InthehesitancyattheWhiteHouseduringthelasteclipse，inthepublicdistressandthepersonalgrief，Lincolnwithheldhimselffromthisdebate。Nogreatutterancesbreakthegloomofthisperiod。Nevertheless，whatmaybeconsideredhisreplytoStevensistobefound。BuriedintheforgottenportionsoftheCongressionalGlobeisaspeechthatsurelywasinspired-or，ifnotdirectlyinspired，socloseareflectionofthePresident’sthinkingthatitcomestothesamethingattheend。
　　Itsauthor，orapparentauthor，wasoneofthefewserenefiguresinthatThirty-SeventhCongresswhichwassweptsopitilesslybyepidemicsofpassion。WhenDouglas，aftercomingoutvaliantlyfortheUnionandholdingupLincoln’shandsatthehourofcrisis，suddenlydied，theIllinoisLegislaturenamedashissuccessorintheSenate，OrvilleHenryBrowning。ThenewSenatorwasLincoln’sintimatefriend。
　　Theirpointsofview，theirtemperamentsweresimilar。
　　BrowningsharedLincoln’smagnanimity，hishatredofextremes，hiseagernessnottoallowthewartodegenerateintorevolution。Intheearlypartof1862hewasLincoln’sspokesmanintheSenate。NowthatthetemperofWadeandChandler，theruthlessnessthatdominatedtheCommittee，haddrawnuntoitselfsuchacohortofallies；nowthatalltheirthinkinghadbeenorganizedbyafearlessmind；therewasurgentneedforamasterlyreply。DidLincolnfeelunequal，atthemoment，tothisgreattask？Veryprobablyhedid。Anyhow，itwasBrowningwhomadethereply，[8]areplysoexactlyinhisfriend’svein，that——thereyouare!
　　Hisaimwastoexplainthenatureofthosewarpowersofthegovernment“whichliedormantduringtimeofpeace，“andthereforehefranklyputthequestion，“IsCongressthegovernment？“SenatorFessenden，echoingStevenshadsaid，“ThereisnolimitonthepowersofCongress；everythingmustyieldtotheforceofmartiallawasresolvedbyCongress。“
　　“There，sir，“saidBrowning，“isasbroadanddeepafoundationforabsolutedespotismaswaseverlaid。“Herangthechangesontheneedto“protectminoritiesfromtheoppressionandtyrannyofexcitedmajorities。“
　　HewentontolaythebasisofallLincoln’ssubsequentdefenseofthepresidentialtheoryasopposedtothecongressionaltheory，byformulatingtwopropositionswhichreappearinsomeofLincoln’smostfamouspapers。Congressisnotasafevesselforextraordinarypowers，becauseinoursystemwehavedifficultyinbringingitdefinitelytoanaccountunderanysortofplebiscite。OntheotherhandthePresident，ifheabusesthewarpowers“whenpeacereturns，isanswerabletothecivilpowerforthatabuse。“
　　ButBrowningwasnotcontenttoreasonongeneralities。
　　AssertingthatCongresscouldnomorecommandthearmythanitcouldadjudicateacase，hefurtherassertedthattheSupremeCourthadsettledthematterandhadlodgedthewarpowersinthePresident。Hecitedadecisioncalledforthbythelegalquestion，“CanaCircuitCourtoftheUnitedStatesinquirewhetheraPresidenthadactedrightlyincallingoutthemilitiaofaStatetosuppressaninsurrection？““TheelevatedofficeofthePresident，“saidtheCourt，“chosenasbeisbythePeopleoftheUnitedStates，andthehighresponsibilityhecouldnotfailtofeelwhenactinginacaseofsuchmoment，appeartofurnishasstrongsafeguardsagainstthewilfulabuseofpowerashumanprudenceandforesightcouldwelldevise。Atallevents，itisconferreduponhimbytheConstitutionandthelawsoftheUnitedStates，andtherefore，mustberespectedandenforcedinitsjudicialtribunals。“[9]
　　WhetherornotconstitutionallawyerswouldagreewithBrowningintheconclusionhedrewfromthisdecision，itwasplainlythebedrockofhisthought。HebelievedthatthePresident——whateveryourmerehistorianmighthavetosay——wasinpointoffacttheexponentofthepeopleasawhole，andthereforethepropervesselfortheultimaterightsofasovereign，rightsthatonlythepeoplepossess，thatonlythepeoplecandelegate。AndthiswasLincoln’stheory。Roughlyspeaking，he-conceivedofthepresidentialofficeaboutasifitweretheofficeofTribuneofthePeople。
　　TherewasstillanotherreasonwhybothLincolnandBrowningfearedtoyieldanythingtothetheoryofcongressionalsupremacy。Itwas，intheirminds，notonlythegeneralquestionofallCongressesbutimmediatelyofthisparticularCongress。AnassemblyinwhichthetemperofWadeandChandler，ofStevensandSumner，wasenteringtheascendent，wasanassemblytobefeared；itssupremacywastobedenied，itspowerwastobefought。
