On the 17th of September, 1862, the Confederate inroad into Maryland
was stopped by the decisive defeat of Antietam, and the raiders were
sent to the retreat. Lincoln called the Cabinet to a special meeting,
and stated that the time had come at last for the proclamation of
freedom to the slaves everywhere in the United States. Public sentiment
would now sustain--after great vacillation, and all his friends were
bent upon it.
"Besides, I promised my God I would do it. Yea, I made a solemn vow
before God that, if General Lee was driven back from Pennsylvania, I
would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slave!"
It was remarked that the signature appeared tremulous and uneven, but
the writer affirmed that that was not "because of any uncertainty or
hesitation on my part."
It was done after the public reception, and "three hours' handshaking
is not calculated to improve a man's chirography."
He said to the painter of the "Signing the Emancipation Act," Mr.
Carpenter:
"I believe that I am about as glad over the success of this work as you
are!"
The original was destroyed in the great fire at Chicago, where it was
under exhibition. The pen and the table concerned should be in the
Lincoln Museum. The ink-stand was a wooden one, in private hands, and
bought at public sale when Lincoln relics were not at the current high
price.
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"DEN I TAKES TO DE WOODS!"
Secretary Seward, as manager of the foreign relations, met much trouble
from the disposition of the aristocratic realms of Europe to await
eagerly for a breach by which to enter into interference without
quarreling. He was also a great trouble-maker, having the innate
repugnance of men of letters and voice to play second fiddle--since he
was nominated on the trial ballot above Lincoln in the Presidential
Convention. The black speck in the political horizon was San Domingo;
the Abolitionists wanted to help her to attain liberty, in which case
Mother Spain would assuredly come out openly against the United States
and consequently ally with the Confederacy.
The statement of the dilemma--side with Spain, or the black
republic--reminded the President of a negro story, quite akin.
A colored parson was addressing his hearers and drew a dreadful picture
of the sinner in distress. He had two courses before him, however. But
the exhorter asserted in a gush of novelty that:
"Dis narrer way leads on to destruction--and dat broad one to
damnation--"
Feeling he was overshooting the mark by the dismay among his
congregation, he paused, when an impulsive brother started up with
bristling wool and staring eyes, and, making for the door, hallooed:
"In dat case, dis chile he takes to de woods!"
Mr. President elucidated the black prospect.
"I am not willing to assume any new responsibilities at this juncture.
I shall, therefore, avoid going to the one place with Spain or with the
negro to the other--but shall take _to the woods_!"
A strict and honest neutrality was therefore observed, and--San Domingo
is still a bone of contention, though not with Spain, for it is an eye
on our canal.
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