Year: 1862

SLN1. ME- Lcdig duu tLt oclA WOtS tLlo OLAJ


members from Maryland present, and, think,


were the only members Of the delegation at


that time in the city. I know that Mr.. Pearce,
of the Senate, and Messrs. Webster and Cal
vert, of the House, were absent.


After the usual salutations and we were
seated the President said, in substance, that
he had invited US to meet him to have seme
conversation with US in explanation of his
message of the 9Th; that since he had sent it
in several Of the gentlemen then present had
visited him, but had avoided any allusiOn to
the message, and he therefore inferred that
the import of the message had been misun-
derstaod, and was regarded as inimical to the
interests we represented; and he had resolv-
ed he would talk with us and disabuse our
minds Of that erroneous opinion.


The President then disclaimed any intent
to injure the interests or wound the sensibili-
ties of the Slave States. On the contrary,
his purpose was to protect the one and re-
spset the other; that we were engaged in a
terrible wasting and tedious war; immense
armies were in the field, and most continue
IN the field as long as the war lasts; that
these armies must, Of necessity, be brought
into contact with slaves in the States we re-
presented, and in other States as they ad-
vanced that slaves would come to the camps
and continual irritation was kept up; that he


was constantly annoyed by conflicting and
antagonistic complaints; on the one side a
certain class complained if the slave was not
protected by the army +; persons were fre-
quently found, who participating in these
views, acted in way unfriendly to the slave
holder. on the other hand shareholders com
planned that their rights were interlered with,
Etheir slaves induced to abscond and protected


within the lines, these complaints were nu-
merous, loud and deep; were a serious an
uoyance to him and embarrassing to .he pro-
gress Of the war; that it kept alive a spirit
hostile to the Government in the States we
represented strengthened The hopes of the
CoHfederaies that at some day the Border
States would unite with them, and thus tend
to prolong the war; and he was Of opinion,
/ if this resolution should be adopted by Con-
gress and accepted by our States, these caus-
es Of irritation and these hopes would be re-
moved, and more would be accomplished to-
wards shortening the war than could be hop
ed from the greatest victory achieved by
Union armies; that he made this proposition
IN good faith, and desired it to be accepted;
It at all voluntarily, and in the same patriotic
spirit in which it was made; that emancipa-
ton was a subject exclusively under the con-
troll Of the States, and must be adopted or
rejected by each for itself; that he did not
claim nor had this Government any right to
.cerce them for tha; purpose; that such was
no part Of his purpose in making this prspoS-
ton, and he wished it to be clearly under
stood that he did not expect US there to be
prepared to give him answer, but he hoped
we would take the subject into serious con
sideration confer with one another, and then
take such course as we felt our duty and tie
interests Of our constituents required Of Us.


Mr.. Noel, Of Missouri, said that in his
State Slavery was not considered a perman-
aent institution that natural causes were there
in operation which would, at no distant day,
extinguish it, and he did not think that this
proposition was necessary for that; and, be-
sides that be and bis friends felt solicitOus as
to the message on account Of the different
constructions which the resolution and mes
sage had received. The New York Tribune
was for it, and understood it to mean that we
must accept gradual emancipation according
TO this plan suggested, or get something
worse.


Tho President replied, he must not be ex-
pected to quarrel with the New York Trib-
une before the right time he hoped never to
have to do it; he would not anticipate events.
In respect to emancipation in Missouri, he
said that what had been observed by Mr..
NOEL was probably true, but the operation of
these natural causes had not prevented the
irritating conduct to which he had referred,
or destroyed the hopes of the Confederates
that Missouri would at some time range her
self alongside Of them, which in his judg-
ment the passage Of this resolution by Con-
gress and It's acceptance BY Missouri would
accomplish.


Mr.. Crisfeld, Of Maryland, asked what would
be the effect Of the refusalof the State to accept
this proposal, and desired to know if the
Presiaent looked to any policy beyond the
or rejection Of his scheme.


The President replied that he had no de-
signs beyond the action of the States on this
particular subject. he should lament their
refusal tozaceePt it, but he had no designs be-
youd their refusal Of it.


Mr.. Menzies, Of Kentucky, inquired il the
President though there was any power except
in the States themselves to carry cut his
scheme CT emancipation.


The President replied he thought there
could not be- He then went of into a course
of remark not qualifying the foregoing de-
elaration nor material to be repeated to just
understanding Of his meaning. 4


Mr. Crisfeld said he did not think the peo-
pie Of Maryland looked upon slavery as
permanent institution; and he did not know
that they would be very reluctant to give it
MP if provision was made to meet the loss.
and they could be rid of the race; but they
did not like to be coeroed into emancipation,
either BY the direct action of the Govern