Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-13
LNCOLN'S PLAN.
How He Would Have Reconstructed
Ehe SOuth-A Memorable ConsuIta-
gIOn During the War.

zion During the War.
Cincinnati Commercial, Jan. y.
In the dark days Of 1928, when our
troops had almost invariably met with de-
feat, at or near the time when Pope's COM
mand was driven pell-mell into Washing
ton, the President, Mr.. Lincoln, called to
his aid for counsel, several Of the most
efficient and patriotic Governors Of the
States. Among them was the then Gov
ernOr Of Ohio, David Tod, a man of the
most intense patriotism, and one in whom
Abraham Lincoln placed implicit faith-a
man whom be loved, and cOunseled with
in many Of the dire emergencies Of the war.
It Is proper to mention, also, that about
the time referred to, a little anterior
thereto, the great pain Of the nation, in its
labor Of agony, had wrung from the Presi-
dent that solemn warning proclamation to
the 'sinsuTgents in arms" giving them
ninety days in which to lay down their
arms, or take the consequences Of an IN
conditional emancipation from thralldOm
of over four millions of their servile pOpu-
lation-in short, it was some weeks ante
rior to the issue Of the great Proclamation
Of Emancipation.
On the call Of the President by telegraph,
Tie ATDhELuDL VI OlLts OaHA4 4OAs A4aA
made a hurried visit to Washington, and
was then in the White House, in response
TO the telegram, accompanied by a SeCreta-
" and the Hon. Samuel Galloway, Of Co
lUmbUs, a gentleman who largely possessed
the confidence and esteem Of Mr.. Lincoln,
and whose name had been included in the
telegram TO the Governor as one to accom-
pany him to Washington.
- g. 4
Lincoln was Of the gravest and most sub
dued character. The Presidents cOunte-
nance bore the impress Of the most agOniz-
ing thought; his tall, ungaiHly form seemed
bent with the burden of great calamity.
Some minutes-prObably a quarter Of an
hOur-elapsed before the OminOus and
sOmbre silence was broken, and then only
by the announcement Of Sam Galloway,
whose entrance seemed to unfold, rs it
were, the Presidents cOuntenance. As
that gentleman entered the room, (the Pres
ident's private office, Mr.. Lincoln arose
from his seat, advanced 10 the door, wrap
ped Mr.. Galloway in his arms, with the eX-
clamatiOn, "GOd bless you, Sam" 1t will
be recOlleCted that Mr.. GallOway's cOunie-
nance was much after the same contour as
Mr.. Lincoln, and that, like Mr.. Lincoln, ne
was the very prince Of stOry-tellers.l The
occupants Of the room were the President,
Hon. Edwin Stanton, Secretary Of War;
Gov. David Tod, Hon. Sam. Galloway,
and another party who, as before remarked,
is now the only survivor Of all who were
present at this memorable consultation.
After a brief interval and drawing to-
getheT Of their chairs around small table
in the middle of the room, Mr.. Lincoln
said addressing himself 10 Gov. Tod most
pOintedly):
81 have called you to Washington TO lay
before you the situation Of affairs, and to
| consult together as to what is best under
the circumstances surrounding us. You
are aware that the National cause is just
now in seeming great peril; that our az
mics have met with DISASTROUS defeat, and
| that at this very moment Gen. POpe's dis
organized forces are encamped in the sub
urbs Of Washington. While / do not in
! tie least particular despair Of the final
! issue Of the contest; while L have an abid-
| ing faith that the Great Maker Of us all
Will in His own good time bring us tTi-
umphantiy out Of our difficulties, yet have
thought it right aud proper to seek your
| counsel, gentlemen, as to what is best to
be done in this emergency"
ThereupOn a running conversation fol
lowed, each gentleman giving his ideas Of
what was best, eliminating in the unani-
nous opinion that it would be wise TO
once more intrust an army in the hands of
General Mcclellan, who was then in
Washington awaiting orders. This matter
disposed OF, the conversation drifted on to
TO the subject of the Presidents warning
stO the Insurgents" This subject seemed,
as it were, to electrify Mr. Lincoln, and he
entered into the discussion with much
spirit. 81 regard, said he, ''my proclama-
ton Of warning as the last and most eflec-
tive wedge that has been driven during the
Whole struggle. 1t viii, in my opinion,
split the COnfederacy into the most minute
fragments" and turning to the Governor