April 2, 1862

April 2, 1862:  In Congress, today is issued this historical document advocating Compensated Emancipation:

Congressional Joint Resolution on Compensated Emancipation

Joint Resolution declaring that the United States ought to coöperate with, affording pecuniary Aid to any State which may adopt the gradual Abolishment of Slavery.

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States ought to coöperate with any State which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State in its discretion, to compensate for the inconveniences, public and private, produced by such change of system.

—In response to this resolution, the New York Times offers commentary upon members of both Houses who opposed this bill, and any bill that would free slaves:
Congress upon Mr. Lincoln’s Emancipation Message.

The President’s Emancipation policy has been made the policy of the Government. The joint resolution, which so readily passed the House of Representatives, was yesterday passed in the Senate, the vote being thirtytwo for the measure and ten against it. The Executive signature will at once complete this all-important act.
It must always be a source of mortification to remember the almost perfect unanimity of the Border State members in opposition to the benignant proposition of Mr. LINCOLN. The President appealed directly to the justice and patriotism of the Border States. . . .
But Mr. LINCOLN’s presentation of the matter left these people without excuse. The demonstration was too palpable to be mistaken. In shutting their eyes to it, and in this post meridian of the nineteenth century, and during the very twelvemonth which has seen Slavery effervesce into treason, to record their testimony in favor of the condemned institution, shows an impenetrability to reason and right, which is simply inconceivable. . . . We tell these Knights of the Border, who have rewarded the President’s tolerance of their sluggish loyalty by throwing themselves compactly into the ranks of opposition, that the ground is crumbling under them, and that the people they speak for are already making ready to approve and fully support the Administration, even in its plan of enfranchisement.
  

　
　
—In Corinth, Mississippi, at the Confederate base for the new Army of the Mississippi, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and Gen Pierre G.T. Beauregard have been drawing up plans, knowing that the Union armies of Buell and Grant are planning to converge at Pittsburg Landing prior to a big push toward Corinth.  To prevent this juncture, they decide to attack the Union forces in detail, beginning with Grant.  Johnston issues orders for the army to be ready to march in the morning:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Corinth, Miss., April 2, 1862.

GENERAL: The commander of the forces directs that you hold your command in hand ready to advance upon the enemy in the morning by 6 a.m., with three days' cooked rations in haversacks, 100 rounds of ammunition for small-arms and 200 rounds for field pieces. Carry two days cooked subsistence in wagons and two tents to the company.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS JORDAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, CSA