Year: 1862

other step would he so potent TO prevent
foreign Intervention.


Furthermore, it would send a thrill
through The entire North, firing every
patriotic heart giving the people a glori
Gus principle Tor which 10 suffer and TO
fight, and assuring them that the work
was TO be so thoroughly done, as 70 leave
our country free forever from danger and
liograec in this quarter. Al.


We added, that when the proclamation
should become widely known, (as the law
Of Congress has not been) il would with
draw the slaves from the rebels, leaving
them without laborers, and giving us
botl laJorers a7a soldiers. That the dilli-
Guilty experienced by General Butler and
other Generals, arose from the fact that
halfway measures could never avail
II is the inherent vice Of halfway meas
ures, that they create as many difficult
ties as they remove. is folly merely
TO receive and feed the slaves. They
should be welcomed and fed, and then,
according to Pauls doctrine, that they
who eat must work, be made to labor and
to light for their liberty and ours. With
such a policy, the blacks would be no
incumbranCe, and their rations no waste
In this respect we should follow the an
cient maxim, and learn of the enemy.
What the rebels most fear is what we
should be most prompt TO do; and what
they most fear is evident from the hot
haste with which, on the first day Of the
| present session Of the rebel Congress,
| bills were introduced threatening terrible
vengeance if we used the blacks in the
war.


We answered that, being fresh from
the people, we were naturally more hope
| ful than himself as TO the necessity and
probably effect Of such proclamation.
| The value of constitutional government
| is indeed a grand idea for which TO con
tend; but the people know that nothing
else has put constitutional govern
ment in danger but slavery !" that the
liberation of that aristocratic and des-
potic element among our free institutions
was the inconsistency that had nearly
wrought our ruin, and caused free gov


ernment TO appear failure before the
world, and therefore the people demand
emancipation TO preserve and perpetuato
constitutional government. Our idea
would thus be found to 90 deeper than his,
and to be armed with corresponding pow
er. ("Yes," interrupted Mr. Lincoln, "that
is the true ground Of our dilliculties.")
That proclamation of general emanci-
patton, giving " Liberty and Union as
the national watchword, would rouse the
people and rally them to his support
beyond anything get witnessed-ap-
pealing alike to conscience, sentiment
and hope. He must remember, too, that
present manifestations are no index of
what would then take place. If the
leader will but utter trumpet call, the
nation will respond with patriotic ardor.
No one can tell the power Of the right
word from the right man, TO develop the
latent fire and enthusiasm of the masses.
('1 know it," exclaimed Mr.. LincolnO


That good sense must Of course be ex-
crcised in drilling, arming and using


black as well as white troops, to make


them efficient and that in a scarcity of


arms, it was at least worthy of inquiry


whether il were not wise to place a por


tion of them in the hands Of those near


est to the seat Of the rebellion, and able


to strike the deadllcst blow


That in case OF a proclamation oO


emancipation, we had no fear of serious


injury from the desertion of the border


State troops. The danger was greatly


diminished as the President had admit.


ted. But let the desertions be what they


might, the increased spirit of the NORTH


would replace them two TO one On,


State alone, if necessary, would compen,
safe the loss, were the whole of the so,


600 TO join the enemy. The struggle hai


gone too far, aud cost too much treasur,


and blood to allow of a partial settle


ment. Let the line be drawn at the sam,


time between loyalty and treason. The
sooner we know who are our enemies 10,
, better.


In bringing our interview to close


after an hour Of earnest and frank dis
cussion, Of which the foregoing is a spe
, cimcn, Mr.. Lincoln remarked DO no


misunderstood me, because ! have men
, toned these objections, They indicat
, the difficulties that have thus far pre-
vented my action in some such way a
, you desire. ! have not decided agains
a proclamation Of liberty 10 the slaves
} but hold the matter under adyisement
? And | can assure you that the subjec
, is on my mind, by day and by might
p more than any other. Whatever shaI
appear TO be Gods will, will do, trus
that in the freedom with which hav
canvassed your views, have not in an,
r respect injured your feelings"


We assured him that he had not an
expressed our hope that in honest endea
l vors TO express and defend our conyic


lions we had not been wanting in du
q respect for our Chief Magistrate. Biddin
I him farewell, we commended him 10 IA
- gracious guidance Of God, having fait
that, If the memorial and our added in
terview had thrown into the lremblin
r scales but a single grain Of truth thl
y might aid in the preponderauce Of jus
o tice and humanity, our mission woul
3 not prove to be in vain


% WIN. W. PATTON,
@ JOHN DEMPSTER,