Hetookintohisconfidence“thestrongerhalfoftheCabinet，Seward，StantonandFessenden，“andtogethertheyassaultedtheCommittee。[13]Itwasareceptionamazinglydifferentfromwhathadbeenexpected。Insteadofterrifiedpartydiplomatsshakingintheirshoes，tryingtofaceallpointsatonce，morbidoverpossiblepoliticaldefeatsineveryquarter，theyfoundwhatmayhaveseemedtothemamaninadream；onewhowasintenselysad，butwhogavenosuggestionofpanic，nosolicitudeabouthisownfate，nodoubtofhisultimatevictory。Theirpracticalastutenesswasdisarmedbythathigherastutenessattainedonlybypeculiarmindswhichcandiscernthroughsomesureinteriortesttheraremomentwhenitisthepartofwisdomnottobeastuteatall。
BackedbythosestrongMinisters，allentirelyunderhisinfluence，LincolnfullypersuadedtheCommitteethatatthismoment，anyovertureforpeacewouldbetheworstofstrategicblunders，“wouldbeworsethanlosingthepresidentialcontest——itwouldbeignominiouslysurrenderingitinadvance。“[14]
LincolnwonacompletespiritualvictoryovertheCommittee。
Thesedispiritedmen，whohadcometoWashingtontobegforapolicyofnegotiation，wentawayinsuchadifferenttemperthatBennett’sWashingtoncorrespondentjeeredinprintatthe“sillyreport“oftheirhavingassembledtodiscusspeace。[15]
Obviously，theyhadmerelyheldameetingoftheExecutiveCommittee。TheTribunecorrespondenttelegraphedthattheywereconfidentofLincoln’sreelection。[l6]
OnthedayfollowingtheconferencewithLincoln，TheTimesannounced：“Youmayrestassuredthatallreportsattributingtothegovernmentanymovementslookingtowardnegotiationsforpeaceatpresentareutterlywithoutfoundation……ThegovernmenthasnotentertainedordiscussedtheprojectofproposinganarmisticewiththeRebelsnorhasitanyintentionofsendingcommissionerstoRichmond……itssoleandundividedpurposeistoprosecutethewaruntiltherebellionisquelled……“OfequalsignificancewastheannouncementbyTheTimes，fairlytobeconsideredtheAdministrationorgan：“ThePresidentstandsfirmagainsteverysolicitationtopostponethedraft。“[17]
Thequestioninsistsuponrisingagain：weretheanti-Lincolnpoliticiansjustifiedintheirexultation，theLincolnpoliticiansjustifiedintheirpanic？Nobodywilleverknow；
butitisworthconsideringthattheshrewdopportunistwhoexpressedhimselfthroughTheHeraldchangedhismindduringafortnightinAugust。Byoneofthoseoddcoincidencesofwhichhistoryisfull，itwasonthetwenty-thirdofthemonththathewarnedtheDemocratsandjeeredattheRepublicansinthisinsolentfashion：
“ManyofourleadingRepublicansarenowfuriousagainstLincoln……BryantofTheEveningPostisveryangrywithLincolnbecauseHenderson，ThePost’spublisher，hasbeenarrestedfordefraudingthegovernment。
RaymondisalittleshakyandhastomakefrequentjourneystoWashingtonforinstructions……
“Now，towhatdoesallthisamount？Ourexperienceofpoliticsconvincesusthatitamountstonothing。ThesoreheadRepublicanscomplainthatLincolngivesthemeithertoolittleshoddyortoolittlenigger。Whatcandidatecantheyfindwhowillgivethemmoreofeither？
“TheChicagoDemocraticdelegatesmustveryemphaticallycomprehendthattheymustbeatthewholeRe-publicanpartyiftheyelecttheircandidate。Itisastrongpartyevenyetandhasaheavyarmyvotetodrawupon。TheerrorofrelyingtoogreatlyupontheweaknessoftheRepublicansasdevelopedinthequarrelsoftheRepublicanleaders，mayprovefatal……
theRepublicanleadersmayhavetheirpersonalquarrels，ortheirshoddyquarrels，ortheirniggerquarrelswithOldAbe；
