The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-04-28
The Emancipation Proclamation.

Warden, will contain the following extract
from Mr.. Cbase's diary, date Of Septem-
Der 22nd, 1862 -
All the members Of the cabinet were in
attendance. There was some general
talk, and the president mentioned that
Artemus Ward had sent him his new
book, Proposed to read chapter which
he thought very funny. Read it, and
seemed to crjoy it very much the heads
also Except Stantonl, OF caurse. The
chapter was High Handed Outrage at
Utica" The president then took
graver tone, and said -
"Gentenen, have, as you are aware,
thought great deal about the relation Of
this war to slavery, and you all remember
that, several weeks ago, 1 read to you an
order had prepared upon the subject,
which, on account Of objections made by
some of you, was not issued. Ever since
then my mind has been much occupied
with this subject, and have thought all
along that the time for acting on it might
probably come. | think the time has
come now. wish it was q better time.
| wish that we were in better condition.
The action of the army against the rebels
has not been quite what | should have
best liked But they have been driven
out of Maryland, and Pennsylvania is no
longer in danger Of invasion When the
rebel army was at Frederick | determin.
ed, as soon as it should be driven out of
"a oiora of nj
emancipation, such as | thought most
likely to be useful said nothing to
any one, but made promise to myself
and (hesitatiug a little) to my Maker
The rebel army is now driven out, and |
am going to fulfill that promise. have
got you together to hear what have
written down ! do not wish your adj.
vice about the main matter, for that |
have determined for myself. This | say
without intending anything bnt respect
for any one of you But already know
the views Of each on this question. They
have been heretofore expressed, and
have considered them as thoroughly and
carefully as | can What have writ.
ten is that which my reflections have de.
tcrmincd me to say. It there is anything
in the expression use or in any minor
matter which any one of you thinks had
best be changed, shall be glad to receive
the suggestions One other observation
will make. know very well that
many others might, in this matter as in
others, do better than can and if was
satisfied that the public confidence was
more fully possessed by any one OF them
than by me, and knew Of any constitu-
tional way in which he could be put in
my place, he should have it. would
gladly yield it to him Bat, thuogh |
believe that have not so much Of the
confidence Of the people as | had some
time since, do not know that, all things
considered, any other person has more
and, however this may be, there is no
way in which | can have any other man
put where | am 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
the EN- ancipation, proclamation, making re.
marks on the several parts as he went on
. and showing that he had fully considered
the subject in all the lights under which
it had been presented to him.
After he had closed, Gov Seward said
The general question having been decid
ed. nothing can be said further about
that Would it not, however, make the
proclamation more clear and decided tc
leave out all reference to the act being
sustained during the incumbency Of the
present president and not merely say
tina. the government recognizes, bu,
that it will maintain the freedom il
proclaims ?"
| followed saying :-"What you have
said, Mr.. President, fully satisfies me that
you have given to every proposition which
has been made kind ard candid consid
Grafton. And you have now expressed
the conclusion 20 which you have arrived
clearly and distinctly. This it was your
right, and, under your oath of office, your
duty to do, The proclamation does not
indeed, mark out tho course would my
self prefer, but | am ready to take il
Just as it is written and to stand by il
with all my heart | think, however
the suggestions of Governor Seward very
judicious, and shall be glad to have then
adopted
The president then asked us severally
our opinions rs to the notifications pro
posed, saying that he did not care much
about the phrases he had used. Every
one favored the notifications, and it wa,
adopted Gov. Seward then proposed
that in the passage relating to colonization
some language should be introduced tC
show that the colonization proposed wai
to be only with the consent of the colon
lists, and the consent of the states il
which the colonies might be attempted
This too, was agreed to and no othel
!, modification was proposed Mr.. Blail
then said that the question having beer
decided he would make no objection tC
. issuing the proclamation but he would
/, ask to have his paper, presented some
days since. against the policy filed with
the proclamation. The president con
E sented to this readily, And then Mr.
Blair went on to say that he was afraiC
of the influence Of the proclamation OIL
the border states and on the army, anC
stated, at some length, the ground of hi
I apprehensions. He disclaimed most ex
n pressly, however, all objections to eman
/ cipation per Sc, saying he had Away
been personally in favor of it-alway
ready for immediate emancipation 10 tn,
Q midst of slave states, rather than submi
:. to the perpstrsticn Of the system,