Lincoln military governor of Tennessee in
1862.
The Democrats at first meant to have the national convention of
their party meet on the fourth of July; but after Fremont had
been nominated at Cleveland and Lincoln at Baltimore, they
postponed it to a later date, hoping that something in the
chapter of accidents might happen to their advantage. At first it
appeared as if this might be the case. The outlook for the
Republicans was far from satisfactory. The terrible fighting and
great losses of Grant's army in Virginia had profoundly shocked
and depressed the country. The campaign of General Sherman, who
was then in Georgia, showed as yet no promise of the brilliant
results it afterward attained. General Early's sudden raid into
Maryland, when he appeared so unexpectedly before Washington and
threatened the city, had been the cause of much exasperation; and
Mr. Chase, made bitter by his failure to receive the coveted
nomination for President, had resigned from the cabinet. This
seemed, to certain leading Republicans, to point to a breaking up
of the government. The "Peace" men were clamoring loudly for an
end of the war; and the Democrats, not having yet formally chosen
a candidate, were free to devote all their leisure to attacks
upon the administration.
Mr. Lincoln realized fully the tremendous issues at stake. He
looked worn and weary.
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