As soon as
Congress came together on July 4, he sent a message explaining
his action, saying: "It became necessary for me to choose
whether, using only the existing means . . . . which Congress had
provided, I should let the Government fall at once into ruin, or
whether availing myself of the broader powers conferred by the
Constitution in cases of insurrection, I would make an effort to
save it with all its blessings for the present age and for
posterity." Congress, it is needless to say, not only approved
all that he had done, but gave him practically unlimited powers
for dealing with the rebellion in future.
It soon became evident that no matter how ready and willing to
fight for their country the 75,000 volunteers might be, they
could not hope to put down the rebellion, because the time for
which they had enlisted would be almost over before they could
receive the training necessary to change them from valiant
citizens into good soldiers. Another call was therefore issued,
this time for men to serve three years or during the war, and
also for a large number of sailors to man the new ships that the
Government was straining every nerve to buy, build and otherwise
make ready.
More important, however, than soldiers trained or untrained, was
the united will of the people of the North; and most important of
all the steadfast and courageous soul of the man called to direct
the struggle.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127