　　Browningdidnotclosewithoutastartlingpassageflungsquareintheteethoftheapostlesoffury。Hesummeduptheoppositetemper，Lincoln’stemper，inhisdescriptionof“OurbrethrenoftheSouth——forIamwillingtocallthembrethren；
　　myheartyetyearnstowardthemwithafervencyoflovewhicheventheirtreasonhasnotallextinguished，whichtemptsmeconstantlytosayintheirbehalf，’Father，forgivethem，fortheyknownotwhattheydo。’“HepleadedwiththeSenatenottoconsiderthem“aspublicenemiesbutasinsurgentcitizensonly，“andadvocatedanActofAmnestyrestoringallpoliticalandpropertyrights“instantlyupontheirreturntoallegianceandsubmissiontotheauthorityofthegovernment。“
　　Hadthisnarrowlyconstitutionalissueariseninquiettimes，whocansayhowslightmighthavebeenitssignificance？ButFatehaddecreedthatitshouldariseinthestormiestmomentofourhistory。Millionsofmenandwomenwhocarednothingforconstitutionaltheories，whoweregovernedbythatpassiontoseeimmediateresultswhichthethoughtlesseverconfusewithachievement，thesewerebecominghystericaloverdelay。
　　Whydidnotthegovernmentdosomething？EverywherevoiceswereraisedaccusingthePresidentofcowardice。ThemaniaofsuspicionwasnotconfinedtotheCommittee。ThethoughtsofamultitudewereexpressedbyCongressmanHickmaninhisfoolishwords，“Thesearedaysofirresponsibilityandimbecility，andwearerequiredtoperformtwooffices——theofficeoflegislatorandtheofficeofPresident。“ThebetterpartofayearhadpassedsincethedayofSumter，andstillthegovernmenthadnomilitarysuccesstoitscredit。Animpetuouspeoplethatlackedexperienceofwar，thathadbeenaccustomedinunusualmeasuretohaveitswishesspeedilygratified，mustsomehowbemarshalledbehindthegovernment，unlessthealternativewasthecaptureofpowerbytheCongressionalCabalthatwasformingagainstthePresident。
　　Enteringuponthedarkdaysofthefirsthalfof1862，Lincolnhadnodelusionsaboutthetaskimmediatelybeforehim。Hemustwinbattles；otherwise，hesawnowayofbuildingupthatpopularsupportwhichalonewouldenablehimtokeepthedirectionofpolicyinthehandsoftheExecutive，tokeepitoutofthehandsofCongress。Inaword，thestandingorfallingofhispowerappearedtohavebeencommittedtothekeepingofthearmy。Whatthearmywoulddowithit，savehispolicyorwreckhispolicy，wastonosmalldegreeaquestionofthecharacterandtheabilitiesoftheCommandingGeneral。
　　XXI。THESTRUGGLETOCONTROLTHEARMY
　　GeorgeBrintonMcClellan，whenattheageofthirty-fourhewasraisedsuddenlytoadizzyingheightoffameandpower，wasgenerallylookeduponasaprodigy。Thoughhewasnotthat，hehadarealclaimtodistinction。Haddestinybeenconsiderate，permittinghimtorisegraduallyandtomatureasherose，hemighthaveearnedastablereputationhighamongthosewhoarenotquitegreat。HehaddonewellatWestPoint，andasaveryyoungofficerintheMexicanWar；hehadrepresentedhiscountryasamilitaryobserverwiththealliesintheCrimea；
　　hewasagoodengineer，andacapablemanofbusiness。Hiswinningpersonality，untilhewentwrongintheterribledaysof1862，inspired“aremarkableaffectionandregardineveryonefromthePresidenttothehumblestorderlythatwaitedathisdoor。“[1]Hewasathomeamongbooks；hecouldwritetohiswifethatPrinceNapoleon“speaksEnglishverymuchastheFrenchmendointheoldEnglishcomedies“；[2]hewasabletoconversein“French，Spanish，Italian，German，intwoIndiandialectsandheknewalittleRussianandTurkish。“MenlikeWadeandChandlerprobablythoughtofhimasa“highbrow，“anddoubtlessheirritatedthembyinvariablyaddressingthePresidentas“YourExcellency。“Hehadtheimpulsesaswellasthetraditionsofanelderday。Buthehadthreeinsidiousdefects。Atthebackofhismindtherewasaveinoftheatricality，hithertounrevealed，thatmight，undersufficientstimulus，transformhimintoaposeur。Thoughphysicallybrave，hehadinhisheart，unsuspectedbyhimselforothers，thedreadofresponsibility。Hewasvoidofhumor。
　　Thesedamagingqualities，broughtoutandexaggeratedbytooswiftarisetoapparentgreatness，eventuallyworkedhisruin。
