第7章

ThatFrenchdemagoguewhomVictorHugoaptlycalledNapoleontheLittlewasaprimefactorinthehistoryoftheUnionandtheConfederacy。TheConfederatesideofhisintriguewillbetoldinitsproperplace。Here，letusobservehimfromthepointofviewofWashington。

Itistoomuchtoattempttopackintoasentenceortwothecomplicateddramaofdeceit，lies，andgraft，throughwhichhecreatedatlastapretextforinterventionintheaffairsofMexico；itisenoughthatintheautumnof1862aFrencharmyofinvasionmarchedfromVeraCruzuponMexicoCity。WehavealreadyseenthataboutthissametimeNapoleonproposedtoEnglandandRussiaajointinterventionwithFrancebetweenNorthandSouth——aproposalwhich，however，wasrejected。ThisMexicanventureexplainswhytheplanwassuggestedatthatparticulartime。

DisappointedinEnglandandRussia，Napoleonunexpectedlyreceivedencouragement，ashethought，fromwithintheUnitedStatesthroughthemediumoftheeccentriceditorofthe"NewYorkTribune"。WeshallhaveoccasiontoreturnlatertotheadventuresofHoraceGreeley——thaterraticindividualwhohasmanygoodandgenerousactstohiscredit，aswellasmanyfoolishones。Forthepresentwehavetonotethattowardthecloseof1862heapproachedtheFrenchAmbassadoratWashingtonwitharequestforimperialmediationbetweentheNorthandtheSouth。GreeleywasatypeofAmericanthatnoEuropeancanunderstand:hebelievedintalk，andmoretalk，andstillmoretalk，asthecureforearthlyills。Henevercouldunderstandthatanybodybesideshimselfcouldhavestrongconvictions。WhenhetoldtheAmbassadorthattheEmperor"smediationwouldleadtoareconciliationofthesections，hewasdoubtlesssincereinhisbelief。TheastuteEuropeandiplomat，whocouldnotbelievesuchsimplicity，thoughtitamask。Whenheaskedfor，andreceived，permissiontopasstheFederallinesandvisitRichmond，heinterpretedthepermitinthelightofhisassumptionaboutGreeley。AtRichmond，hefoundnodesireforreunion。Puttingthisandthattogether，heconcludedthattheNorthwantedtogiveupthefightandwouldwelcomemediationtosaveitsface。ThedreadfuldefeatatFredericksburgfellinwiththisreasoning。HisreportsonAmericanconditionsledNapoleon，inJanuary，1863，toattemptalonewhathehadoncehopedtodosupportedbyEnglandandRussia。HeproposedhisgoodofficestotheGovernmentatWashingtonasamediatorbetweenNorthandSouth。

Hitherto，WashingtonhadbeenverydiscreetaboutMexico。AdroithintsnottogotoofarhadbeengivenNapoleoninfullmeasure，buttherewasnorealprotest。TheStateDepartmentnowcontinuedthiscautionandinthemostpolitetermsdeclinedNapoleon"soffer。Congress，however，tookthemattermoregrimly，forthroughoutthedealingswithNapoleon，ithadbeenatoddswithLincoln。Itnowpassedthefirstofaseriesofresolutionswhichexpressedthewillofthecountry，ifnotquitethewillofthePresident，byresolvingthatanyfurtherproposalofmediationwouldberegardedbyitas"anunfriendlyact。"

Napoleonthenresumedhisschemingforjointintervention，whileinthemeantimehisarmiescontinuedtofighttheirwayuntiltheyenteredMexicoCityinJune，1863。ThetimehadnowcomewhenNapoleonthoughtitopportunetoshowhishand。

ThosewerethedayswhenLeeappearedinvincible，andwhenChancellorsvillecrownedasplendidseriesoftriumphs。InEngland，theSouthernpartymadeafreshstart；andsocietieswereorganizedtoaidtheConfederacy。AtLiverpool，LairdBrotherswerebuilding，ostensiblyforFrance，reallyfortheConfederacy，twoironcladssupposedtooutclasseveryshipintheNorthernnavy。InFrance，100，000unemployedcottonhandswereriotingforfood。ToraisefundsfortheConfederacythegreatErlangerbanking-houseofParisnegotiatedaloanbasedoncottonwhichwastobedeliveredafterthebreakingoftheblockade。NapoleondreamedofashatteredAmericanunion，twoenfeebledrepublics，andabroadwayforhisownschemeinMexico。

InJuneanEnglishpoliticianofSouthernsympathies，EdwardRoebuck，wentovertoFrance，wasreceivedbytheEmperor，andcametoanunderstandingwithhim。RoebuckwenthometoreporttotheSouthernpartythatNapoleonwasreadytointervene，andthatallhewaitedforwasEngland"scooperation。Amotion"toenterintonegotiationswiththeGreatPowersofEuropeforthepurposeofobtainingtheircooperationintherecognition"oftheConfederacywasintroducedbyRoebuckintheHouseofCommons。

ThedebatewhichfollowedwasthelastchanceoftheSouthernpartyand，aseventsproved，thelastchanceofNapoleon。HowcompletelytheBritishministrywasnowcommittedtotheNorthappearsinthefactthatGladstone，fortheGovernment，opposedRoebuck"smotion。JohnBrightattackeditinwhatLordMorleycalls"perhapsthemostpowerfulandthenoblestspeechofhislife。"TheSouthernpartywashardlyresoluteintheirsupportofRoebuckandpresentlyhewithdrewhismotion。

ButtherewerestilltheironcladsatLiverpool。Wehaveseenthatearlierinthewar，thecarelessnessoftheBritishauthoritieshadpermittedtheescapeofship290，subsequentlyknownastheConfederatecommercedestroyer，Alabama。Theauthoritiesdidnotwishtoallowarepetitionoftheincident。

ButcoulditbeshownthattheLairdshipswerenotreallyforaFrenchpurchaser?ItwasinthecourseofdiplomaticconversationsthatMr。Adams，speakingofthepossiblesailingoftheships，madearemarkdestinedtobecomefamous:"Itwouldbesuperfluousinmetopointouttoyourlordshipthatthisiswar。"Atjest，theauthoritiesweresatisfied。TheshipswereseizedandintheendboughtfortheBritishNavy。

AgainNapoleonstoodalone。Notonlyhadhefailedtoobtainaidfromabroad，butinFranceitselfhisMexicanschemeswerewidelyandbitterlycondemned。Yethehadgonetoofartorecede，andwhathehadbeenaimingatallalongwasnowrevealed。AnassemblyofMexicannotables，convenedbythegeneraloftheinvaders，votedtosetupanimperialgovernmentandofferedthecrowntoNapoleon"snominee，theArchdukeMaximilianofAustria。

AndnowtheGovernmentatWashingtonwasfacedwithacomplicatedproblem。WhatabouttheMonroeDoctrine?DidtheUniondareriskwarwithFrance?DiditdarepassoverwithoutprotesttheestablishmentofmonarchyonAmericansoilbyforeignarms?

