The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-24

,nc wnrcn ACT ana the Joint resolution et-
rIanatory thereof are herewith published, 1.
Abraham Lincoln, presiden, OF the onitea
States, do hereby proclaim to and warn
persons within the contemplation OF said
sixth lection to cease participating m, aid
Ing, coantenancing or abcttng the existing
rebellion. or any rebellion against the gov
eminent of the United States, and 20 return
to their proper allegiance 70 tue Cnitsu
States. on pain OF the forfeitures ana selzufe.'
rs within and by said sixth section pfovioeh
"And / hereby make known int IL Is my
purpose. upon the next mseting OF congress.
to again recommend tie adoption Of q prae'
teal measure for rendering pecuniary oid 70
tic free choice OF rejection Of any and al
states. which MAJ then b. recognizing ana
practically sustaining the authority Oh the
United States. and which ma then have vol
unfairly adopted, or thereafter may yoiun-
tarily adopt, CraduL adjustment Of slavery
Within such state or states; that the obJsc1 y
to practically restore, theuceforward 70 he
maintained, the constitutional relation D'-
tween the general government and eacn ana
al the states wherein that relation Is NO"
suspended or disturbed; and that Tor TINS 90
iect the war, ns it has been, will he prose
ruted And rs q iit and necessary military
measure for eiIecting this object, !, as com
mander-in-chief Of the army and navy Of the
United States. do order and declare That OF
tho first day OF January, IN the year Ok our
Lord one thousand eight hundred ana sixty
three, all persons held rs slaves within any
state or states wherein the constitutional
authority OF the United States shall not then
he practically recognized, submitted 70 ond
maintained, shall then, thenceicTward anc
forever be free"
OF the cabinet proceedings which followed
the reading Of this noncntOus document we
have unfortunately only very briet memo
randa. Every member OF the council was,
We may infer. bcwildereI by the magnitude
and boldncss OF tue proposal. The sudden
consideration OF this critical question reveals
- Us with vividnoss tho difference IN mental
reach. readiness and decision between the
president and bis constitutional advisers
Only two Of the number gave the measure
their Uiresc7yed concurrence, even after
discussion. Il il strange that one OF these
was the CAUTIOUS attorney general, the rep
r.sontativc OF the conservative fac-ion Of the
slave holding state Of Missouri. and tnat the
member who opposed tpe measure os q whole,
and proposed TO achieve the result indirectly
through the scattered and divided action Of
local commanders ia military departments,
was tho onti-slavoIy secretary of the treas
ury. slr Cha-e, representing perhaps more
nearly than any other tho abolition faction
ot the free state Of Ohio All were aston
ished except the two 20 whom it had been
mentioned a week before. Some Of the others
lad oven considered such q step But from
The mind AMI Will oi President Lincoln the
determination and announcement % bis
cabinet came almost as complete IN form ana
certain ia intention on that memorable Tues
day Of July as when, TWO months later i- was
given TO the public, or as officially proclaimed
on the succeeding New Years day. an ire
vocable executive act Century.