“Still，thequestionisnotwhethertheLouisianagovernment，asitstands，isquiteallthatisdesirable。Thequestionis，willitbewisertotakeitasitisandhelptoimproveit，ortorejectanddisperseit？CanLouisianabebroughtintoproperpracticalrelationwiththeUnionsoonerbysustainingorbydiscardinghernewStategovernment？SometwelvethousandvotersintheheretoforeslaveStateofLouisianahaveswornallegiancetotheUnion，assumedtobetherightfulpoliticalpoweroftheState，heldelections，organizedaStategovernment，adoptedafreeStateconstitution，givingthebenefitofpublicschoolsequallytoblackandwhiteandempoweringtheLegislaturetoconfertheelectivefranchiseuponthecoloredman。TheirLegislaturehasalreadyvotedtoratifytheconstitutionalamendmentrecentlypassedbyCongressabolishingslaverythroughoutthenation。These12，000
　　personsarethusfullycommittedtotheUnionandtoperpetualfreedomintheState——committedtotheverythings，andnearlyallthethings，thenationwants——andtheyaskthenation’srecognitionanditsassistancetomakegoodtheircommittal。
　　“Now，ifwerejectandspurnthem，wedoourutmosttodisorganizeanddispersethem。We，ineffect，saytothewhiteman：Youareworthlessorworse；wewillneitherhelpyounorbehelpedbyyou。Totheblackswesay：Thiscupoflibertywhichthese，youroldmasters，holdtoyourlipswewilldashfromyouandleaveyoutothechancesofgatheringthespilledandscatteredcontentsinsomevagueandundefinedwhen，whereandhow。Ifthiscourse，discouragingandparalyzingbothwhiteandblack，hasanytendencytobringLouisianaintoproperpracticalrelationswiththeUnion，Ihavesofarbeenunabletoperceiveit。If，onthecontrary，werecognizeandsustainthenewgovernmentofLouisiana，theconverseofallthisismadetrue。Weencouragetheheartsandnervethearmsof12，000toadheretotheirwork，andargueforit，andproselyteforit，andfightforit，andfeedit，andgrowit，andripenittoacompletesuccess。Thecoloredman，too，inseeingallunitedforhim，isinspiredwithvigilanceandenergy，anddaring，tothesameend。Grantthathedesirestheelectivefranchise，willhenotattainitsoonerbysavingthealreadyadvancedstepstowarditthanbyrunningbackwardoverthem？ConcedethatthenewgovernmentofLouisianaisonlytowhatitshouldbeastheeggistothefowl，weshallsoonerhavethefowlbyhatchingtheeggthanbysmashingit。
　　“Again，ifwerejectLouisiana，wealsorejectonevoteinfavoroftheproposedamendmenttothenationalConstitution。
　　Tomeetthispropositionithasbeenarguedthatnomorethanthree-fourthsofthoseStateswhichhavenotattemptedsecessionarenecessarytovalidlyratifytheamendmentIdonotcommitmyselfagainstthisfurtherthantosaythatsucharatificationwouldbequestionable，andsuretobepersistentlyquestioned，whilearatificationbythree-fourthsofalltheStateswouldbeunquestionedandunquestionable。Irepeatthequestion：CanLouisianabebroughtintoproperpracticalrelationwiththeUnionsoonerbysustainingorbydiscardinghernewStategovernment？WhathasbeensaidofLouisianawillapplygenerallytootherStates。AndyetsogreatpeculiaritiespertaintoeachState，andsuchimportantandsuddenchangesoccurinthesameState，andwithalsonewandunprecedentedisthewholecasethatnoexclusiveandinflexibleplancansafelybeprescribedastodetailsandcollaterals。Suchexclusiveandinflexibleplanwouldsurelybecomeanewentanglement。Importantprinciplesmayandmustbeinflexible。Inthepresentsituation，asthephrasegoes，itmaybemydutytomakesomenewannouncementtothepeopleoftheSouth。Iamconsideringandshallnotfailtoactwhensatisfiedthatactionwillbeproper。“
　　TherewasanearlyspringonthePotomacin1865。WhileAprilwasstillyoung，theJudastreesbecamespheresofpurply，pinkishbloom。TheWashingtonparksgrewsoftlybrightasthelilacsopened。Pendulouswillowsveiledwithgreenlacesafloatinairthechangingbrownthatwaswinter’sfinalshadow；intheVirginiawoodsthewhiteblossomsofthedogwoodseemedtofloatandflickeramongthewindytreeslikeenormousflocksofalightingbutterflies。Andoverheadsuchaglitterofturquoiseblue!AslovelyinadifferentwayasonthatfatefulSun-daymorningwhenRusselldrovethroughthesamewoodstowardBullRunsolong，longago。SuchwasthebackgroundofthelastfewdaysofLincoln’slife。
　　Thoughtranquil，histhoughtsdweltmuchondeath。WhileatCityPoint，hedroveonedaywithMrs。LincolnalongthebanksoftheJames。Theypassedacountrygraveyard。“Itwasaretiredplace，“saidMrs。Lincolnlongafterward，“shadedbytrees，andearlyspringflowerswereopeningonnearlyeverygrave。Itwassoquietandattractivethatwestoppedthecarriageandwalkedthroughit。Mr。Lincolnseemedthoughtfulandimpressed。Hesaid：’Mary，youareyoungerthanI；youwillsurviveme。WhenIamgone，laymyremainsinsomequietplacelikethis。’“[1]
