InLincoln’slifetherearetwogreatachievements。
　　Onehebroughttopassintimeforhimtobeholdhisownvictory。Theotherhesawonlywiththeeyesoffaith。ThefirstwasthedrawingtogetherofalltheelementsofnationalismintheAmericanpeopleandconsolidatingthemintoadrivingforce。ThesecondwaslayingthefoundationofapoliticaltemperthatmadeimpossibleapermanentvictoryfortheVindictives。Itwasthesadfateofthisnation，becauseLincoln’shandwasstruckfromthetillerattheveryinstantofthecrisis，tosufferthetemporarysuccessofthatfactionhestrovesohardtodestroyThetransitorinessoftheireviltriumph，theeventualrallyofthenationagainstthem，wasthefinalvictoryofthespiritofLincoln。
　　Theimmediatevictoryheappreciatedmorefullyandmeasuredmoreexactly，thandidanyoneelse。Heputitintowordsinthefifthmessage。Whileotherswerecrowingwithexaltationoverapartytriumph，helookeddeepertothepsychologicaltriumph。ScarcelyanothersawthatthemostsignificantdetailofthehourwasintheDemocraticattitude。Eventhebitterestenemiesofnationalism，eventhosewhowerebelievedbyallotherstodesirethebreakingoftheUnion，hadnotthoughtitsafetosayso。Theyhadveiledtheirintentinspeciouswords。McClellaninacceptingtheDemocraticnominationhadrepudiatedtheideaofdisunion。WhethertheDemocraticpoliticianshadagreedwithhimornot，theyhadnotdaredtocontradicthim。ThiswaswhatLincolnputtheemphasisoninhismessage：“ThepurposeofthepeoplewithintheloyalStatestomaintaintheUnionwasnevermorefirmnormorenearlyunanimousthannow……Nocandidateforanyoffice，highorlow，hasventuredtoseekvotesontheavowalthathewasforgivinguptheUnion。TherehavebeenmuchimpugningofmotiveandmuchheatedcontroversyastothepropermeansandbestmodeofadvancingtheUnioncause；butonthedistinctissueofUnionorNoUnionthepoliticianshaveshowntheirinstinctiveknowledgethatthereisnodiversityamongthepeople。Inaffordingthepeoplethefairopportunityofshowingonetoanotherandtotheworld，thisfirmnessandunanimityofpurpose，theelectionhasbeenofvastvaluetothenationalcause。“[1]
　　ThistemperofthefinalLincoln，hissupremedetachment，thekindimpersonalityofhisintellectualapproach，hasnobetterillustrationinhisstatepapers。Hefurtherrevealeditinamoreintimateway。ThedayhesentthemessagetoCongress，healsosubmittedtotheSenateanominationtothegreatofficeofChiefJustice。WhenTaneydiedinthepreviousSeptember，therewasaneagerstiramongthefriendsofChase。Theyhadhopesbuttheyfeltembarrassed。Couldtheyaskthisgreathonor，thehighestitisinthepoweroftheAmericanPresidenttobe-stow，foramanwhohadbeensolackingincandorasChasehadbeen？Chase’scourseduringthesummerhadmadethingsworse。Hehadplayedthetime-server。NoonewasmoresevereuponLincolninJuly；inAugust，hehesitated，wouldnotquitecommithimselftotheconspiracybutwouldnotdiscourageit；almostgaveithisblessing；inSeptember，butnotuntilitwasquiteplainthattheconspiracywasfailing，hecameoutforLincoln。However，hisfriendsintheSenateovercametheirembarrassment——howelsecoulditbewithSenators？——andpressedhiscase。AndwhenSenatorWilson，alarmedatthePresident’ssilence，triedtoapologizeforChase’sharshremarksaboutthePresident，Lincolncuthimshort。“Oh，astothat，Icarenothing，“saidhe。TheembarrassmentoftheChasepropagandaamusedhim。WhenChasehimselftookahandandwrotehimaletter，Lincolnsaidtohissecretary，“Whatisitabout？“
　　“Simplyakindandfriendlyletter，“repliedthesecretary。
　　Lincolnsmiled。“Fileitwiththeotherrecommendations，“saidhe。[2]
　　HeregardedChaseasagreatlawyer，Taney’slogicalsuccessor。
　　AlltheslightstheSecretaryhadputuponthePresident，theintriguestosupplanthim，themalicioussayings，wereasiftheyhadneveroccurred。WhenCongressassembled，itwasChase’snamethathesenttotheSenate。ItwasChasewho，asChiefJustice，administeredtheoathatLincoln’ssecondinauguration。
　　Longsince，Lincolnhadseenthattherehadceasedtoanyhalf-wayhouseinthematterofemancipation。Histhoughtswerechieflyuponthefuture。Andasmerestrategy，hesawthatslaveryhadtobegotoutoftheway。Itwasnolongeraquestion，wholikedthis，whodidnot。Tohim，theultimateissuewastherestorationofharmonyamongtheStates。ThoseStateswhichhadbeendefeatedinthedreadarbitramentofbattle，wouldinanyeventencounterdifficulties，evendeadlyperils，inthenarrowwaywhichmustcomeafterdefeatandwhichmightormightnotleadtorehabilitation。
