conversation this morning with a prominent
Democrat, who is entirely devoted to sustaining the government in the
present struggle. He informs me that the leaders of that party are
opposed to the war and sympathise with the South; that they keep quiet
because it will not advance their views to move just now." Letter of
William Gray, dated September 4, to Secretary Chase.--Chase Papers,
MS.]

Differences likewise appeared among Republicans. The Weed and
anti-Weed factions still existed, but these divisions now grew out of
differences far deeper than patronage. After the bombardment of Fort
Sumter, Thurlow Weed desired the conflict conducted on lines that
would unite the North into one party responding to the cry of "Union,
now and forever." He believed this might be done and that rebellion
could thus be confined to the extreme cotton region, if the loyal
element in the Border States was cherished and representatives of all
parties were permitted to participate in civil as well as military
affairs. To this end he sought to avoid the question of emancipation,
cordially approving the President's course in modifying Fremont's
proclamation of the preceding August, which liberated the slaves of
traitorous owners in Missouri. Weed pushed his contention to the
extreme. Following the spirit of his rejected compromise he insisted
that every act of the Government should strengthen and encourage the
Union men of the Border States, among which he included North Carolina
and Tennessee, and he bitterly resented the policy of urging the army,
hastily and without due preparation, to fight "political battles" like
that of Bull Run. On the other hand, the radical anti-slavery element
of the country, led by Secretary Chase in the Cabinet, by Senator
Sumner in Congress, and backed by Horace Greeley in the _Tribune_,
disliked the President's policy of trying to conciliate Kentucky and
other Border States by listening to the demands of slavery. This
factional difference became doubly pronounced after Lincoln's
modification of the Fremont proclamation.

Notwithstanding Democratic criticisms and Republican differences,
however, the supporters of Lincoln, anxious to teach the seceding
States an object lesson in patriotism, desired to unite both parties
into one Union organisation, pledged to the vigorous prosecution of
the war and the execution of the laws in all parts of the country. To
Republicans this plan looked easy. Most people professed t