Xxiv.
Mr. George Thompson, the
English anti-slavery orator, delivered an address in the House of Representatives, to a large audience, April 6th, 1864.
Among the distinguished persons present was
President Lincoln, who was greatly interested.
The following morning,
Mr. Thompson and party, consisting of
Rev. John Pierpont,
Oliver Johnson, formerly
President of the Anti-Slavery Society of New York, and
the Hon. Lewis Clephane, of
Washington, called at the
White House.
The President was alone when their names were announced, with the exception of myself.
Dropping all business, he ordered the party to be immediately admitted.
Greeting them very cordially, the gentlemen took seats, and
Mr. Thompson commenced conversation by referring to the condition of public sentiment in
England in regard to the great conflict the nation was passing through.
He said the aristocracy and the “money interest” were desirous of seeing the
Union broken up, but that the great heart of the
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masses beat in sympathy with the
North.
They instinctively felt that the cause of liberty was bound up with our success in putting down the
Rebellion, and the struggle was being watched with the deepest anxiety.
Mr. Lincoln thereupon said:
Mr. Thompson, the people of Great Britain, and of other foreign governments, were in one great error in reference to this conflict.
They seemed to think that, the moment I was President, I had the power to abolish slavery, forgetting that, before I could have any power whatever, I had to take the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and execute the laws as I found them.
When the Rebellion broke out, my duty did not admit of a question.
That was, first, by all strictly lawful means to endeavor to maintain the integrity of the government.
I did not consider that I had a right to touch the “State” institution of Slavery until all other measures for restoring the Union had failed.
The paramount idea of the constitution is the preservation of the Union.
It may not be specified in so many words, but that this was the idea of its founders is evident; for, without the Union, the constitution would be worthless.
It seems clear, then, that in the last extremity, if any local institution threatened the existence of the Union, the Executive could not hesitate as to his duty.
In our case, the moment came when I felt that slavery must die that the nation might live!
I have sometimes used the
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illustration in this connection of a man with a diseased limb, and his surgeon.
So long as there is a chance of the patient's restoration, the surgeon is solemnly bound to try to save both life and limb; but when the crisis comes, and the limb must be sacrificed as the only chance of saving the life, no honest man will hesitate.
Many of my strongest supporters urged Emancipation before I thought it indispensable, and, I may say, before I thought the country ready for it. It is my conviction that, had the proclamation been issued even six months earlier than it was, public sentiment would not have sustained it. Just so, as to the subsequent action in reference to enlisting blacks in the Border States.
The step, taken sooner, could not, in my judgment, have been carried out. A man watches his pear-tree day after day, impatient for the ripening of the fruit.
Let him attempt to force the process, and he may spoil both fruit and tree.
But let him patiently wait, and the ripe pear at length falls into his lap!
We have seen this great revolution in public sentiment slowly but surely progressing, so that, when final action came, the opposition was not strong enough to defeat the purpose.
I can now solemnly assert, “he concluded,” that I have a clear conscience in regard to my action on this momentous question.
I have done what no man could have helped doing, standing in my place.
Oliver Johnson, speaking, as he said, for the old
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Anti-Slavery party, assured the
President that they had fully appreciated the difficulties and embarrassments of his position; but when they realized the importance of the grand issue, and observed the conflicting influences that were surging around him, they were in an agony of anxiety lest he should somehow be led to take a false position.
If, in the months preceding the issue of the
Emancipation Proclamation, they had seemed impatient and distrustful, it was because their knowledge of his character had not been sufficient to assure them that he would be able to stand up manfully against the opposing current.
He thanked God that the result had shown that we had a President who was equal to the emergency; and for
his part he was willing to sink all minor issues in the grand consummation he believed then in sight!
A characteristic incident occurred toward the close of the interview.
When the
President ceased speaking,
the Rev. Mr. Pierpont, impressed with his earnestness, turned to
Mr. Thompson, and repeated a Latin quotation from the classics.
Mr. Lincoln, leaning forward in his chair, looked from one to the other inquiringly, and then remarked, with a smile, “
Which, I suppose you are both aware,
I do not understand.”
As the party rose to take leave, the
President remarked, motioning toward me, “We have a young man here who is painting a picture down-stairs, which I should be glad to have you see.”
The gentlemen
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expressed their acknowledgments of the courtesy, and
Mr. Lincoln led the way by the private staircase to the state dining-room.
In the passage through the hall he jocularly remarked to
Mr. Thompson, “Your folks made rather sad work of this mansion when they came up the
Potomac in 1812.
Nothing was left of it but the bare walls.”
I do not remember the reply to this sally, save that it was given and received in good part.
Briefly going over the portraiture and composition of the picture, then in too early a stage for criticism,
Mr. Lincoln presently excused himself, and returned to his duties.
And thus ended an interview doubtless indelibly stamped upon the memory of each individual privileged in sharing it.
Upon referring to the date of the “
Hodges” letter, it will be seen that it was written April 4th, only three days before the visit of
Mr. Thompson and party.
The coincidence of thought and expression in that statement, and the
President's conversation on this occasion, are noticeable; and are explained by the fact, that, with the language of that letter still fresh in his mind, he very naturally fell into a similar vein of illustration.