　　RememberingtheVindictivetemper，rememberingtheforceandcourageoftheVindictiveleaders，itwasimperativetoclearthefieldoftheslaveryissuebeforethereconstructionissuewasfairlylaunched。Itwashighlydesirabletocommittothesupportofthegovernmentsthewholerangeofinfluencesthatwereinearnestaboutemancipation。Furthermore，theSouthitselfwasdriftinginthesamedirection。InhisinterviewwithGilmoreandJaquess，Davishadsaid：“Youhavealreadyemancipatednearlytwomillionsofourslaves；andifyouwilltakecareofthem，youmayemancipatetherest。Ihadafewwhenthewarbegan。Iwasofsomeusetothem；theyneverwereofanytome。“[3]
　　TheSouthernPresidenthad“felt“hisconstituencyonthesubjectofenrollingslavesassoldierswithapromiseofemancipationastherewardofmilitaryservice。
　　ThefifthmessageurgedCongresstosubmittotheStatesanamendmenttotheConstitutionabolishingslavery。Suchactionhadbeenconsideredintheprevioussession，butnothinghadbeendone。AtLincoln’ssuggestion，ithadbeenrecommendedintheplatformoftheUnionparty。Now，withthePresident’spowerfulinfluencebehindit，withhisprestigeatfullcircle，theamendmentwasrapidlypushedforward。BeforeJanuaryended，ithadbeenapprovedbybothHouses。LincolnhadusedallhispersonalinfluencetostrengthenitschancesinCongresswhere，untilthelastminute，thevotewasstillindoubt。[4]
　　WhiletheamendmentwastakingitswaythroughCongress，ashrewdoldpoliticianwhothoughtheknewtheworldbetterthanmostmen，thatMontgomeryBlair，Senior，whowasfatherofthePostmasterGeneral，hadbeentryingonhisownresponsibilitytoopennegotiationsbetweenWashingtonandRichmond。Hisvisionaryideas，whichwerewhollywithouttheresultsheintended，havenoplacehere。Andyetthisfancifulepisodehadasignificanceofitsown。Haditnotoccurred，theConfederategovernmentprobablywouldnothaveappointedcommissionerschargedwiththehopelesstaskofapproachingtheFederalgovernmentforthepurposeofnegotiatingpeacebetween“thetwocountries。“
　　NowthatLincolnwasentirelyintheascendentathome，andsincetheConfederatearmshadrecentlysufferedterriblereverses，hewasnolongerafraidthatnegotiationmightappeartobethesymptomofweakness。HewentsofarastoconsenttomeettheCommissionershimself。OnasteamerinHamptonRoads，LincolnandSewardhadalongconferencewiththreemembersoftheConfederategovernment，particularlytheVice-President，AlexanderH。Stephens。
　　ithasbecomeatraditionthatLincolnwroteatthetopofasheetofpapertheoneword“Union“；thathepusheditacrossthetableandsaid，“Stephens，writeunderthatanythingyouwant“Thereappearstobenofoundationforthetaleinthisform。TheamendmenthadcommittedtheNorthtoodefinitelytoemancipation。LincolncouldnothaveproposedUnionwithoutrequiringemancipation，also。Andyet，withthislimitation，thespiritofthetraditionishistoric。TherecanbenodoubtthathepresentedtothecommissionersaboutthetermswhichtheyearbeforehehaddrawnupasamemorandumforGilmoreandJaquess：Union，theacceptanceofemancipation，butalsoinstantaneousrestorationofpoliticalautonomytotheSouthernStates，andalltheinfluenceoftheAdministrationinbehalfofliberalcompensationforthelossofslaveproperty。Butthecommissionershadnoauthoritytoconsidertermsthatdidnotrecognizetheexistenceof“twocountries。“However，thisHamptonRoadsConferencegaveLincolnanewhope。Hedivined，ifhedidnotperceive，thattheConfederateswereonthevergeofdespair。IfhehadbeenaVindictive，thiswouldhavebornefruitinferocioustelegramstohisgeneralstostrikeandsparenot。WhatLincolndidwastolaybeforetheCabinetthisproposal：——thattheyadviseCongresstooffertheConfederategovernmentthesumoffourhundredmilliondollars，providedthewarendandtheStatesinsecessionacknowledgetheauthorityoftheFederalgovernmentprevioustoApril1，1865。ButtheCabinet，completeaswashisdominationinsomerespects，werenotripeforsuchamoveasthis。“’Youareallagainstme，’saidLincolnsadlyandinevidentsurpriseatthewantofstatesmanlikeliberalityonthepartoftheexecutivecouncil，“toquotehisSecretary，“foldedandlaidawaythedraftofhismessage。“[5]Nicolaybelievesthattheideacontinuedvividlyinhismindandthatitmaybelinkedwithhislastpublicutterance——“itmaybemydutytomakesomenewannouncementtothepeopleoftheSouth。Iamconsideringandshallnotfailtoactwhensatisfiedthatactionisproper。“
