Lincoln The Emancipation Proclamation With A Twist

[Copperhead-mi]

While looking for a particular book this afternoon, I found an old 1864 copy of a book I had completely forgotten that I had, entitled
Chronicles of the Great Rebellion - From the Beginning of the Same Until The Fall Of Vicksburg, by Rev.. Allen M. Scott , D. D.

The book covers from the latter part of the Buchanan administration, up until the fall of Vicksburg during July 1864.
What is unique about this particular book is that the author, a Reverend, has written it in the style of scripture that you'd find in a bible.
For your reading pleasure, Reverend Scott's version of the Emancipation Proclamation.


ABRAHAM'S WARNING.

1. Now when Abraham had thought of all that Horace had written and counselled with himself he called William his chief counseller and said unto him,

2. Is not Horace right in this thing and are not the Ethiopians a great help unto Jefferson and a great harm unto us.

3. Are they not hewers of wood and drawers of water for him and doth he not employ them to build his walls and dig his trenches and to till his fields and to tend his flocks?

4. Verily William I will not that this be so but is my soul liveth I will deliver this people from bondage and hire them with money that they come up and help us.

5. And the thing pleased William and he told it unto Salmon and unto many of the High Priests of the Sanhedrim and they were glad.

6. So Abraham wrote a Proclamation and caused the Great Seal of the Union to be set thereunto.

7. And Abraham's Proclamation was to the Rulers of the land of Dixie and to all the slave holders thereof.

8. And in the Proclamation it was written "that on the first day of the first month of the year eighteen hundred and sixty and three all persons held in bondage in any State or part of a State,

9. "The people whereof should be in rebellion against the United States should be thenceforward and forever free.

10. Now Abraham's Proclamation went forth through the length and breadth of the land.

11. And many were glad and rejoiced greatly but some murmured saying Abraham hath no right to do this thing.

12. Others wondered saying how can this thing come to pass and how shall the Ethiopians be free? Is Abraham a god that his word breaketh the bonds of the slave?

13. Others said, let be we shall see how this thing will end; verily Abraham hath sense and knoweth his own way.

14. Now many of the captains and leaders of the armies resigned their offices and would not serve in the wars after Abraham had done this thing.

15. And the chroniclers of the South wrote hard things of Abraham calling him fiend, for they said he inciteth the servant to rise in rebellion against his master.

16. Nevertheless Abraham putteth his hands in his pockets and walketh up and down and whistleth, for he knew his own way and followed it.
Ibid. pp. 217-219


THE EDICT OF EMANCIPATION

1. Now when the year of Jubilee was come, Abraham numbered the tribes that were in rebellion and arms against the Union,

2. In the land of Texas, and the land of Arkansas, and the land of Louisiana, and the land of Mississippi, and the land of Alabama,

3. Of the land of Florida, and the land of Georgia, and the land of the Carolinas, and the land of Virginia,

4. And Abraham proclaimed that the slaves of the tribes in rebellion should be free, and that the armies of the North maintain the freedom of them.

5. And Abraham enjoined upon the Ethiopians, that they should do no violence to any man, except in necessary self defense.

6. And Abraham further declared that the Ethiopians, who were freed, should be received into armed service of the State, to garrison forts and positions and stations, and to man vessels of all sorts.

7. And Abraham invoked the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God, on the edict which he had written.

8. Now the number of Ethiopians that were made free by the edict of Abraham was three millions and one hundred and nineteen thousand and three hundred and four score and ten souls.

9. Therefore there was great rejoicing in the local North, and the Ethiopians gathered together in great meetings.

10. And there was shouting and singing and speechmaking, and the beating of drums and the firing of cannon.

11. And many cheers were given for Abraham, and for Horace, and for Garrison, and for Cheever.

12. And many contrabands went up to the temples and gave thanks and sang praises.

13. And one arose in the midst of the temple, and lifted up his voice and prayer saying,

14. "We 'seech thee O Lord! to 'member de Union army, support dem on de right and left to carry on dy work;

15. Go before dem like de burning lamp. 'Member de President, de sea sailors and de lan' trabblers; member me de meanest ob dem all.

16. Write us a ticket, oh Lord, an' gib us free admission to heabeen. Amen."
Ibid. pp. 245-247

 

[Cavalry Charger]

This feels to me like either a lessening of the Scriptures or an enhancing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

IMO, you can't have it both ways, and in this case you can't have it either way.

