National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-09
SALMON p. CHASE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF
- Ia flIIIRE IIIcnIlE

SALMON p CHASE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF Til
LATE CHIEF JUSTICE.
The forthcoming "Life of Chief Justic
Chase, by R. B. Warden, which VIII be pub
lished in . few days by Wflstaeh, Baldwin
Co, Of Cincinnati, gives come very remarkable
extracts from Mr.. Chase's diaries Mr.. Chas,
began keeping = diary when he went to Wash
ington to become ateacher, soon after gradual
ing from yarmouth college. This work ht
continued throughout his long and active life
and while he was member of Mr.. LINCOLN.
Cabinet the record Is particularly full.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
This is Mr.. Chase's account of the Cabinet
meeting at which the proclamation Of eman-
cipation was adopted:
MONDAY September %, 1S62.
To department about nine. State Depart
ment messenger came with notice to heads OF
departments to meet at twelve. Received
sundry callers. Went to the White HOUSE.
All the members Of the Cabinet were in at
tendance. There was some general talk, and
the President mentioned that Artemus Ward
had sent him his book Proposed to read a
chapter which he thought very funny. Read
it, and seemed to enjoy It very much; the heads
also Except Stanton ~ of course. The chapter
was "High-Hsnded Outrage at Utica"
The President then took q grayer tone, and
said:
Gentlemen, 1 have, as you are aware,
thought great deal about the relation of this
war to slavery, and you all remember that,
several weeks ago, read to you an order had
prepared upon the subject, which, on account
of objections made by some of you, was not is
sued. Ever since then my mind has been
much occupied with this subject, and have
thought all along that the time for acting on
1t might probably come. think the time has
come now. I wish it was a better time. 1
wish that we were in a 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 inva-
sion. When the rebel army was at Frederick
determined, as soon as it should be driven
out of Maryland, to issue a proclamation of
emancipation, such as l thought most likely
to be useful. said nothing to any one, but /
made a promise to myself and (hesitating a
little) to my Maker. The rebel army is now
driven out, and I am going to fulfil that
promise. I have got you together to hear what
1 have written down. do not wish your ad-
vice about the main matter; for that 1 have
determined for myself. This say without in
tending anything but respect for any one of
you. But l already know the views of each on
this question. They have been heretofore ex-
pressed, and have considered them as thor
oughly and carefully as l can. What I have
written is that which my reflections have de-
termined me to say. If there is anything in
the expressions use. or in any minor matter
which any one of you thinks had best be
changed, shall be glad to receive the sugges-
lions.
some other observation will make. know
very well that many others might, in this mat
ter as in others, do better than I 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 constitutional way in
which he could be put in my place. he should
have it. would gladly yield it to him. But,
though believe that I have not so much of
the confidence Of the people as have had some
time since, do not know that, all things con-
sidered, any other person has more; and, how
ever, this may be, there Is no way in which
can have any other man put where 1 am. 1 am
here. 1 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 showing that he had fully considered the
subject in all the lights under which it had
been presented to him.
Altar he had closed, Governor Seward said:
"The general question having been decided,
nothing can be said further about that.
Would It not, however, make the proclama-
ton more clear and decided to leave out all ref
erence to the act being sustained during the
incUmbency of the present President, and not
merely say that the Government recognizes,
but that it will maintain the freedom it pro-
claims!"
followed, saying: "What you have said,
Mr.. President, fully satisfies me that you have
given to every proposition which has been
made kind and candid consideration. And
you have now expressed the conclusion to
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 hot, indeed, mark out the course l would
myself prefer; but am ready to take it just as
it is written and to stand by it with all my
heart. 1 think, however, the suggestions OF
Governor Seward very judicious, and shall be
glad TO have them adopted"
The President then asked US severally our
opinions as to the notifications proposed, say
ing that he did not care much about the phrases
he had used. Every one favored the mOdifea-
ton, and 1t was adopted. Governor Seward
then proposed that in the passage relating to
colonization some language should be intro
duced 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 col
onies might be attempted. This, too, was
agreed to; and no other modification was pro
posed. Mr.. Blair then said that the question
having been decided lie would make no objec-
ton to issuing the proclamation; but he would
ask to have his paper, presented some days
since, against the policy, filed with the procla-
nation.
The President consented to this readily. And
then Mr.. Blair went on to say that he was
Al H..
the border States and on the army, and stated,
at some length, the grounds Of his appre.
tensions. He disclaimed most expressly, how
ever, all objections to emancipation per Sc, say.
ing he had always been personally in favor oil
Railways ready for immediate emancipation
IN the midst of slave States, rather than sub
NIT to the perpetuation Of the system.