buthehasthewhiphandofthemandtheywillsoonbebobbingbackintotheRepublicanfold，likesheepwhohavegoneastray。
Themostofthefusssomeofthemkickupnow，issimplytoforceLincolntogivethemtheirterms……
“WehavestudiedallclassesofpoliticiansinourdayandwewarntheChicagoConventiontoputnotrustintheRepublicansoreheads。FuriouslyassomeofthemdenounceLincolnnow，andlukewarmastherestofthemareinhiscause，theywillallbeshoutingforhimastheonlytrueUnioncandidateassoonasthenominationshaveallbeenmadeandthechancesforbargainshavepassed。
Whatevertheysaynow，weventuretopredictthatWadeandhistail；andBryantandhistail；andWendellPhillipsandhistail；andWeed，Barney，Chaseandtheirtails；andWinterDavis，Raymond，OpdykeandForneywhohavenotails；willallmaketracksforOldAbe’splantation，andwillsoonbefoundcrowingandblowing，andvowingandwriting，andswearingandstumpingthestateonhisside，declaringthatheandhealone，isthehopeofthenation，thebugabooofJeffDavis，thefirstofConservatives，thebestofAbolitionists，thepurestofpatriots，themostgullibleofmankind，theeasiestPresidenttomanage，andthepersonespeciallypredestinedandforeordainedbyProvidencetocarryonthewar，freetheniggers，andgiveallthefaithfulafairshareofthespoils。
Thespectaclewillberidiculous；butitisinevitable。“[1]
ThecynicofTheHeraldhadsomethingtogouponbesideshisgeneralknowledgeofpoliticiansandelections。TheManifestohadnotmetwithuniversalacclaim。inthecourseofthismonthofsurprises，therewereseveralthingsthatanapprehensiveobservermightinterpretastheshadowofthathandoffatewhichwassoontoappearuponthewall。IntheRepublicanConventionoftheNineteenthOhioDistrict，whichincludedAshtabulaCounty，Wade’scounty，therewerefiercewordsandthenwithfewdissentingvotes，aresolution，“ThattherecentattackuponthePresidentbyWadeandDavisis，inouropinion，ill-timed，ill-tempered，andill-advised……
andinasmuchasoneoftheauthorsofsaidprotestisacitizenofthisCongressionalDistrictandindebtedinnosmalldegreetoourfriendshipfortheposition，wedeemitadutynolessimperativethandisagreeable，topronounceuponthatdisorganizingManifestoourunqualifieddisapprovalandcondemnation。“[2]
TobesuretherewereplentyofothervoicesfromOhioandelsewhereapplauding“TheWaronthePresident。“Nevertheless，thereweresignsofareluctancetojointhemovement，andsomeoftheseinquarterswheretheyhadbeenleastexpected。
Notably，theAbolitionistleaderswereslowtocomeforward。
Sumnerwasparticularlyslow。Hewasready，indeed，toadmitthatabettercandidatethanLincolncouldbefound，andtherewasawhisperthatthebettercandidatewashimself。However，hewasunconditionalthathewouldnotparticipateinafightagainstLincoln。ifthePresidentcouldbepersuadedtowithdraw，thatwasonething。Butotherwise——noSumnerintheconspiracy。[3]
WasitpossiblethatChandler，Wade，Davisandtheresthadjumpedtoosoon？TorebuildtheVindictiveCoalition，thegroupinwhichSumnerhadaplacewasessential。ThisgroupwascomposedofAbolitionists，chieflyNewEnglanders，andforpresentpurposetheircentralfigurewasAndrew，theGovernorofMassachusetts。DuringthelatterhalfofAugust，thefateoftheConspiracyhungonthequestion，CanAndrewandhisgroupbedrawnin？
