CHAPTER III.

HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

(CONTINUED.)

General History of the Party During the War - Emancipation — The Amendments to the Constitution-The Campaign of 1846-The Baltimore Platform-The Cleveland Convention-The Democratic Convention -The Democratic Convention and Platform-The Canvass-The Death of President Lincoln-Andrew Johnson-His Treachery and Impeachment-Reconstruction Commenced.

From this time forth until the close of the war of the rebellion, the history of the Republican party is so interwoven with the history of the Union itself that it would be impossible to separate the two. Called by the people to the conduct of affairs during this momentous era in the history of the country, the policy of the party was necessarily engrafted into the conduct of the war and the material, financial, and legislative measures of the stirring and exceptional times. That the administration of affairs during this national crisis was in the main highly successful, the event of the war is ample demonstration. For not only was the Union saved, but the credit of the nation was also constantly maintained, so that notwithstanding the war, the people continued to be prosperous, and remain highly prosperous to this day. The soldiers and sailors were promptly paid. There never was any

discontent either in the army or navy. The people cheerfully paid heavy taxes because they perceived that they were wisely levied, honestly collected, and faithfully disbursed to the patriotic saviours of the Republic. It were useless to relate the details of legislation and administration during these exciting years, the result so amply vindicating the statesmanship and patriotism of the party in power, but it may be well to recur to a few facts which are especially illustrative of Republican policy.

SLAVERY THE CORNER-STONE OF REBELLION.

The success of the Republican party was not the cause, but only the pretext of the war. It cannot be pretended that the election of Abraham Lincoln was not in every particular lawful. Nor can it be claimed that after election and before inauguration, he or his party had violated any law whatever, or in any way manifested any disposition to do so. Nevertheless, before his inauguration, the pretended "Confederate" Government was set up, and a provisional President and Vice-President were elected. The corner-stone of this new government, as claimed by its chief architects, was Slavery. They proposed to overthrow the Constitution and the principle of freedom at the same time; by the same blow to destroy both. Both were in the keeping of the Republican party.

The party maintained both not only, but strictly in accordance with law, gave new triumphs to freedom, and added new provisions of beneficent political effect to the Constitution.

PRELIMINARIES OF EMANCIPATION.

Among these the first in practical importance, perhaps, will be regarded President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation. On the 22d of September, 1862, President Lincoln issued a proclamation in which, after reciting the provisions of certain acts of Congress, he declared that on the first of the following January he would, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, set free all slaves in all parts of the country remaining in rebellion against the government. This proclamation created a profound impression throughout the country. Many asserted it was proof that the war was carried on, not for the restoration of the Union, but for the abolition of Slavery. This, however, the proclamation itself disproved. It is to be observed also, that on the 6th of March previous, the President had sent a message to Congress, recommending compensated emancipation, in accordance with which both Houses very soon passed the following joint resolution :

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Resolved, etc., That the United States ought to co-operate with any State which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State in its discretion, to compensate for the inconvenience, public and private, produced by such change of system.”

Other legislative attempts in the same direction were also made, and there was much diplomacy on the subject between representatives of the border Slave States and President Lincoln; but all such efforts failed to reach a practical result. A recurrence to them, however, is regarded proper, as

showing that emancipation, through the war power of the government, was not adopted except as the last extremity and on account of the dire necessity of the military situation. Accordingly, after many months of wearying patience the President issued that immortal document, the “ Proclamation of Emancipation," wherein, after citing the preliminary proclamation already referred to, he proclaimed:

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"Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and Government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

[Here follows an enumeration of the Slave States, with certain reservations in favor of districts occupied by Federal troops.]

"And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

"And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

"And I further declare and make known that such persons, of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

"And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, the first day of January, in the [L. S.] year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the President :

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

LINCOLN TO THE CHICAGO CLERGYMEN.

It belongs, perhaps, rather to a biography of Abraham Lincoln than the province of history, to say that he gave to this subject his profoundest reflection, considering it not only in its legal and military bearings, but as affected by Christian civilization also. Only a few days before the warning proclamation of September 22d, the President gave audience at the Executive Mansion, to a deputation from all the religious denominations of the city of Chicago, who waited upon him to urge the propriety and necessity of emancipation. In the course of his reply to their remarks, Mr. Lincoln said:

"Do not misunderstand me because I have mentioned these objections. They indicate the difficulties that have thus far prevented my action in some such way as you desire. I have not decided against a proclamation of liberty to the slaves, but hold the matter under advisement. And I can assure you that the subject is on my mind by day and night more than any other Whatever shall appear to be God's will I will do."

It would thus appear that no great measure ever received more deliberate, earnest consideration than that sublime document by which the chains of three million slaves were at once destroyed. Congress and the people approved the measure