared and ready for his
announcing to the American
people that, rather than plunge the
country in civil war, the executive gov>
eminent Of the United States acquieSced
in the Acknowledgement of the Union.
With this was column editorial, in slip
form, with corrections, supposed to be
MIR. Lincoln's, reciting freely the words
Of the instrument, indicating the Ex>
ecutive act, and challenging for it the
approval of the American people.
This is my statement Of the missing
record. That it was not issued was due
to the intense feeling evolved by the
firing on the Star of the West.
A few questions, and have done
l. Was the knowledge Of the pre-
paratiOn Of this document the foundation
Of the request of Judge Campbell that
the commissioners should net depart24
,. Does the State Department pre-
serve evidence Of the existence Of this
paper or has all trace disappeared, save
only in the mind Of the Secretary?
). Who prepared the editorial de>
fence Of the proposed proclamation?
/ will not defy contradiction of the
statement herein made, but from per-
Sonal inspection of both documents, and
certain remarks inherent in the second, |
affirm their gennineness as confidently
Is belief in the existence Of my being.
Yours. PACoLET.