Betweenthesehornsofadilemma，theGovernmentmaintaineditsprecariouspositionduringanotheryear。Seward"scorrespondencewithPariswasamasterpieceofevasion。HeneitherprotestedagainsttheinterventionofNapoleonnoracknowledgedtheauthorityofMaximilian。Apparently，bothheandLincolnweredividedbetweenfearofaFrenchalliancewiththeConfederacyandfearofprematureactionintheNorththatwouldrenderNapoleondesperate。JusthowfartheycomprehendedNapoleonandhisproblemsisanopenquestion。

Whetherreallycomprehendingormerelytrustingtoitsinstinct，Congresstookaboldercourse。Twomenprovetheantagonistsofaparliamentaryduel——CharlesSumner，chairmanoftheSenateCommitteeonForeignRelations，andHenryWinterDavis，chairmanofthecorrespondingcommitteeoftheHouse。SumnerplayedthehandoftheAdministration。FieryresolutionsdemandingtheevacuationofMexicooranAmericandeclarationofwarwereskillfullyburiedinthesilenceofSumner"scommittee。Buttherewasneverthelessoneresolutionthataffectedhistory:itwasaringingcondemnationoftheattempttoestablishamonarchyinMexico。IntheHouse，ajointresolutionwhichDavissubmittedwaspassedwithoutonedissentingvote。WhenitcametotheSenate，Sumnerburieditashehadburiedearlierresolutions。NonethelessitwentouttotheworldattendedbythenewsoftheunanimousvoteintheHouse。

Shortlyafterwards，theAmericanAmbassadoratPariscalledupontheimperialForeignSecretary，M。DrouyndeL"huys。Newsofthisresolutionhadprecededhim。Hewasmetbythecurtquestion，"Doyoubringpeaceorwar?"Again，theWashingtonGovernmentwasskillfullyevasive。TheAmbassadorwasinstructedtoexplainthattheresolutionhadnotbeeninspiredbythePresidentand"theFrenchGovernmentwouldbeseasonablyapprizedofanychangeofpolicy……whichthePresidentmightatanyfuturetimethinkitpropertoadopt。"

ThereseemslittledoubtthatLincoln"scoursewasverywidelycondemnedastimid。Whenwecometothepoliticalcampaignof1864，weshallmeetHenryWinterDavisamonghismostrelentlesspersonalenemies。DissatisfactionwithLincoln"sMexicanpolicyhasnotbeensufficientlyconsideredinaccountingfortheoppositiontohim，insidethewarparty，in1864。Toitmaybetracedanarticleintheplatformofthewarparty，adoptedinJune，1864，protestingagainsttheestablishmentofmonarchy"innearproximitytotheUnitedStates。"InthesamemonthMaximilianenteredMexicoCity。

ThesubsequentmovesofNapoleonareexplainedelsewhere。*Thecentralfactinthestoryishisvirtualchangeofattitude，inthesummerof1864。TheConfederateagentatPariscomplainedofagrowingcoolness。Beforetheendofthesummer，theConfederateSecretaryofStatewasbitterinhisdenunciationofNapoleonforhavingdesertedtheSouth。Napoleon"spuppetMaximilianrefusedtoreceiveanenvoyfromtheConfederacy。ThoughWashingtondidnotformallyprotestagainstthepresenceofMaximilianinMexico，itdeclinedtorecognizehisGovernment，andthatGovernmentcontinuedunrecognizedatWashingtonthroughoutthewar。

*NathanielW。Stephenson，"TheDayoftheConfederacy"。(In"TheChroniclesofAmerica")。

CHAPTERXIII。THEPLEBISCITEOF1864

EverygreatrevolutionamongAnglo-Saxonpeople——perhapsamongallpeople——hasproducedstrangetypesofdreamers。InAmerica，however，neithersectioncouldclaimamonopolyofsuchtypes，andeventhelatter-dayvisionarieswhocanseeeverythinginheavenandearth，exceptingfact，hadtheirNorthernandSouthernoriginalsinthetimeofthegreatAmericanwar。Amongtheseisastrangecongregationwhichassembledinthespringof1864andwhichhascometobeknown，fromitsplaceofmeeting，astheClevelandConvention。Itscomingtogetherwastheresultofaloosecooperationamongseveralminorpoliticalgroups，allofwhichwerefortheUnionandthewar，andviolentlyopposedtoLincoln。Sofarastheyhadacommonpurpose，itwastosupplantLincolnbyFremontinthenextelection。

TheConventionwasnotableforthelargeproportionofagnosticsamongitsmembers。Amotionwasmadetoamendaresolutionthat"theRebellionmustbeputdown"byaddingthewords"withGod"sassistance。"Thistouchofpietywasstormilyrejected。AnothergrouprepresentedatClevelandwasmadeupofextremeabolitionistsundertheleadershipofthatbrilliantbutdisorderedgenius，WendellPhillips。HesentaletterdenouncingLincolnandpledginghissupportofFremontbecauseofthelatter"s"clearsightedstatesmanshipandraremilitaryability。"

Theconventiondeclareditselfapoliticalparty，underthestyleoftheRadicalDemocracy，andnominatedFremontforPresident。

Therewasanotherbodyofdreamers，stillmoresingular，whowerealsobitteropponentsofLincoln。Theywere，however，notinfavorofwar。Theirpoliticalmachineryconsistedofsecretsocieties。Asearlyas1860，theKnightsoftheGoldenCirclewereactiveinIndiana，wheretheydidyeomanserviceforBreckinridge。LaterthissocietyacquiredsomeundergroundinfluenceinotherStates，especiallyinOhio，anddiditsshareinbringingaboutthevictoriesatthepollsintheautumnof1862，whentheDemocratscapturedtheIndianalegislature。

