In it he said: "I expect to maintain this contest
until successful, or till I die, or am conquered, or my term
expires, or Congress or the country forsake me," and he asked for
100,000 fresh volunteers with which to carry on the war. His
confidence was not misplaced. The governors of eighteen free
States offered him three times the number, and still other calls
for troops followed. Soon a popular song, "We are coming, Father
Abraham, three hundred thousand strong," showed the faith and
trust of the people in the man at the head of the Government, and
how cheerfully they met the great calls upon their patriotism.
So, week after week and month after month, he faced the future,
never betraying a fear that the Union would not triumph in the
end, but grieving sorely at the long delay. Many who were not so
sure came to him with their troubles. He was beset by night and
by day by people who had advice to give or complaints to make.
They besought him to dismiss this or that General, to order such
and such a military movement; to do a hundred things that he, in
his great wisdom, felt were not right, or for which the time had
not yet come. Above all, he was implored to take some decided and
far-reaching action upon slavery.
IX. FREEDOM FOR THE SLAVES
By no means the least of the evils of slavery was a dread which
had haunted every southern household from the beginning of the
government that the slaves might one day rise in revolt and take
sudden vengeance upon their masters.
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