EMANCIPATION  OF  THE  SLAVES       436       EMANCIPATION  OF  THE  SLAVES


•-drvi^uJjuU'^


^^^vrfiyKe^f*j  ^li^^^t^A-a^


officers  in  the  military  oi-  naval  service  of  the
Republic  returning  alleged  fugitive  slaves  to
their  masters. Ou  July  15,  1862,  another  law
was  perfected,  which  declared  the  absolute  free-
dom of  the  slaves  of  public  enemies  under  cer-
tain operations  of  war  therein  defined. The
President,  hoping  the  wiser  and  cooler  men  of
the  Confederacy  might  heed  the  w.iruing,  hesi-
tated to  act. The  loyal  people  became  impa-
tient, and  he  was  hard  pressed  by  remonstrances
and  [letitions. Finally  a  deputation  from  a  con-
vention in  Chicago  of  Cliristiaus  of  all  denomi-
nations ■waited  upon  him  (Sept. 13, 1862)  with  a
memorial  requesting  him  at  once  to  issue  a  proc-
lamation of  universal  emancipation. The  Pres-
ident, believing  the  time  had  not  yet  come  for
an  act  so  radical,  and  especially  at  that  critical
juncture,  when  the  National  armies  seemed  ev-
erywhere to  be  weak,  said, "  I  do  not  wish  to  is-
sue a  document  that  the  whole  world  would  see
must  necessarily  be  inoperative,  like  the  Pope's
bull  against  the  comet."  He  said  he  was  in  sym-
pathy with  them  ;  and  when  the  committee  left
he  said,  "Whatever  shall  appear  to  be  Gi)d'.s
will,  I  will  do."  On  the  22d  he  issued  a  prelim-
inary proclamation  of  eniancip.ation,  in  which
he  declared  it  to  be  his  puriM)se,  at  the  next
meeting  of  Congress,  to  again  recommend  pe-
cuniary compensation  in  aid  of  emancipation  in
states  in  which  insurrection  did  not  exist. He
then  declared  tliat  on  the  1st  of  January  next
ensuing  "the  slaves  within  every  state  or  des-
ignated part  of  ii  state,  the  people  whereof
should  then  be  in  rebellion,"  shcnild  be  declared
"  thenceforward  and  forever  free ;"  snch  free-
dom to  be  maintained  by  the  whole  force  of  the
government,  wliich  should  not,  at  the  same  time,
repress  any  efforts  the  slaves  might  make  for
their  actual  freedom. This  warning  was  treat-
ed witli  scorn,  and  was  used  to  "  fire  the  South-
ern heart"  as  evidence  that  the  war  was  waged
for  the  liberation  of  the  slaves,  and  not  for  the
restoration  of  the  Union. "When  the  hundred


days  fixed  for  the  determining  of  this  momen-
tous movement  had  expired  it  was  found  that
the  enemies  of  the  Republic  were  more  rebel-
lious than  ever. 