I'll accept it's an interesting twist!

 

[unionblue]

Scripture is scripture, whether in the Bible or out of it.

"...and God saw that it was good."

Genesis, chapter 1, verse 12, King James Version.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Scripture is scripture, whether in the Bible or out of it.

?

No, Scripture is what is contained in the Bible.

Creating a Scriptural text out of a Government Proclamation is definitely a twist.

You could apply a Scriptural text to the Proclamation as you have done, in order to assert it merits.

Otherwise, IMO, it is a misapplication of the weightiness of the Word of God.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

This feels to me like either a lessening of the Scriptures or an enhancing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

IMO, you can't have it both ways, and in this case you can't have it either way.

I'll accept it's an interesting twist!

The author obviously anticipated some complaints of his writing style and addressed the issue on pages 4-5 of the book's preface:

"Why have they been written in Scripture style?" inquires some honest and inquisitive reader. I answer, Because the style is quaint, unusual, and from its novelty, calculated to make a lasting impression on the mind.

But perhaps, it is suggested, that the style is that of the Holy Scriptures, and that its use at the present day, is sacrilegious. In answer, I will say, that the style was anciently not confined to the Holy Scriptures, but generally adopted in profane as well as sacred writings, and it is yet used in law forms and documents, and no one, I presume, would venture to say that the language in a deed or mortgage, although of the ancient or solemn style, is sacrilegious. The author venerates the Holy Bible, and takes it as the man of his council, and the guide of his life, and no one would be more averse to sacrilege than himself.

If it would be sacrilegious to use the form of speech that Moses, and the prophets, and the apostles used, it would be equally sacrilegious to wear sandals or turbans because they wore them.

In conclusion, the author would express the hope, that this cruel war of brothers -- this war against the government of our fathers and the old flag that waved over us in the past, may soon be succeeded by a lasting peace and that the wonted prosperity and happiness may ere long be fully restored.

ALLEN M. SCOTT.

Memphis, Tenn., October 1863

 

[Cavalry Charger]

ALLEN M. SCOTT.

Memphis, Tenn., October 1863

Oh my, so he anticipated my move.

He was clever indeed.

I still don't like his interpretation as it could also be taken as a mockery, though going by what he said that was not his intention.

He does say his intention was to create a lasting impression. To my mind it is not a favourable one, but that is just me.

 

[unionblue]

?

No, Scripture is what is contained in the Bible.

Creating a Scriptural text out of a Government Proclamation is definitely a twist.

You could apply a Scriptural text to the Proclamation as you have done, in order to assert it merits.

Otherwise, IMO, it is a misapplication of the weightiness of the Word of God.

In my view, Scripture is not only found in the Bible.

And I firmly believe that God has a sense of humor far exceeding our own.

 

[frontrank2]

Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

In my view, Scripture is not only found in the Bible.

And I firmly believe that God has a sense of humor far exceeding our own.

I would have to disagree on Scripture, but agree on God's sense of humour.

For some reason I don't find the piece humourous, and I do think the impression he was trying to make was more one of shock value.

Although you can have it both ways, like James Thurber's "If Grant had been drinking at Appomattox ..."

 

[Pat Answer]

So of course I had to find and read the Thurber piece (having only been familiar with "The Last Flower" before today)... Funny stuff!

 

[dlofting]

This is just a way of writing.....nothing more, nothing less. The words are those of English people in the time of King James....if you want the original you'll need to learn Hebrew.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

This is just a way of writing.....nothing more, nothing less.

The author, a minister no less, does seem to indicate his intention was for the piece to make an impression. I do believe he was fully aware of the fact it would be seen as something more ... "calculated to make a lasting impression on the mind" and he has assumed a reaction much like the one I originally gave. Why use the language of the ancients when the Proclamation would do perfectly well in language in current use at the time? He intends to be provocative, and cannot let the Proclamation rest on its own merits.

 

[dlofting]

The author, a minister no less, does seem to indicate his intention was for the piece to make an impression. I do believe he was fully aware of the fact it would be seen as something more ... "calculated to make a lasting impression on the mind" and he has assumed a reaction much like the one I originally gave. Why use the language of the ancients when the Proclamation would do perfectly well in language in current use at the time? He intends to be provocative, and cannot let the Proclamation rest on its own merits.

You may well be right, but I would just take it as a bit of humor in otherwise sad times.