　　Asanorganizerhewasunquestionablyefficient。HisgreatachievementwhichsecureshimacreditableplaceinAmericanhistorywastheconversionintheautumnof1861ofadefeatedrabbleandamultitudeofrawmilitiaintoasplendidfightingmachine。Theveryexcellenceofthisachievementwaspartofhisundoing。Itwassoneartomagicalthatitimposedonhimself，gavehimafalseestimateofhimself，hidfromhimhisownlimitation。Itimposedalsoonhisenemies。Crude，fiercemenliketheVindictiveleadersofCongress，seeingthismiracletakeplacesoastoundinglysoon，leapedatoncetotheconclusionthathecould，ifhewould，followitbyanothermiracle。Havingforgedthethunderbolt，whycouldhenot，ifhechose，instantlysmiteanddestroy？Allthesehastyinexperiencedzealotslaboredthatwinterunderthedelusionthatonegreatbattlemightendthewar。WhenMcClellan，insteadofrushingtothefront，enteredhissecondphase——theonewhichhedidnotunderstandhimself，whichhisenemiesneverunderstood——whenheentereduponhislongcourseofprocrastination，theJacobins，startled，dumfounded，castingaboutforreasons，couldfindintheirunanalyticalvision，butone。WhenJovedidnotstrike，itmustbebecauseJovedidnotwishtostrike。McClellanwasdelayingforapurpose。Almostinstantaneouswasthewhisper，followedquicklybytheoutcryamongtheJacobins，“Treachery!Wearebetrayed。Heisinleaguewiththeenemy。“
　　Theirdistrustwasnotallayedbythemannerinwhichheconductedhimself。HisviewsoflifeandoftheofficeofcommandinggeneralwerenotthoseoffrontierAmerica。Hebelievedinpomp，indisplay，inanorderedroutine。Thefineweatheroftheautumnof1861wasutilizedatWashingtonforfrequentreviews。Theflutterofflags，theglintofmarchingbayonets，theperfectlyorderedrhythmofmarchingfeet，theblareoftrumpets，thesilverynotesofthebugles，thestormilyrollingdrums，allthesefilledwithmartialsplendorthegoldenautumnairwhenthewoodswerefallingbrown。Andeverywhere，itseemed，lookwhereonemight，asumptuouslyuniformedCommandingGeneral，andanumerousandsumptuousstaff，weregallopingpast，mountedonbeautifulhorses。
　　Plain，bluntmenliketheJacobins，caringnothingforthisritualofcommand，sneered。Theyexchangedstoriesoftheelaboratedinnershewassaidtogivedaily，theseveralcourses，theabundanceofwine，thenumerousguests；andafterthesedinners，heandhisgorgeousstaff，“clatteringupanddownthepublicstreets“merelytoshowthemselvesoff。Allthissneeringwaswildlyexaggerated。Themaniaofexaggeration，themaniaofsuspicion，saturatedthementalairbreathedbyeverypoliticianatWashington，thatdesperatewinter，exceptthegreatandlonelyPresidentandthecynicalSecretaryofState。
　　McClellanmadenoconcessionstothetemperofthehour。WithLincoln，hisrelationsatfirstwerecordial。Alwayshewaspunctiliouslyrespectfulto“HisExcellency。“ItisplainthatatfirstLincolnlikedhimandthathislikingwaswornawayslowly。ItisequallyplainthatLincolndidnotknowhowtodealwithhim。ThetendencytoposewassofarfromanythinginLincoln’smake-upthatitremainedforhim，whetherinMcClellanoranother，unintelligible。Thathumilitywhichwassoconspicuousinthisfirstperiodofhisrule，ledhimtoassumewithhisGeneralamodest，evenanappealingtone。Theyoungermanbegantoringfalsebyfailingtoappreciateit。
　　Heevencomplainedofitinalettertohiswife。ThemilitaryritualistwouldhavelikedamoreOlympiansuperior。Andthereisnodenyingthathisheadwasgettingturned。Perhapshehadexcuse。Thenewspapersprintednonsensicaleditorialspraising“theyoungNapoleon。“Hismailwasfilledwithlettersurginghimtocarrythingswithahighhand；disregard，ifnecessary，thepusillanimouscivilgovernment，andboldly“savethecountry。“Hehadsolittlehumorthathecouldtakethisstuffseriously。Amongallthefoolishletterswhichtheexecutorsoffamousmenhavepermittedtoseethelightofpublicity，fewoutdoaletterofMcClellan’sinwhichheconfidedtohiswifethathewaswillingtobecomedictator，shouldthatbetheonlywayout，andthen，aftersavinghiscountry，toperish。[3]
　　Inthislordlymoodofthemelodramatic，hegradually——probablywithoutknowingit——becameinattentivetothePresident。
　　Lincolnusedtogotohishousetoconsulthim，generallyonfoot，cladinveryordinaryclothes。HewasknowntositinMcClellan’slibrary“ratherunnoticed“awaitingtheGeneral’spleasure。[4]
　　AtlastthegrowingcoolnessofMcClellanwentsofarthataneventoccurredwhichHayindignantlysetdowninhisdiary：“I