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。NicolayandJohnHay1890。Itisapricelessdocumentandassuchislittlelikelytobeforgotten。
ButitseventsaresonumerousthattheyswampthefigureofLincolnandyetarenotnumerousenoughtoconstituteadefinitivehistoryofthetimes。Itiswhollyeulogistic。Thesameauthorsedited"TheWritingsofAbrahamLincoln"
BiographicalEdition，2vols。，1894，whichhassincebeenexpanded1905andnowfillstwelvevolumes。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。Phillips1914，isnotdefinitive，butthebestextant。ThegreatneedforadequatelivesofStephensandYanceyisnotatallmetbytheobsoleteworks——R。M。JohnstonandW。M。Browne，"LifeofAlexanderH。Stephens"1878，andJ。
W。DuBose，"TheLifeandTimesofWilliamLowndesYancey"
1892。ThereisabriefbiographyofStephensbyLouisPendleton，inthe"AmericanCrisisBiographies"。Mostoftheremainingbiographiesoftheperiod，whetherNorthernorSouthern，areeithertoosuperficialortoopartisantoberecommendedforgeneraluse。Almostaloneintheirwayarethedelightful"ConfederatePortraits"，byGamalielBradford1914，andthesameauthor's"UnionPortraits"1916。
UponconditionsintheNorthduringthewarthereisavastamountofmaterial；butlittleisaccessibletothegeneralreader。AbookofgreatvalueisEmersonFite'sSocialandIndustrialConditionsintheNorthduringtheCivilWar1910。
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。