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LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 277

Grimes (of blessed memory), rose and moved that the meeting adjourn to the
Twelfth Baptist church, of which he was pastor, and soon that church was
racked from doors to pulpit, and this meeting did not break up till near the
dawn of day. It was one of the most affecting and thrilling occasions I ever
witnessed, and a worthy celebration of the first step on the part of the nation
in its departure from the thraldom of ages.

There was evidently no disposition on the part of this meeting to criticise
the proclamation; nor was there with any one at first. At the moment we saw
only its anti-slavery side. But further and more critical examination showed
it to be extremely defective. It was not a proclamation of "liberty throughout
all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof," such as we had hoped it would
be; but was one marked by discriminations and reservations. Its operation
was confined within certain geographical and military lines. It only abolished
slavery where it did not exist, and left it intact where it did exist. It was
a measure apparently inspired by the low motive of military necessity, and
by so far as it was so, it would become inoperative and useless when military
necessity should cease. There was much said in this line, and much that was
narrow and erroneous. For my own part, I took the proclamation, first and
last, for a little more than it purported; and saw in its spirit, a life and power
far beyond its letter. Its meaning to me was the entire abolition of slavery,
wherever the evil could be reached by the Federal arm, and I saw that its
moral power would extend much further. It was in my estimation an immense
gain to have the war for the Union committed to the extinction of Slavery,
even from a military necessity. It is not a bad thing to have individuals or
nations do right though they do so from selfish motives. I approved the one-
spur-wisdom of "Paddy" who thought if he could get one side of his horse
to go, he could trust the speed of the other side.

The effect of the proclamation abroad "as highly beneficial to the loyal
cause. Disinterested parties could now see in it a benevolent character. It was
no longer a mere strife for territory and dominion, but a contest of civilization
against barbarism.

The Proclamation itself was like Mr. Lincoln throughout. It was framed
with a view to the least harm and the most good possible in the circumstances,
and with especial consideration of the latter. It was thoughtful, cautious, and
well guarded at all points. While he hated Slavery, and really desired its
destruction, he always proceeded against it in a manner the least likely to
shock or drive from him any who were truly in sympathy with the preservation
of the union, but who were not friendly to Emancipation. For this he kept
up the distinction between loyal and disloyal slaveholders, and discriminated