ered the many questions addressed him by the
commissioners, as to what would probably be done on various important
subjects that must arise at once if the Confederate States consented,
carefully discriminating in his answers between what he was authorized
under the Constitution to do as Executive, and what would devolve upon
cooerdinate branches of the government, the interview came to nothing.
The commissioners returned to Richmond in great disappointment, and
communicated the failure of their efforts to Jefferson Davis, whose
chagrin was equal to their own. They had all caught eagerly at the hope
that this negotiation would somehow extricate them from the dilemmas and
dangers of their situation. Davis took the only course open to him after
refusing the honorable peace Mr. Lincoln had tendered. He transmitted
the commissioners' report to the rebel Congress, with a brief and dry
message stating that the enemy refused any terms except those the
conqueror might grant; and then arranged as vigorous an effort as
circumstances permitted once more to "fire the Southern heart." A public
meeting was called, where the speeches, judging from the meager reports
printed, were as denunciatory and bellicose as the bitterest Confederate
could desire. Davis particularly is represented to have excelled himself
in defiant heroics. "Sooner than we should ever be united again," he
said, "he would be willing to yield up everything he had on earth--if it
were possible, he would sacrifice a thousand lives"; and he further
announced his confidence that they would yet "compel the Yankees, in
less than twelve months, to petition us for peace on our own terms."

This extravagant rhetoric would seem merely grotesque, were it not
embittered by the reflection that it was the signal which carried many
additional thousands of brave soldiers to death, in continuing a
palpably hopeless military struggle.

XXXIV

Blair--Chase Chief Justice--Speed Succeeds Bates--McCulloch Succeeds
Fessenden--Resignation of Mr. Usher--Lincoln's Offer of
$400,000,000--The Second Inaugural--Lincoln's Literary Rank--His Last
Speech

The principal concession in the Baltimore platform made by the friends
of the administration to their opponents, the radicals, was the
resolution which called for harmony in the cabinet. The President at
first took no notice, either publicly or privately, of this resolution,
which was in effect a recommendation that he dismiss those m