Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/123

 N the 22d of September, President Lincoln issued his famous Proclamation of Emancipation of the slaves in States which should be in rebellion against the United States on the 1st of January, 1863. On the 24th, he issued another proclamation declaring martial law, and suspending the writ of habeas corpus during the existing insurrection.

During this time of general anxiety, Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania, with others in the east, issued a circular letter, addressed to the Governors of the loyal States, inviting them to a conference at Altoona, Pennsylvania. On the 22d of September, 1862, the following named Governors assembled for consultation: A. G. Curtin of Pennsylvania; John A. Andrew, Massachusetts, Israel Washburn, Maine, N. S. Berry, New Hampshire; Wm. Sprague, Rhode Island; Frederick Holbrook, Vermont; David Tod, Ohio; O. P. Morton, Indiana; Richard Yates, Illinois; Austin Blair, Michigan; Edward Salmon, Wisconsin; and S. J. Kirkwood, Iowa.

They entered into a free discussion of the military situation and the Emancipation Proclamation, which all approved, and appointed Governor Andrew to prepare an address to the President expressing their views at length, and pledging their earnest support in all measures necessary to subdue the Rebellion. They visited the President in a body and Governor Andrew read him the address, to which Mr. Lincoln responded. A majority of the Governors were firmly of the opinion that the public interest required the removal of General McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac, but, as all were not agreed upon this, it was not mentioned in the address.