ThemostseriouschargeagainsttheGoldenCirclewascomplicityinanattempttoassassinateOliverP。Morton，GovernorofIndiana，whowasfiredat，onenight，ashewasleavingthestatehouse。WhenMortondemandedaninvestigationoftheGoldenCircle，thelegislaturerefusedtosanctionit。OnhisownauthorityandwithFederalaidhemadeinvestigationsandpublishedareportwhich，ifitdidnotactuallyprovetreason，camedangerouslyneartoproof。Thereafter，thissocietydropsoutofsight，anditsmembersappeartohaveformedthenewOrderoftheAmericanKnights，whichinitsturnwaseclipsedbytheSonsofLiberty。Therewereseveralothersuchsocietiesallorganizedonamilitaryplanandwithagreatpretenseofarmingtheirmembers。This，however，hadtobedonesurreptitiously。

BoxesofriflespurchasedintheEastwereshippedWestlabeled"Sunday-schoolbooks，"andnegotiationswereevenundertakenwiththeConfederacytobringinarmsbywayofCanada。AtameetingofthesupremecounciloftheSonsofLiberty，inNewYork，February22，1864，itwasclaimedthattheorderhadnearlyamillionmembers，thoughtheGovernmentsecretserviceconsideredhalfamillionamoreexactestimate。

Aseventssubsequentlyproved，thesocietieswerenotasformidableasthesefigureswouldimply。Mostofthemenwhojoinedthemseemtohavebeenfancifulcreatureswholovedsecrecyforitsownsake。Whilerealmen，NorthandSouth，werelayingdowntheirlivesfortheirprinciples，thesemake-believemenwereholdingbombasticinitiationsandtakingoathssuchasthisfromtheritualoftheAmericanKnights:"Idofurthersolemnlypromiseandswear，thatIwillevercherishthesublimelessonswhichthesacredemblemsofourordersuggest，andwill，sofarasinmelies，impartthoselessonstothepeopleoftheearth，wherethemysticacornfallsfromitsparentbough，inwhosevisiblefirmamentOrion，Arcturus，andthePleiadesrideintheircoldresplendentglories，andwheretheSouthernCrossdazzlestheeyeofdegradedhumanitywithitscoruscationsofgoldenlight，fitemblemofTruth，whileitinvitesoursacredordertoconsecratehertemplesinthefourcornersoftheearth，wheremoraldarknessreignsanddespotismholdssway……Divineessence，sohelpmethatIfailnotinmytroth，lestIshallbesummonedbeforethetribunaloftheorder，adjudgedandcondemnedtocertainandshamefuldeath，whilemynameshallberecordedontherollsofinfamy。Amen。"

ThesecretordersfoughthardtopreventtheLincolnvictoryintheelectionsof1863。EvenbeforethattimetheirleadershadtalkedmysteriouslyofanotherdisruptionoftheUnionandtheformationofaNorthwesternConfederacyinalliancewiththeSouth。TheschemewasknowntotheConfederates，allusionstoitaretobefoundinSouthernnewspapers，andeventheConfederatemilitaryauthoritiesconsideredit。Earlyin1863，GeneralBeauregardthoughttheConfederatesmight"getintoOhioandcalluponthefriendsofVallandighamtoriseforhisdefenseandsupport；then……calluponthewholeNorthwesttojoininthemovement，formaconfederacyoftheirown，andjoinusbyatreatyofalliance，offensiveanddefensive。"Relianceonthesupportofthesocietieswasthewill-o"-the-wispthatdeceivedGeneralJohnMorganinhisdesperateattempttocarryoutBeauregard"sprogramme。Thoughbrushedasideasameredetailbymilitaryhistorians，Morgan"sraid，withhisforceofirregularcavalry，inJuly，1863，throughIndianaandOhio，wasoneofthemostromanticepisodesofthewar。Butitendedinhisdefeatandcapture。Whilehisgallanttroopersrodetotheirdestruction，themenwholovedtoswearbyArcturusandtogabbleaboutthePleiadesshowedthefibertobeexpectedofsuchpeople，andstayedsnugintheirbeds。

ButneithertheirownlackofhardihoodnorthedisastersoftheirSouthernfriendscoulddampentheirpeculiarardor。TheirherowasVallandigham。ThatredoubtablepersonhadfixedhisheadquartersinCanada，whencehedirectedhispartisansintheirvainattempttoelecthimGovernorofOhio。TheirnextmovewastohonorhimwiththeofficeofSupremeCommanderoftheSonsofLiberty，andnowVallandighamresolvedtowinthemartyr"scrowninveryfact。InJune，1864，hepreparedforthedramaticeffectbycarefullyadvertisinghisintentionandcamehome。ButtohisgreatdisappointmentLincolnignoredhim，andthedramaticmartyrdomwhichhehadplanneddidnotcomeoff。

Therestillexistedthepossibilityofagreatuprising，andtothatendarrangementsweremadewithSouthernagentsinCanada。

Confederatesoldiers，pickedmen，madetheirwayindisguisetoChicago。TheretheworshipersofArcturusweretojointheminamightymultitude；theConfederateprisonersatCampDouglasinChicagoweretobeliberated；aroundthatcoreofveterans，thehostsofthePleiadesweretorally。AllthiswastocoincidewiththeassemblingatChicagooftheDemocraticnationalconvention，inwhichVallandighamwastoappear。Theorganizersoftheconspiracydreamedthatthetwoeventsmightcoalesce；

thattheconventionmightbestampededbytheiruprising；thatagreatpart，ifnotthewhole，oftheconventionwouldendorsetheestablishmentofaNorthwesternConfederacy。

AlasforhimwhobuildsontheframeofmindthatdelightsincheaprhetoricwhileRomeisafire!Atthemomentofhazard，theSonsofLibertyshowedthewhitefeather，werefullofspeciouswords，wouldnotact。TheConfederatesoldiers，indignantatthissecondbetrayal，hadtomaketheirescapefromthecountry。

