Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-08
From the Washington Express.
Missing clamation-Startlfng Dis
closure

closure.
The communication which we print be-
low contains a most remarkable statement,
which cannot fail to create a marked SEN
sation. The writer of it is we'll known to
and esteemed by us, and we have every
confidence in the reliability of his state
ments
The New York Sun ventilates a state
ment by E. A. Pollard of the secret exis-
tence Of confidential records of the Con-
federate government. That this is so may
be readily believed, and that they will ulti-
mately be discovered is equally probable.
But this mere statement and belief is not
my purpose L desire to call attention to
other missing records from the archives
of the government of the United States !;
or, 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 statement I 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.
It will be remembered that on the inau
guration of Mr.. Lincoln South Carolina
deputed three commissioners to negotiate
Ito be concise) terms of separation and
settle up the business of the partnership,
u.
course, Mr.. Seward sought to gain time
for the new administration, and refused to
see or acknowledge them officially, &C.,
but still lured them to remain. At last
they dispatched to the Executive of their
State belief in the utter hopelessness of
peaceful solution, and announced their
purpose to leave the capital. This resolve
was not executed, simply because Judge
Campbell was authorized 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 de-
parture
Shortly after the breaking off of the
effort to avert the dire catastrophe of war
gentleman having free access to the
private 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
signature, announcing to the American
people that rather than plunge the country
in civil war, the Executive Government of
the United States acquiesced in the dis
memberment of the Union. With this was
a column editorial, in slip form, with cor
rections, supposed to be Mr.. Lincoln g,
reciting freely the words of the instrument,
vindicating the Executive act, and chal-
longing 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.
If the reader has noticed the overture of
Judge Campbell to delay the commission
ers, he will suppose that gentleman had
some ground for his opinion, and had
reasonable assurances that happy issue,
in his judgment, would grow out of the
delay he craved. What those grounds and
assurances were can only be conjectured +;
but they must have proceeded from high
official sources and, viewed in the light
of what I am about to say, and which is
true as demonstration, makes conjecture
reality.
A few questions, and I have done
1st. Was the knowledge of the prepara-
ton C this document the foundation Of
the request of Judge Campbell that the
commissioners should not depart
Cd. Does the State Department preserve
evidence Of the existence of this paper, or
has all trace disappeared, save only in the
mind of the Secretary
Sd. Who prepared the editorial defence
of the proposed proclamation
[ will not defy contradiction of the state
ment herein made, but from personal in
spection of both documents, and certain
-earmarks inherent in the second, affirm
their genuineness as confidently as belief
in the existence Of my being.
Yours, PACoLET.