of an exhausted government, a cry for help; the government stretching forth its hands to Ethiopia, instead of Ethiopia stretching forth her hands to the government.’  His idea,” said the President, “was that it would be considered our last shriek on the retreat.” [This was his precise expression.] ‘Now,’ continued Mr. Seward, ’while I approve the measure, I suggest, sir, that you postpone its issue until you can give it to the country supported by military success, instead of issuing it, as would be the case now, upon the greatest disasters of the war.’  Mr. Lincoln continued “The wisdom of the view of the Secretary of State struck me with very great force.  It was an aspect of the case that, in all my thought upon the subject, I had entirely overlooked.  The result was that I put the draft of the proclamation aside, as you do your sketch for a picture, waiting for a victory.

“From time to time I added or changed a line, touching it up here and there, anxiously watching the process of events.  Well, the next news we had was of Pope’s disaster at Bull Run.  Things looked darker than ever.  Finally came the week of the battle of Antietam.  I determined to wait no longer.  The news came, I think, on Wednesday, that the advantage was on our side.  I was then staying at the Soldiers’ Home [three miles out of Washington].  Here I finished writing the second draft of the preliminary proclamation; came up on Saturday; called the Cabinet together to hear it, and it was published on the following Monday.”

Telegram to general Sedgwick. 
Executive Mansion, Washington, February 11, 1864.

Major-general Sedgwick, Army of Potomac: 

Unless there be some strong reason to the contrary, please send
General Kilpatrick to us here, for two or three days.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO HORACE MAYNARD.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 13, 1864.

Hon.  Horace Maynard, Nashville, Tenn.: 

Your letter of [the] second received.  Of course Governor Johnson will proceed with reorganization as the exigencies of the case appear to him to require.  I do not apprehend he will think it necessary to deviate from my views to any ruinous extent.  On one hasty reading I see no such deviation in his program, which you send.

A. Lincoln.

TO W. M. FISHBACK.

War department,
Washington, February 17, 1864.

William M. Fishback, Little Rock, Arkansas: