tance to this ceremony, made stately
with orations, music, and military display.

In Washington it was a day of deep peace and thankfulness. Grant had
arrived that morning, and, going to the Executive Mansion, had met the
cabinet, Friday being their regular day for assembling. He expressed
some anxiety as to the news from Sherman which he was expecting hourly.
The President answered him in that singular vein of poetic mysticism
which, though constantly held in check by his strong common sense,
formed such a remarkable element in his character. He assured Grant that
the news would come soon and come favorably, for he had last night had
his usual dream which preceded great events. He seemed to be, he said,
in a singular and indescribable vessel, but always the same, moving with
great rapidity toward a dark and indefinite shore; he had had this dream
before Antietam, Murfreesboro, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg. The cabinet
were greatly impressed by this story; but Grant, most matter-of-fact of
created beings, made the characteristic response that "Murfreesboro was
no victory, and had no important results." The President did not argue
this point with him, but repeated that Sherman would beat or had beaten
Johnston; that his dream must relate to that, since he knew of no other
important event likely at present to occur.

Questions of trade between the States, and of various phases of
reconstruction, occupied the cabinet on this last day of Lincoln's firm
and tolerant rule. The President spoke at some length, disclosing his
hope that much could be done to reanimate the States and get their
governments in successful operation before Congress came together. He
was anxious to close the period of strife without over-much discussion.
Particularly did he desire to avoid the shedding of blood, or any
vindictiveness of punishment. "No one need expect that he would take any
part in hanging or killing these men, even the worst of them." "Enough
lives have been sacrificed," he exclaimed; "we must extinguish our
resentments if we expect harmony and union." He did not wish the
autonomy nor the individuality of the States disturbed; and he closed
the session by commending the whole subject to the most careful
consideration of his advisers. It was, he said, the great question
pending--they must now begin to act in the interest of peace. Such were
the last words that Lincoln spoke to his cabinet. They dispersed with
these sentences of clemency