The Portland daily press., 1874-04-13

nave nav thought all along that the time for act
ing ing on 1t might probably come l think the
., ,iie mas come now. wish it was q better
.itne. .i wish that we were in a better condi-
.,on. Inc action cfthe army against the reb-
s I;I.aa naS hot Deen quite what Ishould have best
Nv ana s Dus lucy nave been driven out OF Ma.
ty.an9, ana pennsylvania is no longer in dan
ger OF invasion. When the rebei arm NO.
a. riederick l determined, as soon az II
snouid be driven out Of WarvIard
" issue pro, o,lamation of enamel.
pauon, sucn as l though most likely
.S ~ oe uselui. l sald nothing to any one, but /
made promise to myself and (hesItating a
littlel to my Maker. The rebel army is now
driven out, and l am going to fulfill that
promise. | have got you together to hear
what l have written down. 1 do not wish
your advice about the main matter, for that
have determined tor myself This say with
out intending anything but respect for any
one of you. But already know the views
of each on this question. They have been
heretofore expressed, and l have considered
them as thoroughly and carefully as l can.
What have written is that which my re-
hections have determined me to say. If there
Is anything in the expression use or in any
minor matter which any one of you thinks
had best be changed, 1 shall be glad to re-
ceive the suggestions. One other observa-
tloh VIII make. l know very we'll that
O."SiS miSuI, III tnlS matter as IN Otn-
ers, 40 better than 1 can; and if was salts
ned that the public confidence was moie fully
possessed py any one of them than by me, and
knew Of any constitutional way in which he
could pc put IN my place, he should have il.
l would gladly yield it to him. But, though
l believe that have not so much of the con-
hdence OF the people as / had some time
since, do not know that, all things consider
ed, any other person has more; and, however
this may be, there is no way in which 1 can
have any other man put where I am. l am
here. must do the best can, and bear the
responsibility of taking the course which /
feel ought to take.
The president then proceeded to read his
emancipation proclamation, making remarks
on the several parts as he went on, and show
ing that ne had fully considered the subject i'll
all the lights under which it had been present.
ed to him.
After he had closed, Gov. Seward said
"The general question having been decided,
nothing can be said further about that.
Would it not, however, make the proclama-
tion more clear and decided to leave out all
reference to the act being sustained during
the incumbency of the present president;
and not merely say that the government
recognizes but that i: will maintain tie
freedom it proclaius?'
followed, saying: -"What you have said,
Mr.. President, fully satisfies me that you
have given 10 every proposition which has
been made kind and candid consideration.
And you have now expressed the conclusion
10 which you have arrived clearly and dis
tinctly. This it was your right, and, under
your oath OF office, your duty to do. The
proclamation does not, indeed, mark out the
course would myself prefer; but am ready
TO take 1t just as it is written and to stand by
it with al my heart. / think, however, the
suggestions of Governor Seward very judi
cious, land shall beglad to have them adopted"
The president then asked us severally our
opinions as to the modification proposed, say
ing that he did not care much about the
phrases he had used. Every one favored the
notifications, and it was adopted. Gov.
Seward then proposed that in the passage re
iating to colonization some language should
be introduced to show that the colonization
proposed was TO be only with the consent of
the colonists, and the consent of the states in
which the colonies might be attempted. This.
| too, was agreed to; and no other modification
| was proposed. Mr. Blair then said that the
| question having been decided he would make
| no objection TO issuing the proclamation but
| he would ask to have his paper, presented some
| days since, against the policy, filed with the
| proclaim alton. The president consented to this
| readily. And then Mr.. Blair went on to say
| that he was afraid of the influence OF the
| proclamation ON the border states and on the
army, and, stated, at some length, the ground
Of his apprehensions. He disclaimed most
expressly, however, all objections to emanci
patton per Sc, saying he had always been per
sonally in favor of it-always ready for i'm
mediate emancipation in the midst OF slave
states, rather than submit to the perpetuation
| of the system.