War Governors ' Conference The Loyal War Governors ' Conference was an important political event of the American Civil War . It was held at the Logan House Hotel in Altoona , Pennsylvania on September 24 and 25 , 1862 . Thirteen governors of Union states came together to discuss the war effort , state troop quotas , and the ultimate support of President Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation . The leaders also suggested the removal of General George B . McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac . The meeting was established and hosted by Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin , who was a staunch defender of the war effort and Lincoln Administration policies . Ultimately , the event provided Lincoln much - needed support from the Northern states . History of the meeting . In the autumn of 1862 , the war effort was going poorly for the United States and President Abraham Lincoln . The commander - in - chief wished to release a proclamation that would free the slaves in the southern states , but was afraid to do so for fear that the Union ' s border states still practicing slavery would secede . If he issued the proclamation prematurely , it would appear as a last cry for help to both the country and the world . Lincoln needed a military victory so that could announce the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation . Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin of Pennsylvania sent out a telegram invitation on September 6 to all Union governors to " meet at a point in the border states " to discuss the states ' involvement in the war effort . Governor Andrew of Massachusetts , another radical and sometime opponent of Lincoln , supported the meeting in order to promote more radical measures such as emancipation that he thought were the only path to victory , writing that he hoped " to save the Prest . from the infamy of ruining his country " ( Neely , ed . , Lincoln Encyclopedia , p . 5 ) . Altoona , Pennsylvania would be that " point " of location for the meeting . The Battle of Antietam on September 17 , 1862 allowed Lincoln to claim the victory he so desperately needed . This key event would be a main topic among the governors . The state executives began to arrive at the Logan House Hotel in Altoona on September 23 . The city was the ideal location for the meeting : it was near both the Midwest states as well as New England , and it also provided excellent transportation and luxury due to the massive Pennsylvania Railroad center that was based in Altoona . In fact , during the Gettysburg Campaign , the city was strongly considered by Confederate General Robert E . Lee as a potential target should his forces have gotten that far . As more governors and delegates arrived , crowds of local onlookers and politicians began to gather on the train platform beside the hotel to get a better look at the dignified guests . Even General John Alexander McClernand and staff , who were passing through Altoona , decided to observe the spectacle . Also in attendance was a reporter from the " New York Herald " . ( The article about the conference appeared on the front page of this periodical on September 29 , 1862 . ) The day before the meeting was to begin , the governors who had arrived so far took a sight - seeing trip to the famous Horseshoe Curve , compliments of John Edgar Thomson and the Pennsylvania Railroad . The meeting began the next morning . At that point , eleven governors , one representative , and a number of aides were in attendance . After an initial welcome by Governor Curtin , the group went right to business , debating a number of topics . These included ways they could support the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and how their individual states could aid the war effort . One of the main topics of discussion concerned General George B . McClellan , commander of the Army of the Potomac . Governor John Andrew of Massachusetts took to the floor and openly began to criticize General McClellan ' s ability as a leader . Governor William Sprague of Rhode Island agreed , claiming that the Battle of Antietam fought less than a week earlier had been " a rebel victory , " and that the Confederates had not withdrawn " because they were defeated , but exhibited great military strategy in doing so . " Governor David Tod of Ohio stated that he could not understand why some would want to remove McClellan and that he would block any attempt to do so . The debate continued until 12 : 30 a . m . until the topic was exhausted . Despite the many heated debates that took place during the meeting , all governors except Augustus Bradford of Maryland consented to the final address . Bradford ' s disapproval is most likely a result of Maryland still being a slave state . In the morning , Governor Austin Blair of Michigan arrived late but joined the fellow delegates in going to Washington , D . C . the same day . With Blair ' s name , a total of twelve signatures were included on the address to be presented to the president . No official minutes of the meeting were kept for security reasons . Perhaps because of this , the event is often overlooked by historians . Once the delegation reached the White House on September 26 , they read the document proclaiming the " rightful authority " of the president and " the constitutional powers of Congress " depend on " the rights and liberties of the people . " The governors agreed " to continue in the most