At special cabinet meeting with all members present Lincoln reads chapter, "High Handed Outrage at Utica," from book by "Artemus Ward" (Charles Farrar Browne), before reading preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and announcing his decision to issue it. Early opposition of Secretaries Stanton and Chase is overcome. Proclamation provides: That on the first day of January 1863 all persons held as slaves within any state in rebellion against U.S. shall be forever free. President will designate states in rebellion on January 1, 1863. Army and navy personnel are prohibited by Act of March 13, 1862, from returning fugitive slaves. The act to suppress insurrection, approved July 17, 1862, provides that: 1. Escaped slaves and those in territory occupied by forces of U.S. shall be free. 2. Run-away slaves will not be delivered up except for crime or claim of lawful owner under oath that he has not borne arms against government. Executive will recommend that loyal citizens be compensated for all losses by acts of U.S., including loss of slaves. Welles, Diary; Salmon P. Chase, Diary and Correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Compiled by Samuel H. Dodson, American Historical Association, Annual Report for the Year 1902, vol. 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1903); Randall, Lincoln, 2:159; Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, 22 September 1862, CW, 5:433-36.

Detective A. Pinkerton pays Lincoln personal visit. LL, No. 1281.

At 9 p.m. band serenades President at White House. Welles, Diary.

Lincoln writes testimonial: "Dr. [Isachar] Zacharie has operated on my feet with great success, and considerable addition to my comfort." Testimonial for Isachar Zacharie, 22 September 1862, CW, 5:436.