s, for, as he said, he was now too old to "care much about
the mode of doing things." But one was this: "It has long been a grave
question whether any Government not too strong for the liberties of its
people can be strong enough to maintain its existence in great
emergencies. On this point the present rebellion brought our Government
to a severe test, and a Presidential election occurring in regular course
during the rebellion added not a little to the strain. But we cannot
have a free Government without elections; and if the rebellion could
force us to forego or postpone a national election it might fairly claim
to have already conquered and ruined us. But the election along with its
incidental and undesirable strife has done good too. It has demonstrated
that a people's Government can sustain a national election in the midst
of a great civil war. Until now it has not been known to the world that
this was a possibility. But the rebellion continues, and now that the
election is over may not all have a common interest to reunite in a
common effort to save our common country? For my own part I have striven
and shall strive to avoid placing any obstacle in the way. So long as I
have been here I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom.
While I am duly sensible to the high compliment of a re-election, and
duly grateful as I trust to Almighty God for having directed my
countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think, for their good, it adds
nothing to my satisfaction that any man may be disappointed by the
result. May I ask those who have not differed from me to join with me in
this same spirit towards those who have? And now let me close by asking
three hearty cheers for our brave soldiers and seamen, and their gallant
and skilful commanders."

In the Cabinet he brought out the paper that he had sealed up in the dark
days of August; he reminded his ministers of how they had endorsed it
unread, and he read it them. Its contents ran thus: "This morning, as
for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this
Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so
co-operate with the President-elect as to save the Union between the
election and the inauguration, as he will have secured his election on
such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards." Lincoln
explained what he had intended to do if McClellan had won. He would have
gone to him and said, "General, this election