按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
good； were nevertheless impracticable； and who possessed feelings of hate and vindictiveness in which he did not sympathize and could not participate。 Each House of Congress； he said； had the undoubted right to receive or reject members； the Executive had no control in this matter。 But Congress had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENTS； which the President could recognize； and under existing laws treat as other States； give the same mail facilities； collect taxes； appoint judges； marshals； collectors； etc。； subject； of course； to confirmation。 There were men who objected to these views； BUT THEY WERE NOT HERE； AND WE MUST MAKE HASTE TO DO OUR DUTY BEFORE THEY CAME HERE。〃
The subjugated States were in a condition that could not be safely permitted to continue for any indefinite period。 It would be inconsistent with the purpose of the war； incongruous to the American system and idea of government； and antagonistic to American political； or even commercial or social autonomy。 Naturally upon Mr。 Lincoln would fall largely the duty and responsibility of formulating and inaugurating some method of restoration。 With the abolition of slavery； the most difficult of settlement of all the obstacles in the way of reconstruction had been removed。 Naturally； too； during the later months of the war； when it became manifest that the end of the struggle was near； the question of reconstruction and the methods whereby it could be most naturally； speedily； and effectively accomplished； came uppermost in his mind。 A humane； just man； and a sincere； broad…brained； patriot and far…seeing statesman； he instinctively rejected the many drastic schemes which filled a large portion of the public press of the North and afterwards characterized many of the suggestions of Congressional action。 With him the prime purpose of the war was the preservation of the political； territorial and economic integrity of the Republicin a word； to restore the Union； without needless humiliation to the defeated party； or the imposition of unnecessarily rigorous terms which could but result in future frictionswithout slaveryand yet with sufficient safeguards against future disloyal association of the sections； and that purpose had been approved by an overwhelming majority of the people in his re…election in 1864。
In these purposes and methods Mr。 Lincoln appears to have had the active sympathy and co…operation of his entire Cabinet； more especially of Mr。 Stanton； his Secretary of War。 Indeed； Mr。 Stanton is understood； from the record； to have been the joint author； with Mr。 Lincoln； of the plan of reconstruction agreed upon at the later meetings of the Cabinet immediately prior to Mr。 Lincoln's death。 Mr。 Stanton proposed to put it in the form of a military orderMr。 Lincoln made an Executive order。 The plan was embodied in what afterwards became known as the 〃North Carolina Proclamation；〃 determined upon by Mr。 Lincoln at his last Cabinet meeting and promulgated by Mr。 Johnson shortly after his accession to the Presidency as Mr。 Lincoln's successor； and is inserted in a subsequent chapter。
Mr。 Lincoln unquestionably comprehended the peculiar conditions under which the Republican party had come to the control of the legislative branch of the Government； and fully realized the incapacity of the dominant element in that control for the delicate work of restoration and reconstructionleading a conquered and embittered people back peacefully and successfully； without unnecessary friction； into harmonious relations to the Union。
No such responsibility； no such herculean task； had ever before； in the history of civilization； devolved upon any ruler or political party。
Mr。 Lincoln seems to have realized the incapacity of party leaders brought to the surface by the tumult and demoralization of the time； whose only exploits and experiences were in the line of destruction and who must approach the task with divided counsel； to cope successfully with the delicate and responsible work of restoration the close of the war had made imperative。 He comprehended the incongruities which characterized that great party better than its professed leaders； and foresaw the futility of any effort on its part； at that time and in its then temper； to the early establishment of any coherent or successful method of restoration。 Hence； unquestionably； his prompt action in that behalf； and his failure to call the Congress into special session； to the end that there should be no time unnecessarily consumed and lost in the institution of some efficient form of civil government in the returning Statessome form that would have the sanction of intelligent authority competent to restore and enforce public order； without the dangers of delay and consequent disorder that must result； and did afterwards result； from the protracted debates sure to follow and did follow the sudden precipitation of the questions of reconstruction and reconciliation upon a mass of Congressmen totally inexperienced in the anomalous conditions of that time； or in the methods most needed for their correction。
That Mr。 Lincoln contemplated the ultimate and not remote enfranchisement of the late slaves； is manifest from his suggestion to Gov。 Hahn； of Louisiana； hereinbefore quoted in connection with the then approaching Convention for the re…establishment of State Government there； and again still more manifest from his last public utterance on April 11； 1865； deprecating the rejection by Congress of his plan for the restoration of Louisiana； in which； he said； speaking of that action by Congress rejecting the Louisiana bill： 〃Grant that the colored male desires the elective franchise。 He will attain it sooner by saving the already advanced steps towards it than by running back over them。〃
It is also apparent in the light of the succeeding history of that time and of that question； that if Mr。 Lincoln's views had been seconded by Congress； the enfranchisement of the negro would have been； though delayed； as certain of accomplishment； and of a vastly higher and more satisfactory planeand the country saved the years of friction and disgraceful public disorder that characterized the enforcement of the Congressional plan afterwards adopted。
As to the success of Mr。 Lincoln's plans； had they been sanctioned； or even had they not been repudiated by Congress； Mr。 Blaine； in his book； asserts that Mr。 Lincoln； 〃By his four years of considerate and successful administration； by his patient and positive trust in the ultimate triumph of the Union； realized at last as he stood upon the edge of the gravehe had acquired so complete an ascendancy over the public； control in the loyal states； that ANY POLICY MATURED AND ANNOUNCED BY HIM WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY A VAST MAJORITY OF HIS COUNTRYMEN。〃
It was indicative of the sagacious foresight of Mr。 Lincoln that he did not call the Congress into special session at the close of the war； as would have been natural and usual； before attempting the establishment of any method for the restoration of the revolted States。 The fact that he did not do so； but was making preparations to proceed immediately in that work on his own lines and in accordance with his own ideas； and with the