Injustificationofhischoice，LincolnsaidtoHay：——“Thinkingoverthematter，twoorthreepointsoccurredtome：firsthisthoroughacquaintancewiththebusiness；aschairmanoftheSenateCommitteeofFinance，heknowsasmuchofthisspecialsubjectasMr。Chase；hepossessesanationalreputationandtheconfidenceofthecountry；heisaRadicalwithoutthepetulanceandfretfulnessofmanyradicals。“[5]Inotherwords，thoughhewasnotatheartoneofthem，hestoodforthemomentsoclosetotheVindictivesthattheywouldnotmakeanissueonhisconfirmation。
LincolnhadscoredapointinhisgamewiththeVindictives。
Butthepointwasoflittlevalue。Thegame’srealconcernwasthatReconstructionBillwhichwasnowbeforetheSenatewithWadeasitsparticularsponsor。ThegreattwinbrethrenoftheVindictiveswereWadeandChandler。Bothwerefuriousforthepassageofthebill。“TheExecutive，“saidWadeangrily，“oughtnottobeallowedtohandlethisgreatquestionofhisownliking。“
Onthelastdayofthesession，LincolnwasinthePresident’sroomattheCapitolSigningbills。TheReconstructionBill，dulypassedbybothHouses，wasbroughttohim。SeveralSenators，friendsofthebillanddeeplyanxious，hadcomeintothePresident’sroomhopingtoseehimaffixhissignature。Totheirhorror，hemerelyglancedatthebillandlaiditaside。
Chandler，whowaswatchinghim，bluntlydemandedwhathemeanttodo。“Thisbill，“saidLincoln，“hasbeenplacedbeforemeafewminutesbeforeCongressadjourns。itisamatteroftoomuchimportancetobeswallowedinthatway。“