What was the opinion of the US Attorney General regarding the emancipation draft of Lincoln in the Summer of 1862?

Answer 1

US President Lincoln had nominated Edward Bates to be his Attorney General. As a member of the cabinet, Bates had examined Lincoln's draft proclamation and made his opinion clear. He favored Lincoln's plan only if it included compulsory colonization of Freed Blacks somewhere outside the US borders.

Answer 2

Attorney General Edward Bates favored the emancipation proclamation if it included mandatory colonization of Freed Blacks. Here are the thoughts of other members of Lincoln's cabinet. The Postmaster General Montgomery Blair who came from a family of slave owners. He opposed the emancipation proclamation on the grounds that it might cause the Border States to join the Union. It should be noted that in July of 1862, the war was just barely a year old. As has been discussed in other opinions submitted, there was a genuine fear that if even one Border State left the Union, the Union could be in a seriously dangerous situation. Of course unknown to him or anyone else in the cabinet that was one purpose of the the invasion of Maryland in September of 1862.

On the opposite side of everyone, including President Lincoln, Secretary of War Edward Stanton wanted the emancipation proclamation issued at once. Stanton had once been a Democrat and shared his party's opposition of abolition and racial equality. After his appointment he had begun to make allies among the radical wing of the Republican Party. As an aside, let it be noted that as even now, back in 1862, one can never be sure what can happen in politics.

Secretary of State William Seward and Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles had been solid backers of their president ever since they joined the cabinet. In fact Lincoln's draft proposal had been secretly shown to them in early July, at least two weeks before the extraordinary cabinet meeting. Welles was a moderate Republican from New England. He favored the proclamation on practical grounds. He believed that if the Union did not do something, the Confederates would make more use of the slaves regarding their own military needs.

Secretary Seward favored the proclamation, but he was a cautious man. He was aware of Sepoy Mutiny in India. There, the British army's Indian soldiers, called Sepoys, had staged a revolt against British rule. This was cause for major policy changes in India by the British. Seward feared the possibility of of a slave revolt in the US. either in the Border States or the South.

One thing Lincoln knew and was opposed to was a revolt of slaves anywhere at any time.

Seward would advise to wait until a Union battle victory however.

The most radical member of the cabinet was Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. Even though he was a Radical Republican, he questioned the president's Constitutional authority to make such a proclamation. He too feared a slave rebellion. His advice was not to make a proclamation.

His advice was to let military commanders in the field. In that manner, Union commanders could use martial law to confiscate slaves in conquered territory and make use of them as needed. In this manner the non Black Union troops could keep all matters under control.

In summary, the draft of Lincoln's emancipation proclamation seemed to have "varied" support in the cabinet.