ItmustnotbesupposedthatthisDemocraticnationalconventionwasmadeupaltogetherofSecessionists。Thepeacepartywasstill，asinthepreviousyear，astrangecomplex，amixtureofallsortsandconditions。ItscohesionwasnotsomuchduetoitsloveofpeaceastoitsdislikeofLincolnanditshatredofhisparty。Vallandighamwasamemberofthecommitteeonresolutions。ThepermanentchairmanwasGovernorSeymourofNewYork。TheConventionwascalledtoorderbyAugustBelmont，aforeignerbybirth，theAmericanrepresentativeoftheRothschilds。HewastheheadandfrontofthatbodyofNortherncapitalwhichhadsolongfinancedtheSouthandwhichhadalwaysopposedthewar。InopeningtheConventionhesaid:"Fouryearsofmisrulebyasectional，fanatical，andcorruptpartyhavebroughtourcountrytothevergeofruin。"IntheplatformLincolnwasaccusedofalistofcrimeswhichithadbecomethehabitofthepeacepartytochargeagainsthim。Hisadministrationwasdescribedas"fouryearsoffailure，"andMcClellanwasnominatedforPresident。

TheRepublicanmanagerscalledaconventionatBaltimoreinJune，1864，withaviewtoorganizingacompositeUnionPartyinwhichtheWarDemocratsweretoparticipate。Theirplanwassuccessful。ThesecondplaceontheUnionticketwasacceptedbyaWarDemocrat，AndrewJohnson，ofTennessee。Lincolnwasrenominated，thoughnotwithoutopposition，andhewassokeenlyawarethathewasnottheunanimouschoiceoftheUnionPartythathepermittedthefacttoappearinapublicutterancesoonafterward。"Idonotallowmyself，"hesaid，inaddressingadelegationoftheNationalUnionLeague，"tosupposethateithertheConventionortheLeaguehaveconcludedtodecidethatIameitherthegreatestorthebestmaninAmerica，butrathertheyhaveconcludeditisnotbesttoswaphorseswhilecrossingtheriver，andhavefurtherconcludedthatIamnotsopoorahorsethattheymightnotmakeabotchofitintryingtoswap。"

ButtheUnionPartywassofarfrombeingaunitthatduringthesummerfactionalquarrelsdevelopedwithinitsranks。AlltheelementsthatwereunfriendlytoLincolntookheartfromadisputebetweenthePresidentandCongresswithregardtoreconstructioninLouisiana，overalargepartofwhichFederaltroopshadestablishedacivilgovernmentonthePresident"sauthority。Asanincidentinthehistoryofreconstruction，thiswholematterhasitsplaceinanothervolume。*Butitalsohasaplaceinthehistoryofthepresidentialcampaignof1864。

Lincoln"splanofreconstructionwasobnoxioustotheRadicalsinCongressinasmuchasitdidnotdefinitelyabolishslaveryinLouisiana，althoughitrequiredthenewGovernmenttogiveitsadherencetotheEmancipationProclamation。CongresspassedabilltakingreconstructionoutofthePresident"shandsanddefinitelyrequiringthereconstructedStatestoabolishslavery。

LincolntookthepositionthatCongresshadnopoweroverslaveryintheStates。WhenhisProclamationwasthrowninhisteeth，hereplied，"IconceivethatImayinanemergencydothingsonmilitarygroundswhichcannotbedoneconstitutionallybyCongress。"IncidentallytherewasafurtherdisagreementbetweenthePresidentandtheRadicalsovernegrosuffrage。Thoughneitherschemeprovidedforit，Lincolnwouldextendit，ifatall，onlytotheexceptionalnegroes，whiletheRadicalswerereadyforasweepingextension。ButLincolnrefusedtosigntheirbillanditlapsed。ThereuponBenjaminWadeofOhioandHenryWinterDavisofMarylandissuedasavagedenunciationofLincolnwhichhasbeenknowneversinceasthe"Wade-DavisManifesto"。

*WalterL。Fleming，"TheSequelofAppomattox"。In"TheChroniclesofAmerica"。

TherewasafactionintheUnionPartywhichwemayjustlynametheVindictives。The"Manifesto"gavethemarallyingcry。AtaconferenceinNewYorktheydecidedtocompeltheretirementofLincolnandthenominationofsomeothercandidate。ForthispurposeanewconventionwastobecalledatCincinnatiinSeptember。IntheranksoftheVindictivesatthistimewastheimpetuouseditorofthe"NewYorkTribune"，HoraceGreeley。Hispresencetherecallsforsomeexplanation。Perhapsthemostsingularfigureofthetime，hewasoneofthemostirresponsibleandyet，throughhispaper，oneofthemostinfluential。Hehadatrickofphrasewhich，somehow，madehimappearoraculartotheplainpeople，especiallyintheruraldistricts——theverypeopleonwhomLincolnreliedforalargepartofhissupport。Greeleyknewhispower，andhismindwasnotlargeenoughtocarrytheknowledgewell。Furthermore，hiswasthesortofnaturethatrelatesitselftolifeaboveallthroughthesensibilities。

Kiplingspeaksscornfullyofpeoplewhoiftheir"ownfrontdoorisshutwillsweartheworldiswarm。"TheyarerelationsinthefullbloodofHoraceGreeley。

InJuly，whenthebreachbetweenthePresidentandtheVindictiveswasjustbeginningtobeevident，Greeleywaspursuinganadventureofhisown。Amongtheleastsensibleminorincidentsofthewarwereanumberoffantasticattemptsofprivatepersonstonegotiatepeace。Withoneexceptiontheyhadnohistoricimportance。TheexceptionisanegotiationcarriedonbyGreeley，whichseemstohavebeentheultimatecauseofhisalliancewiththeVindictives。

InthemiddleofJuly，1864，goldwassellinginNewYorkat285。

Therewasdistressanddiscontentthroughoutthecountry。ThehorribleslaughteroftheWilderness，stillfreshineverybody"smind，hadputthewholeUnionPartyintomourning。TheimpressionableGreeleybecamefranticforpeacepeaceatanyprice。AtthepsychologicalmomentwordwasconveyedtohimthattwopersonsinCanadaheldauthorityfromtheConfederacytoenterintonegotiationsforpeace。GreeleywrotetoLincolndemandingnegotiationsbecause"ourbleeding，bankrupt，almostdyingcountrylongsforpeace，shuddersattheprospectoffreshconscriptions，offurtherwholesaledevastations，andofnewriversofhumanblood。"

