, 1896-03-30
MR.. LINCOLN AS A POLITICIAN
How He Secured the Adoption of the
Thirteenth Amendment.

Lincoln was a supreme politician,
and he was a politician who under
stood politics, because he understood
human nature. And finally the idea
was conceived that the constitution of
the United States should be amended
so that slavery should be prohibited in
the constitution. That was a change
in our polity, and 1t was also a
important military 1t vas
intended not merely as a means Of pro-
hibiting slavery and %decreeing its abo-
lition, but as a means of affecting the
judgment and the feeling and the anti
c~irations of those in rebellion. 1t was
believed that the amendment to the
constitution would be equivalent to
new armies in the field. equivalent to
sending a hundred thousands men to
fight, because this would he an intel
lec.ual army and an Intellectual force
that would tend to paralyze the enemy
and break the continuity of his idea.
In order to amend the constitution it
was necessary first to have the pro-
posed amendment approved by two
thirds of the states. and when that
question came to be considered the is
sue was seen to be so close that one
state more necessary. Then the state
of Nevada was organized to answer
that purpose, and was admitted into
the union. have heard people some
times complain of Nevada as a super
fiuous and petty state, not big enough
to be a state: but when l hear that COM
plant I always think Of Abraham Lin
coins saying, 1T is easier to admit
Nevada than to raise another million
of soldiers"
Well, when the question finally came
around to be voted upon in the house
of representatives. it required three
quarters of the votes. and this vote,
this final decision, was canvassed earn,
estly, intensely. most %anxiously for a
long time beforehand. At last, late one
afternoon, the president came into my
office, a room in the third story Of the
war department. He used to come
there sometimes rather than send for
me, because he was very sOnd of walk
ing, and liked to go about 4 good deal.
He came In and shut the door.
Dana" he said, 81 am 7ery anxious
about this vote. 1t has got to be taken
next week. The time is very short. 1t
Is going to be a great deal closer than
l wish 1t was"
There are plenty of democrats who
wish to vote for it," l replied. and who
will vote for 1t. There is Gov. English.
of Connecticut. l think he is sure.
isn't he?"
"Oh, yes, he Is sure, on the merits OF
the question"
Then" said l. there's Sunset Cox,
of Ohio. How Is he?"
He is sure and fearless. But there
are some others that l am not sure
about. There are three that you can
dea | with better than anybody else.
perhaps. as you know them all. I wish
you would send for them"
He told me who they were. 1t isn't
necessary to repeat the names here.
One man was from New Jersey and two
from New York.
What will they be likely to want?"
l asked.
81 don't know" said the president;
II don't know. 1t makes no difference,
though, that we carry this vote or be
compelled to raise another million and
don't know how many more men. and
fight no one knows how long. 1t is a
question Of three votes or new armies"
We'll. SIR" said l. what shall l say
to these gentlemen"
II don't know" said he; but I say
this to you. that whatever promise you
make to those men. I will perform it."
Well, now. this is a fact that l do not
think is recorded in any history. l
don't believe my friend, Thomas C.
Acton. who sits back there, ever heard
of 1t before. l sent for the men. and
saw them one by one. l found that
they afraid Of their party. They
said that some fellows in the party
would be down on them. Two of them
wanted internal event collectors ap>
pointed. Said 1: You shall have 1t"
Another one wanted a very important
appointment about the custom house
of New York. l knew the mar well
whom he wanted to have appointed.
He was a republican. though the con-
gressman was a democrat. l had serv-
ed with him in the republican party
county committee of New York. The
ONCE was worth perhaps $50. 900 a year.
When the congressman stated the case,
I asked him: do you want that?"
YES" said he.
We'll" I answered, you shall have
It,"
II understand, of course" said he.
that you are not saying this on your
own authority"
"Oh. no" said /; II am saying it on
the authority Of the president"
Well. he voted; the amendment wal
carried. and slavery was abolished by
constitutional prohibition in all Of the
United States. That was done, and ]
felt that xhfs little piece Of side politics
wan one Of the most judicious. humane
and wtss pieces Of executive authority
that l he'd sver assisted In or witness
Cd. (Applause.)