The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-03-20
LINCOLN ASA POLITICIAN.
Some Important Trades He Arranged At
Crisis OF our History,


(From Chas 4 Dana's Lecture at New London.
Lincoln was Il supreme politician
and he was Il politician who under
stood politics, because he understood
human nature. And finally the idei
was conceived that the Constitution
Of the United States should be amend
ed so that slavery should he prohibited
/ in the Constitution. That was I
change in our policy, and il was alst
an important military measure. II
WAS intended not merely as means Of
prohibiting slavery and decreeing' its
| abolition, but as a means of affecting
the judgment and the feeling, and the
anticipations of those in rebellion. il
was believed that that amendment to
| the Constitution would be equivalent
to new armies in the field, equivalent
to sending hundred thousand men
to fight, because this would be an in
tellectual army and an intellectual
force that would tend to paralyze the
enemy and break the continuity of his
ideas. In order to amend the Consti-
tuition it was necessary first to have
the proposed amendment approved by
two thirds of the states. and when that
question came to be considered the
issue was found to be so close that one
state more was necessary. Then the
state of Nevada was organized to
answer that purpose, and was admitted
into the Union. | have heard people
sometimes complain of Nevada as a
superiluous and petty state, not big
enough to be state: but when !
hear that complaint | always think
of Abraham Lincoln's 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 thu
House of Representatives it required
three quarters of the votes; and this
vote this final decision, was canvassed
earnestly, intensely, most anXiously for
a long time beforehand. Al last, late
one afternoon, the president came in
to my office, room in the third story
of the war department He used TO
come there sometimes rather than send
for me, because he was very fond of
walking, and liked to go about "A good
deal. He came in and shut the door
Dana he said II am very anx
ious about this vote. 1t is going to be
taken next week The time is very short.
1t is going to be a great deal closer
than | wish it was"
There are plenty of Democrats
who wish to vote for it, | replied,
and who will vote for it. There is
Governor English of Connecticut,
think he is sure, on the merits Of the
question.
Then" said 1, there's Sunset
Cox of Ohio How is he?'
He is sure and fearless. But there |
are some others that | am not clear
about. There are three that you can
leal with better than anybody else,
perhaps, as you know them all. | wish
iou would send for them.
He told me who they were: il isn't
to repeat the names here
One man was from New Jersey and
.wo from New York
What will they be likely to WANT"
asked.
II don't know, - said the president;
Il don't know. 1t makes no differ
nee, though, what they want. Here
S the alternative, that We carry this
ote or be compelled TO raise another
million and ] don't know how many
more men. and fight no one knows how
ong. 1t is a question Of three votes
r new armies. 8
"Well. sir" said /. what shall |
ay to these gentlemen
II don't know, said he: but | say |
his to you, that whatever promise you {
rake to those men, will perform it. " a
We'll, now, this is fact that | do !
OF think is recorded in any history. !
sent for the men, and saw them one a
y one. found that they were afraid
their party. They said that some ,
flows in the party would be down on {
lem. Two of them wanted internal 6
venue collectors appointed. Said | h
You shall have it. -" Another one I
anted very important appointment a
)out the Custom House of New York 4
knew the man well whom he wanted d
, have appointed. He was a Repubh- II
IN, though the congressman was a s
| had served with him in q
e of New York. The Office was worth n
essman stated the case, asked him
Do you want that" n
Yes, - said he. p,
Well'' | answered you shall have N
L unuefstdnu. OF COURSE, Sdlu ne h,
hat you are not saying this on your m
authority?' N
no, =" said |: II am saying this
the authority of the president. sa
Veil, he voted the amendment was W
rried, and slavery was abolished by h,
Institutional prohibition in all of the th
lifted States. That was done, and | hi
t that this little piece of side politics %
IS one of the most judicious, humane lo
d wise pieces of executive authority W,
1t had ever assisted in or witnessed. do
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