AndrewdidnotlikethePresident。Hewasoneofthosewhonevergotovertheirfirstimpressionofthestrangenewmanof1861。HeinsistedthatLincolnlackedtheessentialqualitiesofaleader。“Tocomprehendthisobjection，“sayshisfrankbiographer，“whichtousseemssoastoundinglywideofthemark，wemustrealizethatwhenevertheNewEnglanderofthatgenerationutteredtheword’leader’hismind’seyewasfilledwiththeimageofDanielWebster……hiscommandingpresence，hisloftytoneaboutaffairsofstate，hissonorousprofessionofanideal，hiswholeexcathedraattitude。Allthosecharacteristicssuppliedthearistocraticconnotationoftheword’leader’asrequiredbyacommunityinwhichaconsiderablemeasureofaristocraticsympathystilllingered。
AndrewandhisfriendswerelikethemenofoldwhohavingknownSaulbeforetime，andbeholdinghimprophesying，asked’IsSaulalsoamongtheprophets？’“[4]
ButAndrewstoodwelloutsidethepartycabalsthatwerehatchedatWashington。Heandhisgavetheconspiratorsahearingfromareasonwidelydifferentfromanyoftheirs。
TheydistrustedtheExecutiveCommittee。TheargumentthathadswepttheCommitteeforthemomentoffitsfeetfilledthesternNewEnglanderswithscorn。Theywereprompttodenyanysympathywiththearmisticemovement。[5]AsAndrewputit，thechiefdangerofthehourwastheinfluenceoftheExecutiveCommitteeonthePresident，whomhepersistedinconsideringaweakman；thechiefdutyofthehourwasto“rescue“Lincoln，orinsomeotherwayto“checkthepeacemovementoftheRepublicanmanagers。“[6]ifitwerefairlycertainthatthiscouldbeeffectedonlybyputtingtheconspiracythrough，Andrewwouldcomein。Butcouldhebeclearinhisownmindthatthiswasthethingtodo？Whilehehesitated，JaquessandGilmoredidtheirlastsmallpartinAmericanhistoryandleftthestage。TheymadeatouroftheNorthernStatesexplainingtothevariousgovernorsthepurposesoftheirmissiontoRichmond，andreportinginfulltheiraudiencewithDavisandtheimpressionstheyhadformed。[7]ThiswasapointinfavorofLincoln——asAndrewthought。Ontheotherhand，thereweretheeditorialsofTheTimes。Aslateasthetwenty-fourthofAugust，thedaybeforetheWashingtonconference，TheTimesassertedthatthePresidentwouldwaivealltheobjectsforwhichthewarhadbeenfought，includingAbolition，ifanypropositionofpeaceshouldcomethatembracedtheintegrityoftheUnion。Tobesure，thiswasnotconsistentwiththereportofJaquessandGilmoreandtheirstatementoftermsactuallysetdownbyLincoln。Andyet——itcamefromtheAdministrationorganeditedbythechairmanoftheExecutiveCommittee。Wasrescue“ofthePresidentanythingmorethanadream？
ItwasjustherethatLincolnintervenedandrevolutionizedthewholesituation。Withwhattenseinterest-AndrewmusthavewaitedforreportsofthatconferenceheldatWashingtononthetwenty-fifth。Andwithwhatdelighthemusthavereceivedthem!Thepublicationonthetwenty-sixthofthesweepingrepudiationofthenegotiationpolicy；thereassertionthattheAdministration’s“soleandundividedpurposewastoprosecutethewar。“Simultaneouswasanotherannouncement，alsointhemindsoftheNewEnglanders，offirstimportance：“SofarastherebeinganyprobabilityofPresidentLincolnwithdrawingfromthecanvass，assomehavesuggested，thegentlemencomprisingtheCommitteeexpressthemselvesasconfidentofhisreelection。“[8]
Meanwhilethelettersaskingforsignaturestothepro-posed“call“hadbeencirculatedandthetimehadcometotakestockoftheresultFromOhio，Wadehadwritteninasanguinemood。
HewasforissuingthecallthemomenttheDemocraticConventionhadtakenaction。[9]Onthetwenty-ninththatconventionmet。Onthethirtieth，theconspiratorsreassembled——againatthehouseofDavidDudleyField——andAndrewattended。Hehadnotcommittedhimselfeitherway。
