The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

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THE LIFE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND

though recognizing the elements of dissatisfaction which
it carried with it, he did not suffer himself to be turned
aside in the least from the path which duty to his country required him to pursue. The men were needed, he
said, and must be had, and should he fail as a candidate
for re-election in consequence of doing his duty to the
country, he.would have at least the satisfaction of going
down with colors flying.
Financial difficulties were also used in the same way.
The gradual rise in the price of gold was pointed at as
indicating the approach of that financial ruin which
was surely awaiting the country, if the re-election of Mr.
Lincoln should mark the determination of the people to
pursue the course upon which they had entered.
Amidst these assaults from his opponents, Mr. Lincoln
seemed fairly entitled, at least, to the hearty support of
all the members of his own party. And yet this very
time was chosen by Senator Wade, of Ohio, and H.
Winter Davis, of Maryland, to make a violent attack upon
him for the course which he had pursued in reference
to the Reconstruction Bill, which he had not signed, but
had given his reasons for not signing, in his proclamation of July 18th. They charged hinm with usurpation,
with presuming uvon the forbearance of his supporters,
with defeating the will of the people by an Executive
perversion of the Constitution, &c., &c., and closed a
long and violent attack by saying that if he wished their
support he "must confine himself to his Executive
duties-to obey and execute, not make the laws-to suppress by arms armed rebellion, and leave political reorganization to Congress."
This manifesto, prepared with marked ability, and
skilfully adapted to the purpose it was intended to serve,
at first created some slight apprehension among the supporters of the President. But it was very soon felt that
it met with no response from the popular heart, and it
only served to give a momentary buoyancy to the hopes
of the Opposition.
Still another incident soon occurred to excite a con