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the only members from Maryland present； and； I think； were the only
members of the delegation at that time in the city。 I know that Mr。
Pearoe； of the Senate； and Messrs。 Webster and Calvert； of the
House； were absent。
After the usual salutations； and we were seated； the President said；
in substance； that he had invited us to meet him to have some
conversation with us in explanation of his message of the 6th； that
since he had sent it in several of the gentlemen then present had
visited him； but had avoided any allusion to the message； and he
therefore inferred that the import of the message had been
misunderstood； and was regarded as inimical to the interests we
represented； and he had resolved he would talk with us； and disabuse
our minds of that erroneous opinion。
The President then disclaimed any intent to injure the interests or
wound the sensibilities of the slave States。 On the contrary； his
purpose was to protect the one and respect the other； that we were
engaged in a terrible； wasting； and tedious war； immense armies were
in the field； and must continue in the field as long as the war
lasts； that these armies must； of necessity； be brought into contact
with slaves in the States we represented and in other States as they
advanced； that slaves would come to the camps； and continual
irritation was kept up； that he was constantly annoyed by conflicting
and antagonistic complaints： on the one side a certain class
complained if the slave was not protected by the army； persons were
frequently found who； participating in these views； acted in a way
unfriendly to the slaveholder； on the other hand； slaveholders
complained that their rights were interfered with； their slaves
induced to abscond and protected within the lines； these complaints
were numerous； loud and deep； were a serious annoyance to him and
embarrassing to the progress of the war； that it kept alive a spirit
hostile to the government in the States we represented； strengthened
the hopes of the Confederates that at some day the border States
would unite with them； and thus tend to prolong the war； and he was
of opinion； if this resolution should be adopted by Congress and
accepted by our States； these causes of irritation and these hopes
would be removed； and more would be accomplished toward shortening
the war than could be hoped from the greatest victory achieved by
Union armies； that he made this proposition in good faith； and
desired it to be accepted； if at all； voluntarily； and in the same
patriotic spirit in which it was made； that emancipation was a
subject exclusively under the control of the States； and must be
adopted or rejected by each for itself； that he did not claim nor had
this government any right to coerce them for that purpose； that such
was no part of his purpose in making this proposition； and he wished
it to be clearly understood； that he did not expect us there to be
prepared to give him an answer； but he hoped we would take the
subject into serious consideration； confer with one another； and then
take such course as we felt our duty and the interests of our
constituents required of us。
Mr。 Noell； of Missouri； said that in his State slavery was not
considered a permanent institution； that natural causes were there in
operation which would at no distant day extinguish it； and he did not
think that this proposition was necessary for that； and； besides
that； he and his friends felt solicitous as to the message on account
of the different constructions which the resolution and message had
received。 The New York Tribune was for it； and understood it to mean
that we must accept gradual emancipation according to the plan
suggested； or get something worse。
The President replied that he must not be expected to quarrel with
the New York Tribune before the right time； he hoped never to have to
do it； he would not anticipate events。 In respect to emancipation in
Missouri； he said that what had been observed by Mr。 Noell was
probably true； but the operation of these natural causes had not
prevented the irritating conduct to which he had referred； or
destroyed the hopes of the Confederates that Missouri would at some
time merge herself alongside of them； which； in his judgment； the
passage of this resolution by Congress and its acceptance by Missouri
would accomplish。
Mr。 Crisfield； of Maryland； asked what would be the effect of the
refusal of the State to accept this proposal； and he desired to know
if the President looked to any policy beyond the acceptance or
rejection of this scheme。
The President replied that he had no designs beyond the actions of
the States on this particular subject。 He should lament their
refusal to accept it； but he had no designs beyond their refusal of
it。
Mr。 Menzies； of Kentucky； inquired if the President thought there was
any power except in the States themselves to carry out his scheme of
emancipation。
The President replied that he thought there could not be。 He then
went off into a course of remarks not qualifying the foregoing
declaration nor material to be repeated to a just understanding of
his meaning。
Mr。 Crisfield said he did not think the people of Maryland looked
upon slavery as a permanent institution； and he did not know that
they would be very reluctant to give it up if provision was made to
meet the loss and they could be rid of the race； but they did not
like to be coerced into emancipation； either by the direct action of
the government or by indirection； as through the emancipation of
slaves in this District； or the confiscation of Southern property as
now threatened； and he thought before they would consent to consider
this proposition they would require to be informed on these points。
The President replied that； unless he was expelled by the act of God
or the Confederate armies he should occupy that house for three
years； and as long as he remained there Maryland had nothing to fear
either for her institutions or her interests on the points referred
to。
Mr。 Crisfield immediately added： 〃Mr。 President； if what you now say
could be heard by the people of Maryland； they would consider your
proposition with a much better feeling than I fear without it they
will be inclined to do。〃
The President： 〃That ＇meaning a publication of what he said＇ will not
do； it would force me into a quarrel before the proper time 〃； and；
again intimating； as he had before done； that a quarrel with the
〃Greeley faction〃 was impending； he said he did not wish to encounter
it before the proper time； nor at all if it could be avoided。
＇The Greely faction wanted an immediate Emancipation Proclamation。
D。W。＇
Governor Wickliffe； of Kentucky； then asked him respecting the
constitutionality of his scheme。
The President replied： 〃As you may suppose； I have considered that；
and the proposition now submitted does not encounter any
constitutional difficulty。 It proposes simply to co…operate with any
State by giving such State pecuniary aid〃； and he thought that the
resolution； as proposed by him； would be considered rather as the
expression of a sentiment than as involving any constitutional
question。
Mr。 Hall； of Missouri； thought that if this proposition was adopted
at all it should be by the votes of the free States； and come as a
proposition from them to the slave States； affording them an
inducement to put aside this subject of discord； that it ought not to
be expected that members representing slaveholding constituencies
should declare at once； and in advance of any proposition to them；
for the emancipation of slavery。
The President said he saw and felt the force of the objection； it was
a fearful responsibility； and every gentleman must do as he thought
best； that he did not know how this scheme was received by the
members from the free States； some of them had spoken to him and
received it kin