Evening journal., 1912-11-04
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story Of the Emancipation
Proclamation
BY Holland.

Abraham Mncolns preliminary
proclamation Of Emancipation was
made public fiye days after the bat
tie Of Antietam, which was fought or
September II, 1862 From that time
until the present it has been the gem
eral belief Chat Mr. Lincoln did not
show the proclamation to any one
until, after cabinet meeting, he ask
ed his advisers to stay while, for
he had something which he wished To
read to them Thereupon he drew
some manuscript from drawer OF
his desk; it was the first draft OF
the proclamation. He read it TO the
cabinet and then said that he did not
purpose asking their advice as to the
wisdom of issuing the proclamation,
for upon that matter his mind was
made up. He would, however, gladly
receive suggestions about the phrase
ology, whether or not his wording Of
the proclamation could be improved.
Yet, according to an anecdOte re-
lated by Hannibal Hamlin, who was
vice-president under Lincoln, this re-
port is incorrect. Four or five years
after Mr.. Hamlin retired from the
United States Senate in 1881, he met
a company of friends at his home at
Bangor, Me. The proclamation OF
emancipation becoming the subject OF
conversation, Senator Hamlin said;
"The belief is widespread-yes uni
yersal-that President Lincoln COM
inundated to no one his purpose TO
issue a proclamation of emancipation
until he read the completed draft OF
that proclamation to the members OF
Ia Ia. fat I4rr
clamation was issued. 1t is true that
he made up his mind without con-
sultation with any one. But it is not
true that his cabinet first learned OF
the proclamation and listened to its
reading. The time has come when
can properly tell what my own. ex-
perience in connection with this proc
lamation was.
81 was about to return to my homo
in September. 1862, and therefore
called upon President Lincoln at the
White House to bid him goodbye and
to wish him well. l was a much moro
frequent visitor at the White House,
and was more frequently in consul
tation with President Lincoln, than
the public was aware of. We had, in
fact become very intimate | think
he felt that there were matters upon
which it was proper to consult me,
because, if he were taken away,
would be his successor.
During this particular visit, the
President asked me when L purposed
returning home and l told him that
had, made my plans TO leave Washing
ton the next day He then said to
me that he wished I would spend the
evening with him at the Soldiers
Home, where he spent the summer
months and from which he had not
returned to the White House except
for the daily business.
Il, of course, granted the presi-
dents wish. After we had eaten sup
per he took me aside, saying that he
had something that he wanted TO read
TO me. But before he began reading
he said: 'Hamlin, you have often
urged me to emancipate the slaves.
but / have not acted upon your adj
vice. / felt the time had not come
The time has now come. I am going
to read to you my draft of the proc
lamation of emancipation. / shall
gladly listen to any suggestion
you may make about tha
phraseology.'
"He put on his spectacles and read
the ufdlJ 10 me Wntn ne ndQ III
ished, he said You are the first per-
son Who has heard this draft. To-
morrow I shall read it to my cabinet
Have you any suggestions to make?
II expressed my sense of gratitude
and joy that he had decided upon this
step Then | told him that there was
only one word in his draft which I
thought might be changed for the
better. When / told him what that
word was he agreed with me.
Il was, therefore, the first person
to heard the draft of the emancipa-
tion proclamation read. ! presume
President Lincoln read it to me be-
cause l was vice-president under him
and no one knew what a single day
might bring forth"
Copyright, 1912, by E j. Edwards
All rights reserved.)