LincolnconsentedtoanegotiationbutstipulatedthatGreeleyhimselfshouldbecomeresponsibleforitsconduct。ThoughthiswasnotwhatGreeleywantedforhistypealwayspreferstotellotherswhattodo——hesullenlyaccepted。HeproceededtoNiagaratomeetthereputedcommissionersoftheConfederacy。Thedetailsofthefutileconferencedonotconcernus。TheConfederateagentswerenotempoweredtotreatforpeace——atleastnotonanytermsthatwouldbeconsideredatWashington。

Theirrealpurposewasfarsubtler。AppreciatingthedelicatebalanceinNorthernpolitics，theyaimedatmakingitappearthatLincolnwasbeggingforterms。Lincoln，whoforesawthispossibleturnofevents，hadexpresslylimitedGreeleytonegotiationsfor"theintegrityofthewholeUnionandtheabandonmentofslavery。"Greeleychosetobelievethattheseinstructions，andnotthesubtletyoftheConfederateagentsandhisownimpulsiveness，werethecauseofthefalsepositioninwhichtheagentsnowplacedhim。Theypublishedanaccountoftheepisode，thuseffectinganexposurewhichledtosharpattacksuponGreeleybytheNorthernpress。InthebitternessofhismortificationGreeleythenwentfromoneextremetotheotherandjoinedtheVindictives。

LessthanthreeweeksaftertheconferenceatNiagara，the"Wade-DavisManifesto"appeared。ItwascommunicatedtothecountrythroughthecolumnsofGreeley"spaperonthe5thofAugust。Greeley，whososhortatimebeforewasforpeaceatanyprice，wentthewholelengthofreactionbyproclaimingthat"Mr。

Lincolnisalreadybeaten……Wemusthaveanothertickettosaveusfromutteroverthrow。IfwehadsuchaticketascouldbemadebynamingGrant，Butler，orShermanforPresidentandFarragutforVice，wecouldmakeafightyet。"

AtaboutthissametimethechairmanoftheRepublicannationalcommittee，whowasaLincolnman，wrotetothePresidentthatthesituationwasdesperate。Lincolnhimselfisknowntohavemadeaprivatememorandumcontainingthewords，"ItseemsextremelyprobablethatthisAdministrationwillnotbereelected。"Onthe1stofSeptember，1864，withthreepresidentialcandidatesinthefield，Northernpoliticswerebewildering，andthecountrywasshroudedinthedeepestgloom。TheWildernesscampaign，afterslaughterunparalleled，hadnotinthepopularmindachievedresults。Sherman，inGeorgia，thoughhislosseswerenotasterribleasGrant"s，hadnotyetdoneanythingtolightenthegloom。NotevenFarragut"svictoryinMobileBay，inAugust，far-reachingasitprovedtobe，reassuredtheNorth。AbittercryforpeacewentupevenfromloversoftheUnionwhoseheartshadfailed。

Meanwhile，thebrilliantstrategistinGeorgiawaspressinghisdriveforpoliticalaswellasformilitaryeffect。TorousethoseUnionistswhohadlostheartwaspartofhispurposewhenhehurledhiscolumnsagainstAtlanta，fromwhichHoodwasdriveninoneofthemostdisastrousofConfederatedefeats。Onthe3rdofSeptemberLincolnissuedaproclamationappointingadayofthanksgivingforthesegreatvictoriesofShermanandFarragut。

Onthatday，itwouldseem，thetideturnedinNorthernpolitics。

SomehistoriansarecontentwithAtlantaastheexplanationofallthatfollowed；buttherearethreeseparateeventsofimportancethatnowoccurredasincidentsinthecomplicatedsituation。Inthefirstplace，threeweekslatertheradicaloppositionhadcollapsed；theplanforanewconventionwasabandoned；theVindictiveleaderscameoutinsupportofLincoln。

Almostsimultaneouslyoccurredtheremainingtwosurprisingevents。Fremontwithdrewfromhiscandidacyinordertodohis"parttowardpreventingtheelectionoftheDemocraticcandidate。"AndLincolnaskedfortheresignationofamemberofhisCabinet，Postmaster-GeneralMontgomeryBlair，whowastheespecialenemyoftheVindictives。

TheofficialbiographersofLincoln*keepthesethreeeventsseparate。TheyholdthatBlair"sremovalwaswhollyLincoln"sidea，andthatfromchivalrousreasonshewouldnotabandonhisfriendaslongasheseemedtobelosingthegame。ThehistorianRhodeswritesconfidentlyofabargainwithFremont，holdingthatBlairwasremovedtoterminateaquarrelwithFremontwhichdatedbackeventohisownremovalin1861。ApossiblethirdtheoryturnsuponChase，whosehostilitytoBlairwasquiteequaltothatoftheillbalancedFremont。IthadbeenstimulatedthepreviouswinterbyafiercearraignmentofChasemadebyBlair"sbrotherinCongress，inwhichChasewasbluntlyaccusedoffraudandofmakingmoney，orallowinghisfriendstomakemoney，throughillicittradeincotton。AndChasewasamanofmightamongtheVindictives。Theintrigue，however，nevercomestotheforegroundinhistory，butlurksinthebackgroundthickwithshadows。OnceortwiceamongthoseshadowsweseemtocatchaglimpseofthefigureofThurlowWeed，themaster-politicianofthetime。Takingonethingwithanother，wemayrisktheguessthatsomehowthetworadicalgroupswhichwerebothrelentlessagainstBlairwereledtopooltheirissues，andthatBlair"sremovalwasthepriceLincolnpaidnottoonefactionofradicalsbuttothewholeunmercifulcrowd。

*Hisprivatesecretaries，JohnG。NicolayandJohnHay。

Whatevercomplexofpurposeslaybackofthetriplecoincidence，thelatterpartofSeptembersawageneralreunionofthefactionswithintheUnionParty，followedbyaswiftrecoveryofstrength。Whentheelectioncame，Lincolnreceivedanelectoralvoteof212against21，andapopularvoteof2，330，552against1，835，985。

