Washington, 28th December, 1862.
My Dear Forbes,
— Last evening I handed to the President a memorial from clergymen, calling on
him to stand by his Proclamation, reading it to him aloud.
I then handed him your slip Audax, which he commenced
reading.
Then a slip from a Boston paper, advertising a musical celebration
in honor of the Proclamation, 1st January, with all the names, yours among the
rest.
Then the unsigned address1 from the electors,
which he proceeded to read aloud.
I then read to him Mr. Chapman's letter, which I enforced by
saying that he was now a very able judge of our Supreme Court,2 once
a Hunker, and not much of my way of thinking in times past.
I then proceeded to dwell on the importance and grandeur of
the act, and how impatient we all are that it should be done in the way to
enlist the most sympathy and to stifle opposition. On his account I urged that
it should be a military decree, countersigned by the Secretary of War, and that
it should have something in it showing that though an act of military necessity
and just self-defense, it was also an act of justice and humanity, which must
have the blessings of a benevolent God.
The President says that he could not stop the Proclamation
if he would, and he would not if he could. Burnside was present at this remark.
I find Stanton unusually sanguine and confident. He says
that he shall have 200,000 negroes under arms before June, holding the
Mississippi River and garrisoning the ports, so that our white soldiers can go
elsewhere. The President accepts this idea.
Let the music sound, and the day be celebrated.
_______________
1 This was an address slightly different in form
from that sent through Mr. Sedgwick. — Ed.
2 Afterwards the chief justice. — Ed.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 352-3
