Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/301

Rh the plan, had discussed it with his cabinet, and they had agreed with him. Restoration had in fact proceeded so far that the proclamation to restore civil government in North Carolina had been prepared. Mr. Lincoln had great tact in controlling men and bringing them to his views without irritating those who differed with him, as all conceded his patriotism, his love of the Union, and his sincerity.

The effect of his death on the people of the North and the South was electrical. At the North it intensified hatred and revengeful feelings toward the crushed South, and gave excuse to extremists to push their views to the injury of the people of the seceded States in their extreme helplessness. At the South, the people were shocked at the tragedy and condemned it in their brave hearts. They felt that Lincoln was the most moderate and kind-hearted of the men in power at the North, and believed that he, if any one could, would hold in check all extreme measures and stand between them and all unnecessary severities.

It is not certain, however, that Mr. Lincoln's policy would have been otherwise than the "reconstruction" policy of Congress. He intended to attempt to carry out his matured plan if possible. His pocket veto of the bill of Congress in 1864, relative to reconstructing the seceded States, and his giving no official explanation in his next message to Congress, showed that he was adhering to his prerogative of restoring the States as he had determined. He knew that there was great opposition by extremists in his party to his proposed plan of action, yet Congress had not renewed its claims to the extent of antagonizing him again before his death. Congress and a majority of the Northern people had confidence in his ability, and apparently were disposed to give him the right of way by adjourning, March, 1865.

Mr. Lincoln, however, was a party man ; his fealty to his party dominated him. Before his death, many of the