ul for this mark of their confidence in me, if I know my heart, my
gratitude is free from any taint of personal triumph. I do not impugn
the motives of any one opposed to me. It is no pleasure to me to triumph
over any one, but I give thanks to the Almighty for this evidence of the
people's resolution to stand by free government and the rights of
humanity."

Lincoln and Johnson received a popular majority of 411,281, and two
hundred and twelve out of two hundred and thirty-three electoral votes,
only those of New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky, twenty-one in all,
being cast for McClellan. In his annual message to Congress, which met
on December 5, President Lincoln gave the best summing up of the results
of the election that has ever been written:

"The purpose of the people within the loyal States to maintain the
integrity of the Union was never more firm nor more nearly unanimous
than now.... No candidate for any office whatever, high or low, has
ventured to seek votes on the avowal that he was for giving up the
Union. There have been much impugning of motives and much heated
controversy as to the proper means and best mode of advancing the Union
cause; but on the distinct issue of Union or no Union the politicians
have shown their instinctive knowledge that there is no diversity among
the people. In affording the people the fair opportunity of showing one
to another and to the world this firmness and unanimity of purpose, the
election has been of vast value to the national cause."

On the day of election General McClellan resigned his commission in the
army, and the place thus made vacant was filled by the appointment of
General Philip H. Sheridan, a fit type and illustration of the turn in
the tide of affairs, which was to sweep from that time rapidly onward to
the great decisive national triumph.

XXXIII

The Thirteenth Amendment--The President's Speech on its Adoption--The
Two Constitutional Amendments of Lincoln's Term--Lincoln on Peace and
Slavery in his Annual Message of December 6, 1864--Blair's Mexican
Project--The Hampton Roads Conference

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution
prohibiting slavery throughout the United States had passed the Senate
on April 8, 1864, but had failed of the necessary two-thirds vote in the
House. The two most vital thoughts which animated the Baltimore
convention when it met in June had been the renomination of Mr. Lincoln
and the success of