　　Hismoodunderwentamysteriouschange。Itwassereneandyetchargedwithapeculiargraveloftinessnotquitelikeanyphaseofhimhisfriendshadknownhitherto。Asalways，histhoughtsturnedfortheirreflectiontoShakespeare。SumnerwhowasoneofthepartyatCityPoint，wasdeeplyimpressedbyhisreadingaloud，afewdaysbeforehisdeath，thatpassageinMacbethwhichdescribestheultimatesecurityofDuncanwherenothingevil“cantouchhimfarther。“[2]
　　Therewassomethingalittlestartling，asifitwerenotquiteofthisworld，inthetenderlightnessthatseemedtocomeintohisheart。“Hiswholeappearance，poiseandbearing，“saysoneofhisobservers，“hadmarvelouslychanged。Hewas，infact，transfigured。Thatindescribablesadnesswhichhadpreviouslyseemedtobeanadamantineelementofhisverybeing，hadbeensuddenlychangedforanequallyindescribableexpressionofserenejoy，asifconsciousthatthegreatpurposeofhislifehadbeenachieved。“[3]
　　Itwasasiftheseerinthetrancehadfinallypassedbeyondhistrance；andhadfacedsmilingtowardhisearthlycomrades，imagininghewastoreturntothem；unawarethatsomehowhisemergencewasnotintheordinarycourseofnature；thatinitwasanaccentoftheinexplicable，somethingwhichtheotherscaughtandatwhichtheytrembled；thoughtheyknewnotwhy。
　　Andhe，sobeautifullyatpeace，andyetthrilledasneverbeforebythevisionofthemurderedDuncanattheendoflife’sfitfulfever——whatwashisrealfeeling，hisrealvisionofhimself？Wasitsomethingofwhatthegreatmodernpoetstrovesobravelytoexpress——
　　AndyetDauntlesstheslughorntomylipsIset，Andblew：ChildeRolandtothedarktowercame。“
　　Shortlybeforetheend，hehadastrangedream。Thoughhespokeofitalmostwithlevity，itwouldnotleavehisthoughts。HedreamedhewaswanderingthroughtheWhiteHouseatnight；alltheroomswerebrilliantlylighted；buttheywereempty。However，throughthatunrealsolitudefloatedasoundofweeping。WhenhecametotheEastRoom，itwasexplained；
　　therewasacatafalque，thepompofamilitaryfuneral，crowdsofpeopleintears；andavoicesaidtohim，“ThePresidenthasbeenassassinated。“
　　HetoldthisdreamtoLamonandtoMrs。Lincoln。Headdedthatafterithadoccurred，“thefirsttimeIopenedtheBible，strangeasitmayappear，itwasatthetwenty-eighthchapterofGenesiswhichrelatesthewonderfuldreamJacobhad。I
　　turnedtootherpassagesandseemedtoencounteradreamoravisionwhereverIlooked。IkeptonturningtheleavesoftheOldBook，andeverywheremyeyefelluponpassagesrecordingmattersstrangelyinkeepingwithmyownthoughts——supernaturalvisitations，dreams，visions，etc。“
　　ButwhenLamonseizeduponthisastextforhisrecurrentsermononprecautionsagainstassassination，Lincolnturnedthematterintoajoke。Hedidnotappeartointerpretthedreamasforeshadowinghisowndeath。HecalledLamon’salarm“downrightfoolishness。“[4]
　　Anotherdreaminthelastnightofhislifewasaconsolation。
　　HenarratedittotheCabinetwhentheymetonAprilfourteenth，whichhappenedtobeGoodFriday。TherewassomeanxietywithregardtoSherman’smovementsinNorthCarolina。
　　LincolnbadetheCabinetsettheirmindsatrest。Hisdreamofthenightbeforewasonethathehadoftenhad。Itwasapresageofgreatevents。Inthisdreamhesawhimself“inasingularandindescribablevessel，butalwaysthesame……
　　movingwithgreatrapiditytowardadarkandindefiniteshore。“
　　Thisdreamhadprecededallthegreateventsofthewar。Hebelieveditwasagoodomen。[5]
　　AtthislastCabinetmeeting，hetalkedfreelyoftheonematterwhichinhismindovershadowedallothers。HeurgedhisMinisterstoputasideallthoughtsofhatredandrevenge。“Hehopedtherewouldbenopersecution，nobloodywork，afterthewarwasover。Noneneedexpecthimtotakeanypartinhangingorkillingthesemen，eventheworstofthem。’Frightenthemoutofthecountry，letdownthebars，scarethemoff，’saidhe，throwinguphishandsasifscaringsheep。Enoughliveshavebeensacrificed。Wemustextinguishourresentmentifweexpectharmonyandunion。Therewastoomuchdesireonthepartofourverygoodfriendstobemasters，tointerfereanddictatetothoseStates，totreatthepeoplenotasfellowcitizens；therewastoolittlerespectfortheirrights。Hedidn’tsympathizeinthesefeelings。“[6]
　　Therewasatouchofironyinhisphase“ourverygoodfriends。“Beforetheendofthenextday，themenhehadinmind，theinnergroupoftherelentlessVindictives，weretomeetincouncil，scarcelyabletoconcealtheirinspiringconvictionthatProvidencehadintervened，hadjudgedbetweenhimandthem。[7]Andthatallusiontothe“rights“ofthevanquished!HowabominableitwasintheearsofthegrimChandler，theinexorableWade。DesperatethesemenandtheirfollowerswereonthefourteenthofApril，butdefiant。TothefullmeasureoftheirpowertheywouldfightthePresidenttothelastditch。Andalwaysintheirminds，thetormentingthought-ifonlypositionscouldbereversed，ifonlyJohnson，whomtheybelievedtobeoneofthematheart，wereinthefirstinsteadofthesecondplace!
