On September 22, Mr. Lincoln presented his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet. The following day the proclamation appeared in the newspapers. Reaction was very mixed. Cabinet member Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General, was particularly troubled that the announcement would alientate the border states and affect the upcoming election.
Two days later, Mr. Lincoln, in another quite controversial move, suspended the writ of habeas corpus. With his announcement concerning the writ, Mr. Lincoln said "all Rebels and Insurgents, the aiders and abetters, ... and all persons discouraging volunteer enlistments, resisting military drafts, or guilty of any disloyal practice" anywhere in the country would be arrested, with their writ suspended.
Meanwhile, the president was troubled that General McClellan had let General Lee's army escape back into the south following their actions at Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 17.
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