The proclamation was laid aside until the battle of Antietam was fought. Mr. Lincoln waited until he was satisfied that a valuable victory had been achieved, when he called the Cabinet together again, at a special meeting, and announced:—

“The time has come for emancipation to be declared; it cannot longer be delayed. Public sentiment will now sustain it, many of my warmest friends and supporters demand it, and I promised my God I would do it.”

The last sentence was not quite understood by Secretary Chase, who asked for an explanation. Mr. Lincoln replied:—

“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.”

The Cabinet unanimously endorsed the President’s decision, and the proclamation was issued September 22nd, 1862, promising, “That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or any designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward and for ever, free; and the executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.”

This proclamation offended many anti-slavery friends at the North, who wanted the President to strike an immediate and fatal blow at the institution, without warning or conditions. It is believed, however, that subsequent events caused them, and the civilized world, to concur in the President’s judgment of the best method, in the circumstances. At the South, the excitement over the proclamation of promised freedom was intense, and the Rebel Congress enacted some violent threats. But the one hundred days of grace passed by, and the memorable first day of January, 1863, arrived, bringing the Proclamation of Emancipation, which deserves the highest place in the temple of American liberty. It merits the careful perusal of every citizen of the United States, old and young, and commends itself to the friends of humanity in every land.

President Lincoln signed the Proclamation after his public reception on January Ist, 1863. Mr. Colfax remarked to him,—

“The signature appears somewhat tremulous and uneven.”

“Not because of any uncertainty or hesitation on my part,” answered the President; “but it was just after the public reception, and three hours’ hand-shaking is not calculated to improve a man’s chirography. The South had fair warning, that if they did not return to their duty, I should strike at this pillar of their strength. The promise must now be kept, and I shall never recall one word.”

Mr. Carpenter’s noble conception of a painting to commemorate the Act of Emancipation enlisted the President’s deepest interest. When the work was nearly completed, the artist remarked to him,—

“I am very proud to have been the artist to have first conceived the idea of the design of painting a picture commemorative of the Act of Emancipation.”

“Yes,” answered the President, “as affairs have turned, it is the central act of my administration, and the great event of the nineteenth century.”

When Mr. Carpenter’s work was done, and he was about to take leave of the White House, the President said,—

“Well, Mr. Carpenter, I must go with you and take one more look at the picture before you leave us.”