leaders induce it to go to
that length? The question took its natural course of reference to the
Judiciary Committee. On the eighteenth of February, Trumbull opened what
was destined to be a terrible chapter in American history, the struggle
between light and darkness over reconstruction. Trumbull had ranged
behind Lincoln the majority of his committee. With its authority he
moved a joint resolution recognizing the new government of Louisiana.

And then began a battle royal. Trumbull's old associates were promptly
joined by Sumner. These three rallied against the resolution all the
malignancy, all the time-serving, all the stupidity, which the Senate
possessed. Bitter language was exchanged by men who had formerly been as
thick as thieves.

"You and I," thundered Wade, "did not differ formerly on this subject
We considered it a mockery, a miserable mockery, to recognize this
Louisiana organization as a State in the Union." He sneered fiercely,
"Whence comes this new-born zeal of the Senator from Illinois? . . .
Sir, it is the most miraculous conversion that has taken place since
Saint Paul's time."(7)

Wade did not spare the President. Metaphorically speaking, he shook a
fist in his face, the fist of a merciless old giant "When the foundation
of this government is sought to be swept away by executive usurpation,
it will not do to turn around to me and say this comes from a President
I helped to elect. . . . If the President of the United States operating
through his major generals can initiate a State government, and can
bring it here and force us, compel us, to receive on this floor these
mere mockeries, these men of straw who represent nobody, your Republic
is at an end . . . talk not to me of your ten per cent. principle. A
more absurd, monarchial and anti-American principle was never announced
on God's earth."(8)

Amidst a rain of furious personalities, Lincoln's spokesman kept his
poise. It was sorely tried by two things: by Sumner's frank use of
every device of parliamentary obstruction with a view to wearing out the
patience of the Senate, and by the cynical alliance, in order to balk
Lincoln, of the Vindictives with the Democrats. What they would not risk
in 1862 when their principles had to wait upon party needs, they now
considered safe strategy. And if ever the Little Men deserved
their label it was when they played into the hands of the terrible
Vindictives, thus becoming responsible for the rejection of