　　ItwasnowobvioustoeveryoneoutsidetheConfederacythatthewarwouldendspeedilyinaNorthernvictory。ToLincoln，therefore，thedutyofthemoment，overshadowingallelse，wasthepreparationforwhatshouldcomeafter。Reconstruction。
　　MorethaneveritwasoffirstimportancetodecidewhetherthePresidentorCongressshoulddealwiththisgreatmatter。AndnowoccurredaneventwhichborewitnessatoncetothebeginningofLincoln’sfinalstrugglewiththeVindictivesandtothatpersonalascendencywhichwassteadilywidening。OneofthosethreeoriginalJacobinsagreedtobecomehisspokesmanintheSenate。AsthethirdpersonoftheJacobinbrotherhood，LymanTrumbullhadalwaysbeenoutofplace。Hehadgonewrongnotfromperversityofthesoulbutfromamentalfailing，fromthelackofinherentlight，fromintellectualconventionality。
　　Buthewasagoodman。OnemightapplytohimMrs。Browning’sline：“Justagoodmanmadeagreatman。“Andinhiscase，asinsomanyothers，sheergoodnesshadnotbeensufficientinthemidstofarevolutiontosavehissoul。Toquoteoneofthegreatestoftheobserversofhumanlife：“Morebrains，O
　　Lord，morebrains。“ThoughTrumbullhadthemakingofanIntellectual，politicshadverynearlyruinedhim。ForallhisgoodintentionsittookhimalongtimetoseewhatHawthornesawatfirstsight-thatLincolnwasbothapowerfulcharacterandanoriginalmind。Still，becauseTrumbullwasreallyagoodman，hefoundawaytorecoverhissoul。Whathisinsightwasnotequaltoperceivingin1861，experienceslowlymadeplaintohiminthecourseofthenextthreeyears。Before1865hehadbrokenwiththeVindictives；hehadcomeovertoLincoln。TrumbullstillheldthepowerfulofficeofChairmanoftheSenateJudiciaryCommittee。HenowundertooktobethePresident’scaptaininabattleontheflooroftheSenatefortherecognitionofLouisiana。
　　ThenewgovernmentinLouisianahadbeeninactualoperationfornearlyayear。ThoughCongresshaddenouncedit；thoughtheManifestohadheldituptoscornasamonarchialoutrage；
　　Lincolnhadquietly，steadily，protectedandsupportedit。ItwasdischargingthefunctionofaregularStategovernment。A
　　governorhadbeenelectedandinaugurated-thatGovernorHahnwhomLincolnhadcongratulatedasLouisiana’sfirstFreeStateGovernor。Hecouldsaythisbecausethenewelectoratewhichhismandatehadcreatedhadassembledaconstitutionalconventionandhadabolishedslavery。AndithadalsocarriedoutthePresident’sviewswithregardtothepoliticalstatusoffreedmen。Lincolnwasnotabelieveringeneralnegrosuffrage。HewasasfaraseverfromthetheorizingoftheAbolitionists。ThemosthewouldapprovewasthebestowalofsuffrageonafewSuperiornegroes，leavingtheresttobegraduallyeducatedintocitizenship。TheLouisianaConventionhadauthorizedtheStateLegislaturetomake，whenitfeltpreparedtodoso，suchalimitedextensionofsuffrage。[6]
　　Insettingupthisnewgovernment，LincolnhadcreatedapoliticalvesselinwhichpracticallyalltheoldelectorateofLouisianacouldfindtheirplacesthemomenttheygaveupthewarandacceptedthetworequisites，unionandemancipation。
　　Thatelectoratecouldproceedatoncetorebuildthesocial-politicalorderoftheStatewithoutanyintervalof“expiation。“AllthepoweroftheAdministrationwouldbewiththemintheirlabors。Thatthiswasthewiseaswellasthegenerouswaytoproceed，thebestmindsoftheNorthhadcometosee。WitnesstheconversionofTrumbull。Buttherewerefourgroupsoffanaticswhoweredangerous：extremeAbolitionistswhoclamoredfornegroequality；menlikeWadeandChandler，stillmadwiththelustofconquest，ragingatthePresidentwhohadstoodsoresolutelybetweenthemandtheirdesire；themachinepoliticianswhocouldneverunderstandthePresident’smethods，whoregardedhimasanofficiousamateur；andtheLittleMenwhowouldhavetriedtomakepoliticalcapitaloftheblowingofthelasttrump。Allthese，eachforaseparatemotive，attackedthePresidentbecauseofLouisiana。
　　ThenewgovernmenthadchosenSenators。HerewasaspecificissueoverwhichtheAdministrationanditsmultiformoppositionmightengageinatrialofstrength。TheSenatehaditinitspowertorefusetoseattheLouisianaSenators。