Part 8 (1/2)
The office was in Springfield, the capital, and the state-house was over the way. While Lincoln continued to question and console the poor sufferer, his partner went over to learn of the governor what he could do in the matter. But there was no const.i.tutional or even legal right to interfere with the doings of a sovereign State. This omission as regards humanity stung Lincoln, always tender on that score, and he excitedly vowed:
”By virtue of freedom for all, I will have that negro back--or a twenty years' agitation in Illinois, which will afford its governor a legal and const.i.tutional right to interfere in such premises.”
The only way to rescue the unfortunate young man was to make up a purse and recompense a correspondent at the city below, to obtain the captive and return him to his mother.
Such cases, of more often fugitive-slave matters, were not uncommon in the State. Lincoln was already linked with the ultras on the question, so that it was said by lawyers applied to, afraid as political aspirants:
”Go to that Lincoln, the liberator; he will defend a fugitive-slave case!”
LINCOLN'S VOW.
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 G.o.d I would do it. Yea, I made a solemn vow before G.o.d 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 Emanc.i.p.ation 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.
”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 a.s.suredly 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 a.s.serted in a gush of novelty that:
”Dis narrer way leads on to destruction--and dat broad one to d.a.m.nation--”
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: