ustice in the place of
the aged Roger B. Taney who died. When friends told the President that
he would surely be defeated for re-election if he approved another draft
of soldiers, he replied that the cause did not require his re-election
but did require more soldiers--and at once ordered a new draft for
500,000 additional men.

Lincoln breathed a most beautiful spirit of forgiveness in his Second
Inaugural Address which is printed in full in the volume of this series,
"Speeches of Lincoln."

In March, 1865, Grant sent a message saying that he was about to close
in on Lee and end the war, and invited Lincoln to visit Grant's
headquarters. And that is how it was that the President, being at
Grant's headquarters, could enter Richmond the day after the
Confederates retreated. So Lincoln, with his small son Tad and Admiral
Porter, escorted by a little group of sailors, simply, on foot, entered
the abandoned capital, not as one bringing the vengeance of a conqueror,
but the love of a liberator. One of the great moments of all history
was when an aged negro, baring his white wool, made reverent obeisance
to the President, and Lincoln in recognition took off his high hat.

He remained two days in Richmond discussing the plans for the
restoration of federal authority, counseling kindness and forgiveness.
"Let them down easy," he said to the military governor; "get them to
plowing and gathering in their own little crops." Thus he was preparing
to "bind up the nation's wounds," with a spiritual development so far
beyond his contemporaries that they could not even understand him.

Then he went back to Washington where he heard of Lee's surrender, and
two days later, to a large crowd at the White House, delivered a
carefully prepared speech outlining his policy of reconstruction, such
as he had already begun in Louisiana. Already he was being criticised
for being "too kind to the rebels."

That was the last speech he ever made.

Little Tad said, "Father has never been happy since we came to
Washington." His laughter had failed, he had aged rapidly, his shoulders
were bent, dreadful dreams had haunted him and on the night of the 13th
he had one which oppressed him. But the next day was the fourth
anniversary of the evacuation of Fort Sumpter,--Good Friday, April 14.
And at last he was happy, sharing with his people the joy that came with
the end of the war.

He took a drive with Mrs. Lincoln and they planned for the future--t