“The President,” says Mr.
Taussig, “said that the Union men in Missouri
who are in favor of gradual emancipation, represented
his views better than those who are in favor of immediate
emancipation. In explanation of his views on
this subject the President said that in his speeches
he had frequently used as an illustration the case
of a man who had an excrescence on the back of his
neck, the removal of which in one operation would result
in the death of the patient, while tinkering it
off by degrees would preserve life.”
“Although sorely tempted,”
continues Mr. Taussig, “I did not reply with
the illustration of the dog whose tail was amputated
by inches, but confined myself to arguments.
The President announced clearly that, so far as
he was at present advised, the Radicals in Missouri
had no right to consider themselves the representatives
of his views on the subject of emancipation in that
State.”
The foregoing interview, it is well enough to state,
was long after the issuance of Mr. Lincoln’s
Emancipation Proclamation.
In addition to carrying the State for Mr. Lincoln,
the Missouri Radicals carried it for themselves.
They elected a constitutional convention that promptly
passed an unconditional freedom ordinance. And
thus terminated what is certainly one of the most notable
contests in our political history, bringing about,
as it did, the triumph of a reform of unquestionable
value to civilization and humanity, which was accomplished
by men working without patronage or other outside help,
with no pecuniary interest at stake, and no incentive
beyond the principle involved.
MISSOURI—Continued
Here follows an extract from the published proceedings
of the National Republican Convention of 1864, in
which Mr. Lincoln was renominated.
“When that State [Missouri] was
called, Mr. J.F. Hume addressed
the convention as follows:
“’It is a matter of great
regret that we differ from the majority of the convention
that has been so kind to the Radicals of Missouri,
but we came here instructed. We represent those
who are behind us at home, and we recognize the
right of instruction and intend to obey our instruction;
but, in doing so, we declare emphatically that we
are with the Union party of the nation, and we intend
to fight the battle through to the end with it, and
assist in carrying it to victory. We will support
your nominees be they whom they may. I will
read the resolution adopted by the convention that
sent us here.’”
[Here resolution of instruction was read.]
“’Mr. President, in the spirit
of that resolution I cast the
twenty-two votes of Missouri for them
an who stands at the head of
the fighting Radicals of the nation—General
U.S. Grant.’”