　　Whiletheseunsparingsonsofthunderweregrowlingamongthemselves，thelionsthatwerebeingcheatedoftheirprey，Lincolnwasputtinghismercifultemperintoaplayfulform。
　　GeneralCreswellappliedtohimforpardonforanoldfriendofhiswhohadjoinedtheConfederateArmy。
　　“Creswell，“saidLincoln，“youmakemethinkofalotofyoungfolkswhooncestartedoutMaying。Toreachtheirdestination，theyhadtocrossashallowstreamanddidsobymeansofanoldflatboatwhenthetimecametoreturn，theyfoundtotheirdismaythattheoldscowhaddisappeared。Theywereinsoretroubleandthoughtoverallmannerofdevicesforgettingoverthewater，butwithoutavail。Afteratime，oneoftheboysproposedthateachfellowshouldpickupthegirlhelikedbestandwadeoverwithher。Themasterlypropositionwascarriedoutuntilallthatwereleftupontheislandwasalittleshortchapandagreat，long，gothic-built，elderlylady。Now，Creswell，youaretryingtoleavemeinthesamepredicament。
　　Youfellowsareallgettingyourownfriendsoutofthisscrape，andyouwillsucceedincarryingoffoneafteranotheruntilnobodybutJeffDavisandmyselfwillbeleftontheisland，andthenIwon’tknowwhattodo——HowshouldIfeel？HowshouldIlooklugginghimover？Iguessthewaytoavoidsuchanembarrassingsituationistoletalloutatonce。“[8]
　　ThePresidentrefused，thisday，toopenhisdoorstothethrongofvisitorsthatsoughtadmission。Hiseldestson，Robert，anofficerinGrant’sarmy，hadreturnedfromthefrontunharmed。Lincolnwishedtoreservethedayforhisfamilyandintimatefriends。Intheafternoon，Mrs。Lincolnaskedhimifhecaredtohavecompanyontheirusualdrive。“No，Mary，“
　　saidhe，“Ipreferthatweridebyourselvesto-day。“[9]Theytookalongdrive。Hismood，asithadbeenallday，wassingularlyhappyandtender。[10]Hetalkedmuchofthepastandthefuture。ItseemedtoMrs。Lincolnthatheneverhadappearedhappierthanduringthedrive。Hereferredtopastsorrows，totheanxietiesofthewar，toWillie’sdeath，andspokeofthenecessitytobecheerfulandhappyinthedaystocome。AsMrs。Lincolnrememberedhiswords：“WehavehadahardtimesincewecametoWashington；butthewarisover，andwithGod’sblessings，wemayhopeforfouryearsofpeaceandhappiness，andthenwewillgobacktoIllinoisandpasstherestofourlivesinquiet。Wehavelaidbysomemoney，andduringthistime，wewillsaveupmore，butshallnothaveenoughtosupportus。WewillgobacktoIllinois；IwillopenalawofficeatSpringfieldorChicagoandpractiselaw，andatleastdoenoughtohelpgiveusalivelihood。“[11]
　　Theyreturnedfromtheirdriveandpreparedforatheatrepartywhichhadbeenfixedforthatnight。ThemanagementoftheFord’sTheatre，whereLauraKeenewastocloseherseasonwithabenefitperformanceofOurAmericanCousin，hadannouncedintheafternoonpaperthat“thePresidentandhislady“wouldattend。ThePresident’sboxhadbeendrapedwithflags。Therestisatwicetoldtale——athousandthtoldtale。