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.

602 THE LIFE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND.before the common danger. Efforts were made on every
side, not for discord, but for harmony and united effort.
With this desire, and in accordance with an intimation
in the Baltimore Platform that a change in the Cabinet
would be desirable, Mr. Lincoln determined to displace
Mr. Blair from the position of Postmaster-General. The
following correspondence passed between them:ExROUTIVl MA1sloN, WAshiNGTon, September 28, 1S64.
Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR:
MY DEAR SIR:-You have generously said to me, more than once, that
whenever your resignation could be a relief to me, it was at illy disposal.
The time has come. You very well know that this proceeds flrom no dissatisfaction of mine.with you personally or officially. Your uniforml
kindness lias been unsurpassed by that of any otler friend, and while it is
true that the war does not so greatly add to the difficulties of your department as to those of some others, it is yet much to say, as I most truly
can, that in the three years and a half during which you have administered the General Post-Office, I remember no single complaint against you
in connection therewith. Yours, as ever,
A. LINcoL.x.
MR. BLAIR'S REPLY.
MY DEAR SIR:-I have received your note of this date, referring to my
offers to resign whenever you should deem it advisable for the public interest that I should do so, and stating that, in your judgment, that time
has now come. I now, therefore, formally tender my resignation of the
office of Postmaster-General. I cannot take leave of you without renewing the expressions of my gratitude for the uniform kindness which has
marked your course towards Yours truly,
M. BLAIR.
THE PRESIDENT.
The political canvass was prosecuted with energy and
confidence in every section of the country. The main consideration which was pressed upon the public mind was,
that the defeat of Mr. Lincoln would be, in the eyes of
the rebels, an explicit disapproval of the general line of
policy he had pursued, and a distinct repudiation by the
people of the Northern States of the Baltimore declaration, that the war should be prosecuted to the complete
and final overthrow of the rebellion. This view of the
case completely controlled the sentiment and action of
the people, and left little room or disposition for wran