abstract way affected me also.  It did not seem a time to speak.  We walked slowly and quietly, meeting here and there a guard, our thoughts leading us to reflect on that wonderful situation.  A nation in peril—­the whole world looking at America—­a million men in arms—­the whole machinery of war engaged throughout the country, while I stood by that kind-hearted, simple-minded man who might be regarded as the Director-General, looking at the beautiful sunrise and the magnificent scene before us.  Nothing was to be said, nothing needed to be said.  Finally, reaching a commanding point where almost that entire camp could be seen—­the men were just beginning their morning duties, and evidences of life and activity were becoming apparent—­we involuntarily stopped.  The President, waving his hand towards the scene before us, and leaning towards me, said in an almost whispering voice:  ‘Hatch—­Hatch, what is all this?’ ‘Why, Mr. Lincoln,’ said I, ‘this is the Army of the Potomac’ He hesitated a moment, and then, straightening up, said in a louder tone:  ’No, Hatch, no.  This is General McClellan’s body-guard.’  Nothing more was said.  We walked to our tent, and the subject was not alluded to again.”

CHAPTER XXI

Lincoln and Slavery—­Plan for Gradual Emancipation—­Anti-slavery Legislation in 1862—­Pressure Brought to Bear on the Executive—­The Delegation of Quakers—­A Visit from Chicago Clergymen—­Interview between Lincoln and Channing—­Lincoln and Horace Greeley—­The President’s Answer to “The Prayer of Twenty Millions of People”—­Conference between Lincoln and Greeley—­Emancipation Resolved on—­The Preliminary Proclamation—­Lincoln’s Account of It—­Preparing for the Final Act—­The Emancipation Proclamation—­Particulars of the Great Document—­Fate of the Original Draft—­Lincoln’s Outline of his Course and Views regarding Slavery.

The emancipation of slaves in America—­the crowning act of Lincoln’s eventful career and the one with which his fame is most indissolubly linked—­is a subject of supreme interest in a study of his life and character.  For this great act all his previous life and training had been but a preparation.  From the first awakening of his convictions of the moral wrong of human slavery, through all his public and private utterances, may be traced one logical and consistent development of the principles which at last found sublime expression in the Proclamation of Emancipation.  In this, as always, he was true to his own inner promptings.  He would not be hurried or worried or badgered into premature and impracticable measures.  He bided his time; and when that time came the deed was done, unalterably and irrevocably:  approved by the logic of events, and by the enlightened conscience of the world.