AndnowLincoln’sfirmnesswiththeExecutiveCommitteehaditsreward。TheNewEnglandershadmadeuptheirminds。
Personally，hewasstillobnoxioustothem；butinlightofhisrecentpronouncement，theywouldtaketheirchancesonrescuing“himfromtheCommittee；andsincehewouldnotwithdraw，theywouldnotcooperateinsplittingtheUnionparty。Buttheycouldnotconvincetheconspirators。Alongdebateendedinanagreementtodisagree。TheNewEnglanderswithdrew，confessedpartisansofLincoln。[10]Itwasthebeginningoftheend。
AndrewwentbacktoBostontoorganizeNewEnglandforLincoln。
J。M。ForbesremainedtoorganizeNewYork。[11]Allthis，ignoringtheExecutiveCommittee。ItwasanewLincolnpropaganda，notinoppositiontotheCommitteebutinfrankrivalry：“Since，orif，wemusthaveLincoln，“saidAndrew，“menofmotiveandideasmustgetintothelead，mustelecthim，getholdof’themachine’and’runit’themselves。“[12]
Thebottomwasoutoftheconspiracy；buttheleadersatNewYorkwereslowtoyield。DespitetheNewEnglandsecession，theythoughttheDemocraticplatform，onwhichMcClellanhadbeeninvitedtostandascandidateforthePresidency，gavethemanotherchance，especiallythefamousresolution：
“ThatthisConventiondoesexplicitlydeclare，asthesenseoftheAmericanpeople，afterfouryearsoffailuretorestoretheUnionbytheexperimentofwar，duringwhich，underthepretenseofamilitarynecessity，orwarpowerhigherthantheConstitution，theConstitutionitselfhasbeendisregardedineverypart，andthepubliclibertyandtheprivaterightaliketroddendownandthematerialprosperityofthecountryessentiallyimpaired，justice，humanity，libertyandthepublicwelfaredemandthatimmediateeffortsbemadeforacessationofhostilities，withaviewtoanultimateconventionoftheStates，orotherpeaceablemeanstotheendthatattheearliestpracticablemomentpeacemayberestoredonthebasisoftheFederalUnionoftheStates。“
Someoftheoutlyingconspiratorsalsosufferedarevivalofhope。TheCincinnatiGazettecameoutflatfootforthewithdrawalofLincoln。[13]SodidTheCincinnatiTimes，pressinghardforthenewconvention。[14]OnthesecondofSeptember，threeNewYorkeditors，GreeleyforTheTribune，ParkeGodwinforThePost，andTiltonforTheIndependent，werebusilyconcoctingacircularlettertoGovernorsoftheStateswithaviewtosavingtheconspiracy。[15]
Butothermenwereatworkinadifferentfashion，thatsameday。Lincoln’scausehadbeenwreckedsofrequentlybyhisgeneralsthatwheneverageneraladvanced，theeventseemsboldlydramatic。WhilethepoliticiansatNewYorkandChicagothoughttheywereloadingthescalesoffate，longlinesofmeninblueweremovingthroughbrokenwoodlandandoverneglectedfieldsagainstthegraylegionsdefendingAtlanta。SaidGeneralHood，itwas“evidentthatGeneralShermanwasmovingwithhismainbodytodestroytheMaconroad，andthatthefateofAtlantadependedonourabilitytodefeatthismovement。“
Duringthefatefulpow-powatthehouseofDudleyField，Sherman’sarmylikeacolossalscythewasswingingroundAtlanta，fromthewestandsouth，acrossFlintRiver，throughthevitalrailway，ontowardthecity。OnthesecondofSeptember，thenewsthatAtlantawastaken“electrifiedthepeopleoftheNorth。“[16]
Thefirstthoughtofeverypoliticalfaction，when，onthethird，thenewspaperswereringingwiththisgreatnews，waseitherhowtocapitalizeitforthemselves，orhowtoforestallitscapitalizationbysomeoneelse。Forbes“dashedoff“alettertoAndrewurginganimmediatedemonstrationforLincoln。[17]HewassuretheRaymondgroupwouldsomehowtrytousethevictoryasabasisforrecoveringtheirleadership。