eeks.... My enemies
pretend I am now carrying on this war for the sole purpose of abolition.
So long as I am President it shall be carried on for the sole purpose of
restoring the Union. But no human power can subdue this rebellion
without the use of the emancipation policy and every other policy
calculated to weaken the moral and physical forces of the rebellion....
Let my enemies prove to the country that the destruction of slavery is
not necessary to a restoration of the Union. I will abide the issue."

The political situation grew still darker. When at last, toward the end
of August, the general gloom had enveloped even the President himself,
his action was most original and characteristic. Feeling that the
campaign was going against him, he made up his mind deliberately as to
the course he should pursue, and laid down for himself the action
demanded by his conviction of duty. He wrote on August 23 the following
memorandum:

"This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that
this administration will not be reelected. Then it will be my duty to so
cooeperate 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."

He then folded and pasted the sheet in such manner that its contents
could not be read, and as the cabinet came together he handed this paper
to each member successively, requesting them to write their names across
the back of it. In this peculiar fashion he pledged himself and the
administration to accept loyally the anticipated verdict of the people
against him, and to do their utmost to save the Union in the brief
remainder of his term of office. He gave no intimation to any member of
his cabinet of the nature of the paper they had signed until after his
reelection.

The Democratic convention was finally called to meet in Chicago on
August 29. Much had been expected by the peace party from the strength
and audacity of its adherents in the Northwest; and, indeed, the day of
the meeting of the convention was actually the date appointed by rebel
emissaries in Canada for an outbreak which should effect that revolution
in the northwestern States which had long been their chimerical dream.
This scheme of the American Knights, however, was discovered and guarded
against through the usual treachery of some of their members; and it is
doubtful if the Democrats