Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-05-06
THE GAZETTE
CEDAR FALLS, MAY 6, 1870.
Fresh "Reminiscences by ur. Carpen-
ter.

Fresh "Reminiscences by 1Tr. Carpen-
ter. -.-a
The Indianapolis Journal contains
the following contributions from Mr..
Carpenter, the artist: rs
'Mr. Chase told me that at the
Cabinet meeting Immediately after
the battle of Antietam, and just pri-
or to tile issue of the September proc
lamation, the President entered upon
the business before them by saying
that the time for the annunciation of
the emancipation policy could be no
longer delayed. Public sentiment
he thought, would sustain it many
of his warmest friends and support
crs demanded it-and he had prom
ised his God that he would do it,
The last part of this was uttered i'm q
low tone, and appeared to be heard
by nc one but Secretary Chase, who
was sitting near him. He asked the
President If he correctly understood
him. Mr.. Lincoln replied: Il made
a solemn vow before God that If Gem
eral Lee wes driven back from Penn
sylvania, | woald crown the result
by the declaration Of freedom to the
slaves
when informed that certain min
listers In Springfield would not vote
for him, he drew forth pocket New
Testament, and said: These men
will know that l am for freedom i'm
the Territories, freedom everywhere,
as free as the Constitution and laws
will permit, and that my opponents
are for slavery. They know this;
and yet, with this book in their
hands, in the light of which human
bondage cannot live a moment, they
are going to vote against me; do
not understand IL ut ALL
"Mr. Lincoln paused-paused for
long minutes-his features surcharg-
ed with emotion. Then he rose and
walked up and down the reception
room In the effort to retain or regain
his self-possession. Stopping at last,
he said, with trembling voice, and
his cheek wet with tears: Il know
there is God, and that He hates IN
justice and slavery. l see the storm
coming, and l know that HIS hand
is in it. If He has place and work
for me-and l think He has be-
lieve am ready. / am nothing, but
truth Is everything. l know that
am right, because / know that liber-
ty Is right; for Christ teaches 1t. and
Christ is God. i have told them
that q house divided against itself
cannot stand and Christ and reason
say the same, and they will find IL SO.
Douglas didn't care whether slavery
was voted up or down, but God cares,
and humanity cares, and | caro-, and
with Gods help | shall not fail. |
may not see the end; but il will
come, and | shall be vihdicated; and
these men will find that they have
not used their Bibles right
"Much of this was uttered as If he
was speaking to himself, aud with a
sad, earnest solemnity of manner
impossible to be described. After a
pause, be resumed: Does il not ap-
pear strange that man can ignore the
moral aspect of this contest? A rev.
citation could not make IL palmer to
me than that slavery or the govern
ment must be destroyed? The fu-
ture would be something awful, as |
look at it, but for this rock on which
/ stand (alluding to the New Testa-
meht which he still held i'm his HANDY.
especially with knowledge of how
these ministers are going to vote. 1t
set ms as If God had borne with this
thing slavery until the very teach
ers of religion had come to defend il
from the Bible, aud claim for il q ui-
vine character and sanction, and now
the cup of inlGuity is full and the
Vlals OF wrath will be poured OUT"