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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 kindly； but for the most part they were as reserved and
chary as we had been； and he could not tell how they would vote。 And
in reply to some expression of Mr。 Hall as to his own opinion
regarding slavery； he said he did not pretend to disguise his anti…
slavery feeling； that he thought it was wrong； and should continue to
think so； but that was not the question we had to deal with now。
Slavery existed； and that； too； as well by the act of the North as of
the South； and in any scheme to get rid of it the North as well as
the South was morally bound to do its full and equal share。 He
thought the institution wrong and ought never to have existed； but
yet he recognized the rights of property which had grown out of it；
and would respect those rights as fully as similar rights in any
other property； that property can exist and does legally exist。 He
thought such a law wrong； but the rights of property resulting must
be respected； he would get rid of the odious law； not by violating
the rights； but by encouraging the proposition and offering
inducements to give it up。
Here the interview； so far as this subject is concerned； terminated
by Mr。 Crittenden's assuring the President that； whatever might be
our final action； we all thought him solely moved by a high
patriotism and sincere devotion to the happiness and glory of his
country； and with that conviction we should consider respectfully the
important suggestions he had made。
After some conversation on the current war news； we retired； and I
immediately proceeded to my room and wrote out this paper。
J。 W。 CRISFIELD。
We were present at the interview described in the foregoing paper of
Mr。 Crisfield； and we certify that the substance of what passed on
the occasion is in this paper faithfully and fully given。
J。 W。 MENZIES；
J。 J。 CRITTENDEN；
R。 MALLORY。
March 10； 1862。
PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL WAR ORDER NO。3。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； March 11； 1862。
Major…General McClellan having personally taken the field at the head
of the Army of the Potomac； until otherwise ordered he is relieved
from the command of the other military departments； he retaining
command of the Department of the Potomac。
Ordered further； That the departments now under the respective
commands of Generals Halleck and Hunter； together with so much of
that under General Buell as lies west of a north and south line
indefinitely drawn through Knoxville； Tenn。； be consolidated and
designated the Department of the Mississippi； and that until
otherwise ordered Major General Halleck have command of said
department。
Ordered also； That the country west of the Department of the Potomac
and east of the Department of the Mississippi be a military
department； to be called the Mountain Department； and that the same
be commanded by Major…General Fremont。
That all the commanders of departments； after the receipt of this
order by them； respectively report severally and directly to the
Secretary of War； and that prompt； full； and frequent reports will be
expected of all and each of them。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL MCCLELLAN。
WAR DEPARTMENT； March 13； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL GEORGE B。 MCCLELLAN：
The President； having considered the plan of operations agreed upon
by yourself and the commanders of army corps； makes no objection to
the same but gives the following directions as to its execution：
1。 Leave such force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely
certain that the enemy shall no repossess himself of that position
and line of communication。
2。 Leave Washington entirely secure。
3。 Move the remainder of the force down the Potomac； choosing a new
base at Fortress Monroe or anywhere between here and there； or； at
all events； move such remainder of the army at once in pursuit of the