vigorous exercise of all our lawful powers , contending against treason , rebellion , and the public enemies until final victory and unconditional submission . " The address went on to promote " the military education of the people . " Lincoln took their welcomed suggestions on internal management of the war effort , including recruiting , transport of troops , etc . However , the meeting became contentions when Governor Kirkwood of Iowa suggested that General McClellan was unfit for command . Lincoln refused to argue either way on the issue , and promptly concluded the meeting . Nevertheless , McClellan was relieved of command less than two months later and the Emancipation Proclamation came into effect on January 1 , 1863 . The address was sent to other Union governors that were unable to attend the meeting . Of them , the executives of Vermont , Connecticut , Kansas , Minnesota , and Oregon all gave their approval of the document . It was declined by those of New York , New Jersey , Delaware , Kentucky , and Missouri , the latter three of which were still slave states . Results of the meeting . The Loyal War Governors ' Conference is often overlooked in the history of the American Civil War . However , it can be argued that it played an important role in the policies of Abraham Lincoln . The President now had the re - affirmed support of the northern states to finish the war . In observance of the 50th anniversary of the event , the " Altoona Mirror " stated , " It was this conference . . . which more than any other thing strengthened Lincoln ' s hands in the darkest hour of the war period . " The Emancipation Proclamation legally freed slaves in the seceded states and parts of states that were not under Union control . It did not affect slavery in the border states , or in those areas of Virginia , Tennessee , and Louisiana that were already occupied by Union forces . The Emancipation Proclamation influenced countries such as Britain and France against recognizing the Confederacy . Public sentiment in those countries was largely opposed to supporting states that maintained the institution of slavery . Coincidentally , Lincoln suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States the very same day that the governors met in Altoona . It is not known whether these two events are connected in any way . However , because of the meeting in Altoona , Lincoln was able to issue such a document with a new sense of authority and commitment that was delivered by the northern governors and the victory at Antietam . Governors in Attendance The Logan House and anniversary ceremonies . The Logan House Hotel , where the conference was held , was built in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad . Dubbed " Mansion in the Wilderness , " it was considered one of the grandest hotels in the country at the time . With 106 rooms , gas lighting , and hot running water , it was believed to be one of the most modern hotels of its age . One visitor stated that the hotel was " about the size of Rhode Island . " Famous visitors to the hotel included presidents Ulysses S . Grant , Rutherford B . Hayes , and William Howard Taft . Mary Todd Lincoln and her children spent a few summer days at the Hotel to escape the heat and congestion of Washington , D . C . Just a year after the Governors ' Conference , David Wills of Gettysburg ] ] held a meeting there to begin plans for the establishment of the Gettysburg National Cemetery where Lincoln would deliver his immortal Gettysburg Address . Sadly , the hotel was closed in 1927 and the building was demolished in 1931 . It is now the site of the Altoona Post Office . [ [ File : Logan House Lobby . jpg | thumb | The lobby of the Logan House Hotel in its later years . ( Courtesy the Blair County Historical Society . ) In 1912 , a massive ceremony was held in Altoona to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the conference . All the northern governors of the respective states at that time attended . Even President Taft came to Altoona to take part in the festivities and give an address to the large crowds . According to personal accounts and old photographs , bunting , decorations , and special events were everywhere . A massive parade was held on 11th Avenue downtown . This parade included old [ [ veteran ] ] s of the Civil War and a massive float with a model of the [ [ USS Monitor ] ] including a revolving turret . Dozens of other large floats were entered as well by local groups . At the Cricket Field sports arena ( now the site of a commercial retail plaza in front of the [ [ Altoona Regional Hospital | Altoona Hospital ] ] ) , a large festival with vendors , food , and souvenirs helped in commemorating the event . Planning is underway for an event such as this to be coordinated for the 150th anniversary as well . It is in the hopes and plans of many in the Altoona area that a museum is to be dedicated in honor of this historic event for the 150th anniversary in 2012 . The museum would include exhibits on the conference , the area ' s rich Civil War History , and the Logan House in an educational and interactive setting for people of all ages . External links . [ [ Category : Political history of the American Civil War ] ] [ [ Category : Pennsylvania Railroad ] ] [ [ Category : Pennsylvania in the American Civil War ] ] [ [ Category : U . S . states in the American Civil War ] ] [ [ Category : 1862 in the United States ] ] [ [ Category : 1862 in Pennsylvania ] ]