Theinevitablequestionarisesastowhatwastherealcauseofthissuccess。Itissafetosaythatthepoliticalcampaigncontainedsomeadroitstrategy；thatShermanwaswithoutdoubtanenormousfactor；thattheDemocratsmadenumerousblunders；andthatthesecretsocietieshadaneffectotherthantheyintended。

However，therealclueseemstobefoundinonesentencefromaletterwrittenbyLowelltoMotleywhentheoutlookforhispartywasdarkest:"Themercantileclassesarelongingforpeace，butI

believethatthepeoplearemorefirmthanever。"Ofthegreat，silentmassofthepeople，thetruetemperseemstobestruckoffinapopularpoemofthetime，writteninresponsetooneofthecallsformoretroops，apoemwithrefrainsbuiltonthemodelofthiscouplet:

"We"recomingfromthehillside，we"recomingfromtheshore，We"recoming，FatherAbraham，sixhundredthousandmore。"

CHAPTERXIV。LINCOLN"SFINALINTENTIONS

ThevictoryoftheUnionPartyinNovemberenabledLincolntoenjoyforabriefperiodofhiscareerasPresidentwhatmaybethoughtofasalullinthestorm。Heknewnowthathehadatlastbuiltupafirmandpowerfulsupport。Withthisassured，hispolicy，bothdomesticandforeign——thekeytowhichwasstilltheblockade——mightbeconsideredvictoriousatallpoints。

Thereremainstobenoticed，however，oneeventoftheyear1864

whichwasofvitalimportanceinmaintainingtheblockade。

Itisaprincipleofinternationallawthatabelligerentmustitselfattendtothegreattaskofsuppressingcontrabandtradewithitsenemy。Lincolnwascarefultoobservethisprinciple。

ThoughBritishmerchantswerefranklyspeculatingincontrabandtrade，hemadenodemandupontheBritishGovernmenttorelievehimofthedifficultyofstoppingit。Englandalsotookthelegitimatepositionunderinternationallawandwarnedhermerchantsthat，whileitwasnoneoftheGovernment"sbusinesstopreventsuchtrade，theypractiseditattheirownrisk，subjecttowell-understoodpenaltiesagreeduponamongnations。Themerchantsneverthelesscontinuedtotaketherisk，whileboththeyandtheauthoritiesoftheConfederacythoughttheysawawayofminimizingthedanger。InsteadofshippingsuppliesdirecttotheConfederateportstheyshippedthemtoMatamoros，inMexico，ortotheWestIndies。Astheseportswereinneutralterritory，themerchantsthoughttheirgoodswouldbesafeagainstcaptureuntiltheylefttheMexicanorWestIndianportontheirbriefconcludingpassagetotheterritoryoftheConfederacy。Nassau，thenapettyWestIndiatown，wasthechiefdepotofsuchtradeandsoonbecameagreatcommercialcenter。

ToitcamevastquantitiesofEuropeangoodswhichwerethentransferredtoswift，smallvessels，or"blockade-runners，"whichtookagambler"schanceandoftensucceededineludingtheFederalpatrolshipsandinrushingtheircargoessafeintoaConfederateport。

Obviously，itwasagreatdisadvantagetotheUnitedStatestoallowcontrabandsuppliestobeaccumulated，withoutinterference，closetotheblockadedcoast，andtheLincolnGovernmentdeterminedtoremovethisdisadvantage。Withthisendinviewitevokedtheprincipleofthecontinuousvoyage，whichindeedwasnotnew，butwhichwasdestinedtobecomefixedininternationallawbytheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates。

AmericancruiserswereinstructedtostopBritishshipssailingbetweentheBritishportsofLiverpoolandNassau；theyweretousetherecognizedinternationalrightsofvisitandsearch；andiftherewasevidencethatthecargowasnotdestinedforactualconsumptionatNassau，theyweretobringtheshipintoanAmericanporttobedealtwithbyanAmericanprizecourt。Whensucharrestsbegan，theownersclamoredtotheBritishGovernment，andbothdealersincontrabandandprofessionalblockade-runnersworkedthemselvesintoafurybecauseAmericancruiserswatchedBritishportsandsearchedBritishshipsonthehighseas。Withregardtothismatter，theBritishGovernmentandtheGovernmentatWashingtonhadtheirlastimportantcorrespondenceduringthewar。TheUnitedStatesstoodfirmfortheideathatwhengoodswereultimatelyintendedfortheConfederacy，nomatterhowroundaboutthejourney，theycouldbeconsideredasmakingasinglecontinuousvoyageandwereliabletocapturefromthedaytheyleftLiverpool。Earlyin1865，theSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesfullydevelopedtheprincipleofcontinuousvoyageinfourcelebratedcasesthatarenowamongthelandmarksofinternationallaw。*

*TheGreatwarhasonceagainledtocontroversyoverthissubject，sovitaltoneutralstates。

Thiswasthelaststepinmakingtheblockadeeffective。

Thereafter，itslowlystrangledtheSouth。TheFederalarmiesenormouslyovermatchedtheSouthern，andfromNovember，1864，theircontinuanceinthefieldwasmadesure。GrimworkstilllaybeforeLincoln，butthedayofanxietywaspast。Inthismomentofcomparativeease，theagedChiefJusticeTaneydied，andLincolnappointedtothathighpositionhisungenerousrival，Chase。

EvennowLincolnhadnotestablishedhimselfasaleadersuperiortoparty，buthehadthesatisfaction，earlyin1865，ofseeingtheranksoftheoppositionbegintobreak。Naturally，theThirteenthAmendmenttotheConstitution，abolishingslaverythroughouttheUnitedStates，appearedtoLincolnasinawaytheconsummationofhislabors。WhentheHousevotedontheresolutiontosendthisamendmenttotheStates，severalDemocratsjoinedthegovernmentforces。Twonightsafterward，speakingtoaserenadingpartyattheWhiteHouse，Lincolnmadeabriefspeech，partofwhichisthusreportedbyhissecretaries:

"Hethoughtthismeasurewasaveryfittingifnotanindispensableadjuncttothewindingupofthegreatdifficulty。

HewishedthereunionofalltheStatesperfected，andsoeffectedastoremoveallcausesofdisturbanceinthefuture；

andtoattainthisend，itwasnecessarythattheoriginaldisturbingcauseshould，ifpossible，berootedout。"

