The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-29
MR.. LINCOLN AS A POLITICIAN.
How He Secured the Adoption of the
Thirteenth Amendment.

| How He Secured the Adoption of the
| Thirteenth Amendment.
Lincoln was a supreme politician, ana
he was politician who understood poll
tics 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 poIlty and it was also
a most important military measure. 1t
was intended not merely as a means of
prohibiting slavery, but as means of
affecting the judgment and the feeling and
the antieipations of those in rebellion.
Well, when the question finally came
around to be voted on in the House of
Re representatives. it required three-quarters
of the votes, and this vote this final deci-
sion, was canvassed earnestly, intensely,
| most anxiously for 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 fond OF walking
| and liked to go about a good deal He
came in and shut the door.
| 1t was believed that the amendment to
| the constitution would be equivalent to
new armies in the field equivalentto send
| ing 100000 men to fight, because this
would be an intellectual army and an in
tellectual force that would tend to paralyze
the enemy and break the continuity OF his
| idea. In order to amend the constitution
1t 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 seen 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 super
| fluous and petty State, not big enough to
| be State; but when l hear that COM
plant l always think of Abraham Lin
coins saying, at is easier to admit Ne
vada than to raise another million of sol
| diers."
Dana" he said, IT am very anxious
about this vote. 1t has got to be taken
next week. The time is very short. 1t is
going to be great deal closer than wish
it was"
There are plenty of Democrats who
wish to vote for it," I replied, land who
will vote for it. There is Governor Eng
lish of Connecticut. 1 think he is sure,
isn't he?'
"oh, yes, he is sure, on the merits OF the
| question"
"Then." said 1, there's Sunset Cox of
Ohio. How is he?''
Gle is sure and fearless. But there are
| some others that [ am not sure about.
There are three that you can deal with
better than anybody else, perhaps, as you
know them all. / 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? ?"
asked.
| 4 IL. 1T
! don't know. 1t makes no difference,
! though, that we carry this vote or be COM
PEELED to raise another million, and [
/ don't know how many more men, and
| fight no one knows how long. 1t is ques-
| ton of three votes or new armies
well, sir, said l, what shall l say to
| these gentlemen?"
II don't know" said he; "but ] say
this TO you, that Whatever promise you
! make to those men l will perform it,
! Well, now. this is fact that l do not
| think is recorded in any history. don't
believe my friend, Thomas G. Acton, who
| sits back there, ever heard of it before.
sent for the men, and saw them one by
one. l found that they were afraid of their
party. They said that some fellows in the
party would be down on them. Two of
| them wanted internal revenue collectors
| appointed. Said /, "You shall have it,"
| Another one wanted very important APP
4
York. l knew the man well whom he
wanted to have appointed. He was Re-
publican, though the Congressman was
| Democrat, l had served with him in the
| Republican party County Committee of
| New York. The Office was worth perhaps
$4,000 year. When the Congressman
stated the case l asked him. do you want
| that?
Eyes" said he.
swell" l answered, 'you shall have it."
Il understand, of course" said he, s'that
you are not saying this OF your own au-
| thority?"
ooh, no." said 1; 81 am saying it on the
authority of the PRECEDENT"
j Well, he voted; the amendment was
| carried and slavery was abolished by con-
| stitutional prohibition in all parts OF the
| United States. That was done and felt
that this little piece OF side politics was
| one Of the most judicious, humane and
wise pieces of Executive authority that
had ever assisted in or witnessed. APP
| plause.
But this appointment in the New York
| Custom-house was to wait a few weeks
until the terms of the actual mount bent
| bad run out. Ny friend, the Democratic
Congressman, was quite willing He said:
That's all right; I'm in no hurry" Well,
before the time had expired, Mr.. Lincoln
was murdered, and Andrew johnson be-
came. President. l had gone away. and
was in the West, when one day got
telegram from Roscoe Conkling, "Come to
Washington" So went. He said:
81 want you to go and see President
Johnson and tell him that this is sacred
promise OF Mr.. Lineoln's, and that it must
be kept"
Then went to the White House and saw
President Johnson.
"This is Mr.. Lincoln's PROMISE" I
urged. He regarded it as saving the
necessity of another call for troops and
raising perhaps 100000 men to continue
the war. 1 trust, Mr.. President, that you
will see your way clear to execute this
promise"
well, Mr.. DANA he replied, 81 don't
say that l won't, but l have observed in
the course of my experience that such
bargains tend to immortality" Laugh
teri
The appointment was not made. am
happy to say, however that the gentle
man to whom the promise was given
never found any fault either with Presi-
dent Lincoln or with the Assistant Score
tary, who had been the means OF making