Evening star., 1942-10-11

ternal betrayal of the National Gov
ernment and the possible assassina-
ton of Lincoln.
All this was, however, merely pre-
iminary to the great problem which
remained for Lincoln to attack-the
PRONUNCIATION of some policy which
would hold the border States after
the Inauguration. Lincoln himself,
in all this period, expressed himself
only once, according to DR.. Potter.
In December, acting merely as a
partisan leader, he came out against
compromise and the doctrine of
popular sovereignty, thereby prevent
ing the acceptance of the Crittenden
proposals. From then on, until he
became President, Seward was the
active leader of the Republican
party.
When Lincoln finally took over,
he had formula ready which, says
DR.. Potter, for long time, escaped
the attention of historians. 1t was
simply to suspend Federal activity
in the seeded States without at the
same time admitting the suspension
OF Federal authority.
"He Gincoln) would" says DR..
Potter, assert the Federal authority
vigorously-but he would not eX-
ercise it." Explaining then that
there were only four branches of the
Federal Government which were ex-
ercised in the States at that time,
DR.. Potter continues:
He would enforce the laws-where
an enforcement mechanism existed.
He would deliver the mails-unless
repelled. He would collect the
duties-offshore. He would hold the
forts-at least, the ones which Bu-
chanan had held, and which seemed
capable of holding themselves.
1T was a superb pattern for re-
construction. one which seemed to
eliminate every possibility of a
clash. The rival sections were seq
regated by sanitary Gordon of neu-
trail States. Behind this
barrier, the operation of Federal
force would be, in effect, suspended
so far as seemed necessary to give
Unionism full and free scope. With
every point of contact carefully
mufled, friction might be avoided
Indefinitely. Meanwhile, abdication
of Federal authority would be con-
cealed, and Union sentiment would
be rallied by the firm language OF
the President, and by the retention
of Fort Sumter, which had come to
have enormous significance as a
symbol of the national authority"
The two foundation stones of this
policy, however-that is, dependence
on Union sentiment in the South
and the retention of Fort Sumter
soon crumbled. 1t was impossible tc
hold the fort, and Union sentiment
once hositilities broke out, proved tc
be weaker than sectionalism. Yet
until the very firing, DR.. Potter
holds, Lincoln and his party had nc
alternative policy. Furthermore
the negotiations concerning Fort
Sumter. in his Interpretation, seem
marked by amazing ineptitude and
left incredibly open to accident. Z
This is the main chain of the poll
tical narrative set down in the study
1t is supported by much related ma.
terial-a study of the threat of seces.
sion for 40 years preceding the war
an analysis of the Republican party
an examination of partisan leader.
In both parties, an outline of ths
plan of voluntary reconstruction
which Lincoln hoped to effect ono.
the crisis passed, and a description
of the important measures bearing
on the crisis which were discussed
in Congress.
The picture of Lincoln which thu
work presents is not the traditional
one of the strong War President, bu
rather one Of q Lincoln In his de.
veloping period, provincial lawyer
unaccustomed to the strong current
of national affairs, acting with de.
cision but quite capable Of misjudg'
ing conditions and failing to SCI
realities.
For the Mystery Fans
Murder by Reflection, by H. r
Heard (vanguarO-The author O
"A Taste for Honey" and 'Reply
Paid" falls somewhat short Of tn,
standard Get In his earlier novels
even though he does succeed IL
connecting . new method Of com,
hitting murder.