Abraham Lincoln.

Telegram to governor Yates. 
Executive Mansion, Washington, February 3, 1864.

Governor Yates, Springfield, Ill.: 

The United States Government lot in Springfield can be used for a soldiers’ home, with the understanding that the Government does not incur any expense in the case.

A. Lincoln.

Telegram to governor Murphy. 
Washington, February 6, 1864.

Governor J. Murphy: 

My order to General Steele about an election was made in ignorance of the action your convention had taken or would take.  A subsequent letter directs General Steele to aid you on your own plan, and not to thwart or hinder you.  Show this to him.

A. Lincoln.

THE STORY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

Told by the president,
to the Artist F. B. Carpenter,
February 6, 1864.

“It had got to be,” said Mr. Lincoln, “midsummer, 1862.  Things had gone on from bad to worse, until I felt that we had reached the end of our rope on the plan of operations we had been pursuing; that we had about played our last card, and must change our tactics, or lose the game.  I now determined upon the adoption of the emancipation policy; and without consultation with, or the knowledge of, the Cabinet, I prepared the original draft of the proclamation, and, after much anxious thought, called a Cabinet meeting upon the subject.  This was the last of July or the first part of the month of August, 1862. [The exact date was July 22, 1862.] . . .  All were present excepting Mr. Blair, the Postmaster-General, who was absent at the opening of the discussion, but came in subsequently.  I said to the Cabinet that I had resolved upon this step, and had not called them together to ask their advice, but to lay the subject-matter of a proclamation before them, suggestions as to which would be in order after they had heard it read.  Mr. Lovejoy was in error when he informed you that it excited no comment excepting on the part of Secretary Seward.  Various suggestions were offered.  Secretary Chase wished the language stronger in reference to the arming of the blacks.

“Mr. Blair, after he came in, deprecated the policy on the ground that it would cost the administration the fall elections.  Nothing, however, was offered that I had not already fully anticipated and settled in my mind, until Secretary Seward spoke.  He said in substance, ’Mr. President, I approve of the proclamation, but I question the expediency of its issue at this juncture.  The depression of the public mind, consequent upon our repeated reverses, is so great that I fear the effect of so important a step.  It may be viewed as the last measure