The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-27

How Lincoln Was Brought to the
Point of Freeing the Slaves.
New York Mail and Express

New York Mail and Express.
1t was in the closing days of September.
1862 that Abraham Lincoln formally an
nCunced that on the Jan. l following he
would declare all slaves free in the States
then in rebellion against the United States.
To Frank b. Carpenter, the artist, Lincoln
gave a very interesting account of the man.
ner in which he prepared and submitted
to the Cabinet the IMMORTAL proclamation.
1T had got to be-" he said, midsummer,
1862 Things had gone on from bad to
worse, until felt that we had reached the
end of the rope on the plan of operations
we had been pursuing; that we had about
played our last card, and must change our
tactics or lose the game. | now determines 1aei
policy, and, without consultation with, or
the knowledge of the Cabinet, | prepared
the original draft of a proclamation; and,
after much anxious thought, called Cabi-
net meeting upon the subject. This was
the last of July. or the first part of the
month of August, 1862 This Cabinet meet
ing took place, | think, upon Saturday.
All were present excepting Mr.. Blair, the
postmaster general, who was absent at the
opening Of the discussion, but came IN sub
sequently. / said to the Cabinet that had
resolved upon this STEP and had not called
them together to ask their advice, but 10
Law the subject matter of a proclamation
before them; suggestions as to which would
be in order, after they had heard 1t read.
rotary Chase wished the language stronger
in reference to the arming of the blacks.
Mr.: Blair. after he came IN, deprecated t the
policy ON the ground that it would cost the
administration the fall elections Nothing,
however was offered that had not already
anticipated and settled IN my own ninu,
Mr. President, I approve Of the proclana-
tion but / question the expediency OF It's IS
sue at this 1uncture The depression of the
public mind consequent upon our repeated
reverses, Is so great that fear the erect
of so important step: IT may be viewed
as the last measure of an exhausted gov
ernment-a cry for help; the government
stretching forth it's hands to Ethiopia in
stead Of Ethiopia stretching forth ner hands
10 he pVf His idea that IL
would be considered our last shrek on
the retreat. Now continued MIR. Seward,
while I approve the measure, suggest, SIT,
that YOU postpone it's issue until you can
give it to the country supported by military
success instead of issuing IT, as Would De
the case now, upon the greatest disasters
~The wisdom of the secretary of state
struck me with very great force. II was
an aspect of the case that in all my thought
upon the subject / had entirely overlooked.
The result was that | put the draft or the
for a picture waiting for victory. From
time to time ] added or changed a line
touching it up here and there waiting the
nrogress of events. Well, the next news
we had was of Pope's disaster at Bull Kun
Things looked darker than ever; Flnauy
came the week of Antietam. ! deternne3
10 wait no longer The news came. L
think on Wednesday, that the advantage
was on our side. ] was then staying AT tne
Soldiers Home Here In ,,sn,,s WILLS ,rnns
the second draft of the preliminary proc
lamation: came up on Saturday. caiied lne
Cabinet together to hear it: and 1t was
published the following MONDAY. gu,
An incident of the aforementioned Capi-
net meeting not mentioned by Lincoln was
related to Mr.. Carpenter by Secretary
Chase The President. he said, began py
remarking that the time for the annuncia-
ton Of the emancipation policy. could no no
longer be delayed. Public sentiment ne ne
warmest friends and supporters demanded
it. and he had promised his GOD that ne
would do it. The last part or lnis va" az
heard by no one but Mr.. Chase who was
sitting near him. He asked the PRESIDENT
If he correctly understood him:
Mr. Lincoln replied: IT made solemn
VOW before Cod that if General Lee were
driven back from Pennsylvania l Wuulu
crown the result by the declaration OF free
dom to the slaves"