Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24

even for the smallest q aantlty, buy all
these seeds rather than attempt to save
them. used to tinker great deal with
timothy seed, but l came to the conclu
sion that on the cheap lands of the West
they could underbiG me.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
The Text Printed for the First Time in the
December Century.
The Nicoiay and Hay life of Lincoln
in the December Century gives an &C
count of the first sketch of the emanci-
patton proclamation, the original draft
being here printed for the first time. A
cabinet meeting was held July %, 1862;
concerning this meeting we quote as fol
lows: Furt.er conference was had on
organizing negro regiments, but Lincoln
decided that the moment had not yet ar
rived when this policy could be safely
entered upon. Writes Chase: "The i'm
preston left upon my mind by the whole
discussion was, that while the president
| thought that the organization, equipment
and armlng of negroes like other soldiers
would be productive of more evil than
good, he was not unwilling that com
manders should, at their discretion, arm,
for purely defensive purposes, slaves
coming within their lines" But on the
kindred policy of emancipation the
| president had reached a decision which
| appears TO have been in advance of the
views of his entire cabinet. Probably
| realty to their surprise, he read to them
the following draft of a proclamation
warning the rebels of the pains and pen
alties of the confiscation act, and while
renewing his tender of compensation to
| loyal states which would adopt gradual
abOlishment, adding a summary military
order, as commander in chief, declaring
| free the slaves of all states which might
| be in rebellion on January /, 1863. The
| text Of this first draft of the emancip pa.
tioA proclamation is here printed for the
| first time.
In Pursuance of the sixth section of
the act of congress entitled: Gan act to
suppress insurrectiOn sno TO punish
| treason and rebellion, to seize and con-
fiscate property of rebels, and for other
purposes" approved July II, 1862, and
which act and the joint resolution ex
planatory thereof are herewith publish
ed, I, Abraham Lincoln, president of
the United States, do hereby proclaim to
and warn all persons within the contem-
p)ation of sad sixth section to cease
or abetting the existing rebellion, or any
rebellion against the government OF the
United States, and to return to their
proper allegiance to the United States,
on pain of the forfeitures and seizures,
as within and by said sixth section pro-
vided.
And hereby make known that it is my
purpose, upon the next meeting of con-
gress, to again recommend the adoption
of a practical measure for rendering pc
cuniary aid TO the free choice or rejection
of any and ell states, which may then be
recognizing and practically sustaining
the authority of the United States, and
which may then have voluntarily adopted
or thereafter may voluntarily adopt
gradual abolition of slavery within such
state or states; that the object is to
practically restore, thenceforward to be
maintained, the constitutional relations
between the general government and
each and all the states wherein that Iela-
ton is now suspended or disturbed; and
that for this object the war, as it has
been, will be prosecuted. And as fit
AID military measure for effeotlng this
object, L, as Communicating chief of the
armies and navy of the United States, do
order and declare that on the first day of
January In the year one thousand eight
hundred and sixty three, all persons held
as slaves within any state or states where
in the constitutional authority of the
United States shall not then be practical
ly recognized, submitted to and main
tanned, shall then, thenceforward and
forever be free.
Of the cabinet proceedings which fol-
lowed the reading of this momentous
document we have unfortunately only
very brief memoranda. Every member
of the council was, we may infer, be-
wildered by the magnitude and boloness
of the proposal. The sudden considera-
ton of this critical question reveals to Us
with vlTldness the difference in mental
reach, readiness and decision between
the president and the constitutional ad-
visers. Only two of the number gave
the measure their unreserved concur
renee. even after discussion. 1t Is strange |
that one of these was the cautious at |
torney general. the representative of the |
conservative faction of the slave-holding |
state Missouri, and that the member, who |
opposed the measure as whole, and pro- |
posed TO achieve tbs result indirectly |
through the scattered and divided action |
OF local commanders In military depart |
the treasury, Mr.. Chase, representing /
perhaps more nearly than any other the
faction of the free state of Ohio. All |
We're astonisned except the two to whom
it had been mentioned week before
None of the others had even considered |
such step. But from the mind and will |
of President Lincoln the determi n alton
and announcement to his cabinet came
almost as complete in form and certain
IN intention on that memorable Tuesday |
of July as when two months later, it was
given The public, or as officially pro
claim d on the succeeding New ears
day, al lfreVOc4bIe executive act.
The New York Grant monument contest
has closed. SKY designs were received
The priz4s are of 81 500, $1,000, $500
$500 and 5000.
The landtag Was openeo yesterday Inc
emperor declared all the foreign relations
of the country friendly and the financial
condition satisfactory.