1862] Lincoln's emancipation policy. 591 the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored, the nearer the Union will be to 'the Union as it was.' If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it ; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it ; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. What I do about slavery and the coloured race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty ; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every- where could be free." (5) EMANCIPATION. The President was not only beset by clamours on the score of public policy and constitutional law, but was also importuned by sincere enthusiasts to decree military emancipation as a religious duty. His reply to a deputation of Chicago clergymen, that he did not want to issue a document as inoperative as the Pope's Bull against the comet, was merely a figurative protest against their inopportune urgency ; for he had long since decided that such a document would be inefficacious. He immediately added : "Understand I raise no objections against it on legal or constitutional grounds, for, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, in time of war I suppose I have a right to take any measure which may best subdue the enemy." Four days afterwards occurred the battle of Antietam, the result of which was for several days uncertain. As soon as it could be definitely claimed as a victory, the President called together his Cabinet on Monday, September 22, 1862, and laid before it the proclamation he had drafted, informing them that the question was finally decided, that he had formed his own conclusions, and that he only asked their criticisms to assist in making the document as correct in terms as possible. Referring to the former Cabinet council upon the same topic, and its postponement, the President continued: "Ever since then my mind has been much occupied with this subject, and I have thought, all along, that the time for acting on it might probably come. I think the CH. XVIII.
