The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-01-16
POWER OF THE PEN.
s. III e
First Authentic Account Of the Issuing
E'Ff Of the lmmaAeiPgti9n
e Efzt PfeelaEa tisn. III

| FROM E1e1Q6 SAfmOIle3 OF Many Men
and Some Women
Mr.. Seward told me the story Of
Emancipation proclamation, and,
as he related it, it was strikingly
illustrative of this characteristic
of Mr.. Lincoln. Months before it
was issued it was the subject OF
constant discussion at the meet
ing of the cabinet. Day after day
the most acrimonious debates took
place in relation to the propriety
or improperly of the President is
suing such a proclamation. AL
though an attentive listener to
these discussions of his secretar-
les, Mr.. Lincoln did not take an
active part in them. So much
was this the case that several, at
least, of his advisors were very un-
certain as to what his ultimate de-
termination on this subject would
be. So bitter did the controversy
grow that it resulted, after a time,
not only in a breach of personal,
and, to some extent, even official,
relations between certain of the
cabinet officers, but eventually
even in a prolonged dIscontinu-
ance OF cabinet meetings. Dur
ing the interegnum matters which
had been usually discussed and dis
posed of at such meetings had to
be settled by the inter-depart-
mental correspondence. One Of
the other Secretaries, with the OBJ
vious purpose OF annoying-I use
a mild word.-Mr. Chase, address
ed several very important official
communications directly to NE,
ignoring the head OF the depart
ment. This condition of things
lasted until Mr.. Seward received |
an autographs letter from the
President requesting him to attend |
without fail, meeting of the Cab
met which he proposed to hold on
the morrow. All the other Secre-
taries received similar letters, and
not one of them knew or entertain
ed any confident conjecture about
the particular purpose for which
they were called together. At the
appointed time, Mr.. Lincoln, wait
ed until they were all assembled,
having been usually reticent to
the first Corners. He then ad-
dressed them somewhat as follows:
Gentlemen, 1 have asked you to
come here that may have the OPP
portunity of reading to you a pro-
clamation which / am about to is
sue. Before proceeding to read it,
however, desire to say that not
only do not invite any discus
sion about the propriety or impro-
priety of its issue, but that 1 am
unwilling to listen to any. My
mind is made up. On the contrary,
as to matters of form, wish you
all to m AXE any suggestions that
may occurr to you" He then
drew from his pocket a manu-
script, and to the amazement of
some, if not of all there assembled,
proceeded to read the emmanclpa-
ton proclamation. When he had
for awhile nobody spoke.
Mr.. Seward was the first to break
the silence, and to recommend q
verbal alienation. Mr.. Lincoln
adobted it without q word of OBJ
lection. Other gentlemen suggest
ed further changes. Mr.. Lincoln
accepted them all without discus
sion. When nobody had any
more suggestions to make the
meeting broke up, and the minis
tiers soon dispersed. The next
day the emancipation from slavery
of 100000, of human beings in
the United States was published
to the world. Mr.. Lincoln had
waited until the people were ripe
for it; and what he had first look
ed upon as inopportune, he at last
as expedient and neces-
sary.