GDG- Timing of Emancipation Proclamation

[Jim Ferguson]

This section of Meacham's book, "A Promise Kept" does draw from Wolf, Foote,
White, McPherson and several others according to the source notes. That is
where I was when I got tired of reading and decided to ask the question.

I scanned the following from Meacham's book.

"A Promise Kept
On Monday, September 22, 1862, in a meeting of his Cabinet on the second
floor of the White House, Lincoln seemed a bit embarrassed. He was trying to
explain the timing of the Emancipation Proclamation, but was not sure anyone
else would understand. It had been a vicious and frightening military
season; the previous Wednesday, at Antietam, in Maryland, would go down in
history as the bloodiest day of the war. But the Union had won the battle,
stopping the Confederate advance. Now, facing his Cabinet, Lincoln told them
what he was going to do-and why. According to Treasury Secretary Salmon P.
Chase's diary, Lincoln said: "When the Rebel Army was at Frederick, I
determined, as soon as it should be driven out of Maryland, to issue a
Proclamation of Emancipation. . . . I said nothing to anyone, but I made a
promise to myself, and (hesitating a little) to my Maker." 
He had given his word to God, Lincoln said, and that was that. "The Rebel
Army is now driven out, and I am going to fulfill that promise." Chase's
account is supported by others: 
President Lincoln chose to emancipate the slaves at that particular moment
because, he said, he had made a deal with the Almighty. 
Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles recalled the meeting the same way Chase
did. Lincoln called them together and said the slaves were to be freed. "He
had, he said, made a vow, a covenant, that if God gave us the victory in the
approaching battle (which had just been fought) he would consider it his
duty to move forward in the cause of emancipation." Lincoln knew his
listeners might be skeptical or puzzled, but there it was. "We might think
it strange, he said, but there were times when he felt uncertain how to act;
that he had in this way submitted the disposal of matters when the way was
not clear to his mind what he should do. God had decided this question in
favor of the slave. He was satisfied he was right-was confirmed and
strengthened by the vow and its results; his mind was fixed, his decision
made." 
Thirty years before, in the Age of Jackson, Tocqueville heard an American
clergyman utter these words at a public gathering: "0 Lord! Never turn thy
face away from us; permit us always to be the most religious people as well
as the most free." In Lincoln's understanding, God required, first, a
guilelessness and purity of purpose, and in exchange would relieve the
country of fear and sustain her through the fires of war, and the penance he
was exacting. Then, and only then, might light come from darkness."

Lincoln's religion, in ones mind, in my opinion, is also a major function of
when he said something, why he used it to support his stand and to whom he
was saying it. After all, Lincoln in spite of his positive qualities was a
consummate politician.

This not why I started the book though. I was primarily interested in
Meacham's take on the Founders and religion. I didn't realize he extended
the thread all the way up through Reagan.

Jim



-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]
On Behalf Of Smith, David
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 1:08 PM
To: gettysburg at arthes.com
Subject: GDG- Timing of Emancipation Proclamation

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


-----------------------------

Message: 14

Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 12:03:15 -0400

From: "Jim Ferguson" <jaferg at comcast.net>

Subject: GDG- Kinda Slow, So How About This...

For our Lincoln scholars: I've seen several explanations of why Lincoln

issued the Emancipation Proclamation when he did. Is Jon Meacham's

description (American Gospel) using the Frederick gambit the most well

accepted?

Jim

Jim--

For those of us not familiar with Meacham's book, please explain the
"Frederick Gambit."  I'd love to know more.

Its well known that Lincoln drafted the Proclamation in the summer and
then shelved it on Seward's advice to wait for a victory.

For those inclined to a mystic or metaphysical interpretation of the
Civil War, William J. Wolf in "Almost Chosen People," says that Lincoln
announced to his cabinet he was issuing the proclamation because he had
promised God he would free the slaves if Lee was driven back from
Maryland.  Lee was, and Lincoln felt bound to honor his promise.  Wolf
cited not one but two separate diary entries by cabinet members who were
there - one was Gideon Welles I believe.  (I believe there may be an
abbreviated version of this story in *Battle Cry of Freedom*).  

Incidentally, there are claims of Lee's invasion of Gettysburg sparking
a similar religious crisis in Lincoln, but they are much less well
documented.

Of course, what you think about Lincoln's religion is one of those
things where what you see often depends on what you think.

Hope this helps,  As I say, I would love to know what Meacham says.

David

David G. Smith, Ph.D.
smith_david_g at bah.com
 
 
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