Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/571

Rh to arouse the war spirit of the North. Mr. Stephens, the Vice-President, was decided in his views that the Confederacy should ally itself with the anti- Republicans and demonstrate a willingness to even reform the Union upon the basis of the Constitutional recognition of the sovereignty of States in matters purely domestic. The rapid development of the coercion and subjugation policies to which Mr. Lincoln yielded dissipated the early hope of reconciliation, and yet the overtures for adjustment were suggested from year to year at every favorable turn in the current of hostile encounter. The Confederate States had looked with eager concern upon the first political skirmishing of 1863 and 1864 preliminary to the great battle for the presidency of the United States. Settlement with a new administration was now believed to be feasible with the existing administration impossible.

Within a week after the adjournment of the Chicago convention there were sufficient successes of the Federal forces in various places to be utilized for popular demonstrations which instantly and powerfully aided the canvass for Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Seward said, &quot; Sherman and Farragut have knocked the planks out of the Chicago platform. President Lincoln also saw that it was advantageous on many accounts to issue a Thanksgiving proclamation. National salutes from military head quarters and navy yards were fired with a fervor which stirred the orators of the hustings. Reverses in the field, said Mr. Lincoln, will make our case doubtful, but with victory the election will take care of itself.

The political campaign grew to its highest heat very rapidly in September. During that month Confederate leaders were desirous to impress the Northern mind with the belief that McClellan s election would bring about a cessation of hostilities, and lead to some bloodless settlement of the disputes between the sections. That view was also urged by Northern speakers and editors who