AneventwhichinitsfulldetailbelongstoConfederateratherthantoUnionhistorytookplacesoonafterthis。AtHamptonRoads，LincolnandSewardmetConfederatecommissionerswhohadaskedforaparley——withregardtopeace。Nothingcameofthemeeting，buttheconferencegaverisetoalegend，falseinfactandyettrueinspirit，accordingtowhichLincolnwroteonasheetofpapertheword"Union，"pusheditacrosstoAlexanderH。

Stephensandsaid，"Writeunderthatanythingyouplease。"

ThisfictionexpressesLincoln"sattitudetowardthesinkingConfederacy。OnhisreturnfromHamptonRoadshesubmittedtohisCabinetadraftofamessagewhichheproposedtosendtoCongress。Herecommendedtheappropriationof$400，000，000tobedistributedamongtheslavestatesonconditionthatwarceasebeforeApril1，1865。NotamemberoftheCabinetapproved。Hissecretary，Mr。Nicolay，writes:"ThePresident，inevidentsurpriseandsorrowatthewantofstatesmanlikeliberalityshownbyhisexecutivecouncil，foldedandlaidawaythedraftofhismessage……"Withadeepsighheadded，"Butyouareallopposedtome，andIwillnotsendthemessage。"

Hissecondinaugurationpassedwithoutstrikingincidents。

Chase，asChiefJustice，administeredtheoath。Thesecondinauguraladdresscontainedwordswhicharenowfamous:"Withmalicetowardsnone；withcharityforall；withfirmnessintheright，asGodgivesustoseetheright，letusstriveontofinishtheworkwearein；tobindupthenation"swounds；tocareforhimwhoshallhavebornethebattle，andforhiswidow，andhisorphan——todoallwhichmayachieveandcherishajustandalastingpeaceamongourselves，andwithallnations。"

Thatgiganticsystemoffleetsandarmies，thecreationofwhichwasduetoLincoln，wasclosingtightaroundthedyingConfederacy。FiveweeksaftertheinaugurationLeesurrendered，andthewarwasvirtuallyatanend。Whatwastocomeafterwasinevitablytheovershadowingtopicofthehour。ManyanecdotesrepresentLincoln，intheselastfewdaysofhislife，aspossessedbyahighthoughmelancholymoodofextrememercy。

Therefore，muchhasbeeninferredfromthefollowingwords，inhislastpublicaddress，madeonthenightofthe11thofApril:

"Inthepresentsituation，asthephrasegoes，itmaybemydutytomakesomenewannouncementtothepeopleoftheSouth。Iamconsideringandshallnotfailtoactwhenactionshallbeproper。"

WhatwastobedonefortheSouth，whattreatmentshouldbeaccordedtheSouthernleaders，engrossedthePresidentandhisCabinetatthemeetingonthe14thofApril，whichwasdestinedtobetheirlast。SecretaryWelleshaspreservedthespiritofthemeetinginastrikinganecdote。Lincolnsaidthatnooneneedexpecthewould"takeanypartinhangingorkillingthosemen，eventheworstofthem。Frightenthemoutofthecountry，openthegates，letdownthebars，scarethemoff；"saidhe，throwinguphishandsasifscaringsheep。"Enoughliveshavebeensacrificed；wemustextinguishourresentmentsifweexpectharmonyandunion。"

WhileLincolnwasthusarminghimselfwithavaliantmercy，abandofconspiratorsatanobscureboardinghouseinWashingtonwereplanninghisassassination。TheirleaderwasJohnWilkesBooth，anactor，brotherofthemuchablerEdwinBooth。Thereseemslittledoubtthathewasinsane。AroundhimgatheredasmallgroupofvisionaryextremistsinwhommuchbroodinguponSouthernwrongshadproducedanunbalancedcondition。OnlyamorbidinterestcanattachtodaytothestrangecunningwithwhichBoothlaidhisplans，thinkingofhimselfallthewhileasareincarnationoftheRomanBrutus。

Onthenightofthe14thofApril，thePresidentattendedaperformanceof"OurAmericanCousin"。Whiletheplaywasinprogress，BoothstoleintothePresident"sbox，cameclosebehindhim，andshothimthroughthehead。Lincolnneverspokeagainand，shortlyaftersevennextmorning，ceasedbreathing。

Atthesametime，afutileattemptwasmadeuponthelifeofSeward。Boothtemporarilyescaped。Laterhewasovertakenandshot。Hisaccompliceswerehanged。

ThepassageofsixtyyearshasprovedfullynecessarytotheplacingofLincolninhistoricperspective。NoPresident，inhisowntime，withthepossibleexceptionofWashington，wassobitterlyhatedandsofiercelyreviled。Ontheotherhand，nonehasbeentheobjectofsuchintemperatehero-worship。However，thegreatestofthelandwere，inthemain，quicktoseehiminperspectiveandtorecognizehishistoricsignificance。ItisrecordedofDavisthatinafterdayshepaidabeautifultributetoLincolnandsaid，"NexttothedestructionoftheConfederacy，thedeathofAbrahamLincolnwasthedarkestdaytheSouthhasknown。"

BIBLIOGRAPHICALNOTE

Therearetwogeneralhistories，ofconspicuousability，thatdealwiththisperiod:

J。F。Rhodes，"HistoryoftheUnitedStatesfromtheCompromiseof1850"，7vols。(1893-1906)，andJ。B。McMaster，"HistoryofthePeopleoftheUnitedStates"，7vols。(1883-1912)。McMasterhasthemore"modern"pointofviewandisexcellentbutdry，withoutanysenseofnarrative。Rhodeshasasomewhatolderpointofview。Forexample，hemakesonlyacasualreference，inaquotation，tothemunitionsproblemof1861，thoughanalyzingwithgreatforceandcandorsuchconstitutionalissuesasthearrestsunderthesuspensionofthewritofhabeascorpus。Theotherstrongpointsinhisworkareitssenseofnarrative，itsfreedomfromhero-worship，itsindependenceofconventionalviewsofNorthernleaders。AstotheSouth，itsuffersfromacertainNarrownessofvisionduetothecomparativescantinessofthematerialused。ThesamemaybesaidofMcMaster。

