e to
posterity to settle the merits of our controversy over the command of
armies? Can't you believe me to-day, when I tell you with God as my
witness, that I have never allowed a personal motive to enter into a
single appointment or removal which I have made----?

McCLELLAN

I cannot believe it----

LINCOLN

In spite of the fact that when I reappointed you to the chief command
of the army after the disaster to Pope, _you_ thought that my
messenger was an officer with a warrant for your arrest! You still say
no----?

McCLELLAN

I still say no--you _had_ to do it--and you know that you
_had_ to reappoint me.

LINCOLN

Well, I'll not pretend that I didn't understand the seriousness of that
hour. The Army _was_ behind you, to a man! I sounded the officers,
I sounded the men. They were against me and with you. If the leaders
had dared risk their necks on a revolution, they might have won and set
up a Dictatorship!

McCLELLAN

Just so!

LINCOLN

This power over men which you possess, General McClellan, is a
marvelous thing. It is a dangerous force. It can be used to create a
Nation, or destroy one. Because you held this power over your men, I
honestly believed you were the ablest General in sight, and I called
you back to your high position.

McCLELLAN

[_With a smile._]

Very kind!

LINCOLN

You had to win or lose at Antietam. If you had won I was vindicated,
and your success would have been mine! But when Lee's army escaped, you
lost the power over the imagination of your men, the threat of a
Dictatorship had passed--the supremacy of the civil government was
restored, and I removed you from command----

McCLELLAN

[_Angrily._]

I repeat that your act was one of foul injustice!

LINCOLN

[_Cordially._]

All right then. I've given you my side. Granted for the sake of
argument that I have treated you unfairly, I'm going to put you to a
supreme test. I am going to propose, on a certain condition, to the man
whom I have wronged, an amazing thing----

McCLELLAN

Hence the secrecy with which I am summoned!

LINCOLN

Yes. I have just writ