XII. THE CONQUEROR OF A GREAT REBELLION
The presidential election of 1864 took place on November 8. The
diary of one of the President's secretaries contains a curious
record of the way the day passed at the Executive Mansion. "The
house has been still and almost deserted. Everybody in Washington
and not at home voting seems ashamed of it, and stays away from
the President. While I was talking with him to-day he said: "It
is a little singular that I, who am not a vindictive man, should
always have been before the people for election in canvasses
marked for their bitterness. Always but once. When I came to
Congress it was a quiet time; but always besides that the
contests in which I have been prominent have been marked with
great rancor."
Early in the evening the President made his way through rain and
darkness to the War Department to receive the returns. The
telegrams came, thick and fast, all pointing joyously to his
reelection. He sent the important ones over to Mrs. Lincoln at
the White House, remarking, "She is more anxious that I am." The
satisfaction of one member of the little group about him was
coupled with the wish that the critics of the administration
might feel properly rebuked by this strong expression of the
popular will. Mr. Lincoln looked at him in kindly surprise. "You
have more of that feeling of personal resentment than I," he
said.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201