Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-11-06
Mr.. Lincoln on Emancipation.

The installment of the biography OF
Abraham Lincoln, by J. G.. Nicola and
John Hay, his private secretaries, in the
October number of the Century presents
Mr.. Lincoln's views upon emancipation
its objects and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that
must prove very interesting to persons who
labor under the delusion that emancipa
ton, at the time his celebrated proclama-
ton vas issned, lad any interest for Mr..
Lincoln otherwise than as a means of in
viting the slaves of the South to aid in the
overthrow of the Confederate States gov
eminent, Emancipation, it is shown, was
in Mr.. Lincoln's view simply a war
measure. That is to say, it was hoped that
the promise of freedom would cause the
negro as to take up arms, create anarchy in
the resr of the Confederate armies. draw
troops from the front and thus assist ma
terially in the military problem, the solu-
ton of which appeared in 1858 to be very
remote. As phllan;hropic measure he
had, it is clear, no interest il il whatever,
and as political measure he disapproved
of it as unconstitutional and inexpedient.-
The subject is presented by Nlcolay aud
Hay 10 connection with the famous ''peace
conference" on February 3, 1866, at Fort
Monroe. between Mr.. Lincoln and the
com missioners appointed by Mr.. Davis
At the suggestion of Mr.. F. T. Blair, a
conference was assented to by the Con-
federate Executive with a view to secure
peace to the two countries.n Dir. Lincoln
ON the other hand, assented to it with the
view of securing peace to the people of our
one common country u The use in the
correspondence that led to the conference
OF the expressions stwo countries" aud
zone common country" indicated before
hand that the negotiation must be without
result. There was evidently no concession
by either party of basis upon which any
compromise could be effected. The con.
ference is interesting, nevertheless, hy
reason IF the language used at it by Mr..
GiocJn In regafd-to emancipation. When
be said to the Confederate commissioners
til It peRoe could be restored by tt Sou b.
cru States laying down their arms and re-
ar;i!ag 10 cir places in the Union the
latter cited his emancipation proclamation,
he division of Virginia, &c, as obs aeles
IN = resto; alton of the status ono ante.-
F!,ereupnn Mr.. Lincoln replied substan-
italy that in his opinion the prcelimation.
having been war measure, would be iu-
operative after peace was made. 1t would
APPLY ouiy to such slav. as had came
under its operation during the war and
wOlid not free others. at was not his iu
te:,.iru," he added, in the beginning to
interfere with slavery in the States; he
would never have doue it if he had not
Leen compelled by necessity to do it to
main "A IL the Union; he bad always himself
bee,. in favor # emancip. torj bur not im-
Ined ae emancipation, even ~ the States"
He said farther, according to Messrs.
N'cnlsy and Hay, that IN would be- will
ing 10 be taxed to remunerate the Southern
people for their slav,s. He believed toe
pea,,,e CT the North as responsible for
slavery as tnR pee,le o. the South, and If
the gsr should then cease. With tue Enlsn-
taiy shnli,i9n of slavery by the States. he
should, Individuality, be In favor of the
govaremen' paying fair indemnity for the
loss to he owners" The disposition to
reu.urera slave owners NJ. Lincoln
stated, vas extensive in the North. 81
KIN e." be said, ''of psgssRs in favor of an
appropriation az high "a $500. GEO, 600 for
this purpose" Clearly Mr.. Lincoln has
beer grossly misrepreseDted oy many of his
ere fsssed admirers. He had sentiments of
Justice and feelinss Of patriotism they have
hos been altogether able to riss to. His
views upon emancipation were clearly DIFF
fesent froG those which it in customary to
attribute to him Baltimore Sun.
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