ForLincoln，thereisnoadequatebriefbiography。Perhapsthebestisthemostrecent，"AbrahamLincoln"，byLordCharnwood("MakersoftheNineteenthCentury"，1917)。Ithasakindofcooldetachmentthathardlyanybiographerhadshownpreviously，andyetthiscoolnessisjoinedwithextremeadmiration。ShortbiographiesworthconsideringareJohnT。Morse，Jr。，AbrahamLincoln"("AmericanStatesmen"Series，2vols。，1893)，andIdaM。

Tarbell，"LifeofAbrahamLincoln"，2vols。(1900)。Theofficialbiographyisintenvolumes，"AbrahamLincoln，aHistory"，byhissecretaries，JohnG。NicolayandJohnHay(1890)。Itisapricelessdocumentandassuchislittlelikelytobeforgotten。

ButitseventsaresonumerousthattheyswampthefigureofLincolnandyetarenotnumerousenoughtoconstituteadefinitivehistoryofthetimes。Itiswhollyeulogistic。Thesameauthorsedited"TheWritingsofAbrahamLincoln"

(BiographicalEdition，2vols。，1894)，whichhassincebeenexpanded(1905)andnowfillstwelvevolumes。ItisthedefinitivepresentationofLincoln"smind。AbookmuchsoughtafterbyhisenemiesisWilliamHenryHerndonandJesseWilliamWeik，"TheHistoryandPersonalRecollectionsofAbrahamLincoln"，8vols。(1889；unexpurgatededition)。Itcontainsaboutallweknowofhisearlylifeandpaintsapictureofsordidugliness。Itsreliabilityhasbeendisputed。NostudyofLincolniscompleteunlessonehasmarchedthroughthe"Diary"ofGideonWelles，SecretaryoftheNavy，3vols。(1911)，whichisourmostimportantdocumentshowingLincolninhisCabinet。

ImportantsidelightsonhischaracteranddevelopmentareshowninWardHillLamon，"RecollectionsofLincoln"(1911)；DavidHomerBates，"LincolnintheTelegraphOffice"(1907)；andFrederickTrevorHill，"LincolnasaLawyer"(1906)。A

bibliographyofLincolnisinthetwelfthvolumeofthelatesteditionofthe"Writings"。

Thelesserstatesmenofthetime，bothNorthernandSouthern，still，asarule，awaitpropertreatmentbydetachedbiographers。

TwoNorthernershavehadsuchtreatment，inAllenJohnson"s"StephenA。Douglas"(1908)，andFredericBancroft"s"LifeofWilliamH。Seward"，2vols。(1900)。Good，butwithouttherequisitedetachment，isMoorfieldStorey"s"CharlesSumner"，("AmericanStatesmenSeries"，1900)。Withsimilarexcellencesbutwiththesamedefect，thoughstillthebestinitsfield，isAlbertBushnellHart"s"SalmonP。Chase"("AmericanStatesmenSeries"，1899)。AmongtheSouthernstatesmeninvolvedintheeventsofthisvolume，onlythePresidentoftheConfederacyhasreceivedadequatereconsiderationinrecentyears，inWilliamE。

Dodd"s"JeffersonDavis"(1907)。Thelatestlifeof"RobertToombs"，byUlrichB。Phillips(1914)，isnotdefinitive，butthebestextant。ThegreatneedforadequatelivesofStephensandYanceyisnotatallmetbytheobsoleteworks——R。M。JohnstonandW。M。Browne，"LifeofAlexanderH。Stephens"(1878)，andJ。

W。DuBose，"TheLifeandTimesofWilliamLowndesYancey"

(1892)。ThereisabriefbiographyofStephensbyLouisPendleton，inthe"AmericanCrisisBiographies"。Mostoftheremainingbiographiesoftheperiod，whetherNorthernorSouthern，areeithertoosuperficialortoopartisantoberecommendedforgeneraluse。Almostaloneintheirwayarethedelightful"ConfederatePortraits"，byGamalielBradford(1914)，andthesameauthor"s"UnionPortraits"(1916)。

UponconditionsintheNorthduringthewarthereisavastamountofmaterial；butlittleisaccessibletothegeneralreader。AbookofgreatvalueisEmersonFite"sSocialandIndustrialConditionsintheNorthduringtheCivilWar(1910)。

Outofunnumberedbooksofreminiscence，onestandsforthforthesincerityofitsdisinterested，ifsharp，observation——W。H。

Russell"s"MyDiaryNorthandSouth"(1868)。Twonewspapersareinvaluable:The"NewYorkTribune"foraversionofeventsasseenbythewarparty，"TheNewYorkHerald"fortheoppositepointofview；theChicagopapersarealsoimportant，chieflythe"Times"and"Tribune"；the"Republican"ofSpringfield，Mass。，hadbegunitsdistinguishedcareer，whilethe"Journal"and"Advertiser"ofBostonrevealedEasternNewEngland。FortheSouthernpointofview，nopapersaremoreimportantthantheRichmond"Examiner"，theCharleston"Mercury"，andtheNewOrleans"Picayune"。FinancialandeconomicproblemsarewellsummedupinD。R。Dewey"s"FinancialHistoryoftheUnitedStates"(3dedition，1907)，andinE。P。Oberholzer"s"JayCooks"，2vols。(1907)。ForeignaffairsaresummarizedadequatelyinC。F。Adams"s"CharlesFrancisAdams"("AmericanStatesmenSeries"，1900)，JohnBigelow"s"FranceandtheConfederateNavy"(1888)，A。P。Martin"s"MaximilianinMexico"

(1914)，andJohnBassettMoore"s"DigestofInternationalLaw"，8

vols。(1906)。

Thedocumentsoftheperiodrangingfromnewspaperstopresidentialmessagesarenotlikelytobeconsideredbythegeneralreader，butifgivenafairchancewillprovefascinating。BesidesthebiographicaleditionofLincoln"sWritings，shouldbenamed，firstofall，"TheCongressionalGlobe"fordebatesinCongress；the"StatutesatLarge"；the"ExecutiveDocuments"，publishedbytheGovernmentandcontainingagreatnumberofreports；andtheenormouscollectionissuedbytheWarDepartmentunderthetitle"OfficialRecordsoftheUnionandConfederateArmies"，128vols。(1880-1901)，especiallythegroupsofvolumesknownassecondandthirdseries。