San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-17
LINcoLN,s PROCLAMATION.
Original Draft of the Document Declar
ing the Slaves Free.

Original Draft of the Document Declar-
ing the Slaves Free.
Further conference (by the cabinet was
held on organizing negro regiments, but
Lincoln decided that the moment had not yet
arrived when this policy could be safely
entered upon. Writes Chase: "The i'm
preston left upon my mind by the whole dis
cussion was that while the president thought
that the organization, equipment and arm
ing Of negroes like other soldiers would be
productive of more evil than good, he was
not unwilling that commanders 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 q decision which
appears to have been In advance of the views
of his entire cabinet Probably, greatly to
their surprise, he read to them the following
draft of a proclamation warning the rebels OF
the pains and penalties Of the confscatiop
act, and while renewing his tender
Of compensation to loyal states which
would adopt gradual adjustment add
ing summary military order, as
commander-in-chief. declaring free the
slaves of all states which might be in rebel.
lion on Jan. l, 1868" The text of this first
draft Of the Emancipation proclamation Is
here printed for the first time; "ln pursu-
ance Of the sixth section Of the act Of con-
gress entitled An act to suppress insured
ton and to punish treason and rebellion, to
seize and confiscate property Of rebels, and
for other purposes, approved July IL, 1862,
and which act and the joint resolution ex-
planatory thereof are herewith published, l,
Abraham Lincoln, president of the United
States, do hereby proclaim to and warn all
persons within the contemplation OF said
sixth section to cease participating In, aid.
ing, countenancing or abetting the existing
rebellion, or any rebellion against the gov
eminent 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 provided.
And hereby make known that it is my
purpose, upon the next meeting of congress,
to again recommend the adoption of prac
tcal measure for rendering pecuniary aid to
the free choice or rejection of any and all
states, which may then be recognizing and
practically sustaining the authority Of the
United States, and which may then have vol
UNFAIRLY adopted, or thereafter may volun-
tarly adopt, gradual adjustment Of slavery
within such state or states; that the object is
to practically restore, thenceforward to be
maintained, the constitutional relation be-
tween the general government and each and
all the states wherein that relation is now
suspended or disturbed; and that for this OBJ
ject the war, as it has been, will be prose-
cuted And as a fit and necessary military
measure for effecting this object, |, as com
mander-in-chief of the army and navy Of the
United States, do order and declare that on
FhaA rct loty ~ t,,t nf mr.
Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty
three, all persons held as slaves within any
state or states wherein the constitutional
authority of the United States shall not then
be practically recognized, submitted to and
maintained, shall then, thenceforward and
forever be free"
OF the cabinet proceedings which followed
the reading of this momentous document we
have unfortunately only very brief memo
fanda. Every member Of the council was,
we may infer. bewildered by the magnitude
and boldness Of the proposal The sudden
consideration Of this critical question reveals
10 US with vividness the difference in mental
reach, readiness and decision between the
president and his constitutional advisers.
Only two of the number gave the measure
their unreserved concurrence, even after
discussion 1t is strange that one OF these
was the cautious attorney general, the rep
resentative Of the conservative factiCn Of the
slave holding state of Missouri, and that the
member who opposed the measure as whole,
and proposed to achieve the result indirectly
through the scattered and divided action Of
local commanders in military departments,
was the anti-slavery secretary Of the treas
ury, Mr.. Chase, representing perhaps more
nearly than any other the abolition faction
of the free state of Ohio. All were aston
ished except the two to whom it had beer
mentioned a week before. None of the others
had even considered such a STEP But from
the mind and will Of President Lincoln the
determination and announcement to his
cabinet came almost as complete in form and
certain in intention on that memorable Tues
day of July as when, two months later, it was
given to the public, or as officially proclaimed
on the succeeding New Years day, an ire
vocable executive act.-Century.