d to be； reassured the North。 A bitter cry for peace went up even from lovers of the Union whose hearts had failed。
Meanwhile； the brilliant strategist in Georgia was pressing his drive for political as well as for military effect。 To rouse those Unionists who had lost heart was part of his purpose when he hurled his columns against Atlanta； from which Hood was driven in one of the most disastrous of Confederate defeats。 On the 3rd of September Lincoln issued a proclamation appointing a day of thanksgiving for these great victories of Sherman and Farragut。
On that day； it would seem； the tide turned in Northern politics。 Some historians are content with Atlanta as the explanation of all that followed； but there are three separate events of importance that now occurred as incidents in the complicated situation。 In the first place； three weeks later the radical opposition had collapsed； the plan for a new convention was abandoned； the Vindictive leaders came out in support of Lincoln。 Almost simultaneously occurred the remaining two surprising events。 Fremont withdrew from his candidacy in order to do his 〃part toward preventing the election of the Democratic candidate。〃 And Lincoln asked for the resignation of a member of his Cabinet； Postmaster…General Montgomery Blair； who was the especial enemy of the Vindictives。
The official biographers of Lincoln* keep these three events separate。 They hold that Blair's removal was wholly Lincoln's idea； and that from chivalrous reasons he would not abandon his friend as long as he seemed to be losing the game。 The historian Rhodes writes confidently of a bargain with Fremont； holding that Blair was removed to terminate a quarrel with Fremont which dated back even to his own removal in 1861。 A possible third theory turns upon Chase； whose hostility to Blair was quite equal to that of the illbalanced Fremont。 It had been stimulated the previous winter by a fierce arraignment of Chase made by Blair's brother in Congress； in which Chase was bluntly accused of fraud and of making money； or allowing his friends to make money； through illicit trade in cotton。 And Chase was a man of might among the Vindictives。 The intrigue； however； never comes to the foreground in history； but lurks in the background thick with shadows。 Once or twice among those shadows we seem to catch a glimpse of the figure of Thurlow Weed； the master…politician of the time。 Taking one thing with another； we may risk the guess that somehow the two radical groups which were both relentless against Blair were led to pool their issues； and that Blair's removal was the price Lincoln paid not to one faction of radicals but to the whole unmerciful crowd。
*His private secretaries； John G。 Nicolay and John Hay。
Whatever complex of purposes lay back of the triple coincidence； the latter part of September saw a general reunion of the factions within the Union Party； followed by a swift recovery of strength。 When the election came； Lincoln received an electoral vote of 212 against 21； and a popular vote of 2；330；552 against 1；835；985。
The inevitable question arises as to what was the real cause of this success。 It is safe to say that the political campaign contained some adroit strategy； that Sherman was without doubt an enormous factor； that the Democrats made numerous blunders； and that the secret societies had an effect other than they intended。 However； the real clue seems to be found in one sentence from a letter written by Lowell to Motley when the outlook for his party was darkest： 〃The mercantile classes are longing for peace； but I believe that the people are more firm than ever。〃 Of the great； silent mass of the people； the true temper seems to be struck off in a popular poem of the time； written in response to one of the calls for more troops； a poem with refrains built on the model of this couplet：
〃We're coming from the hillside； we're coming from the shore； We're coming； Father Abraham； six hundred thousand more。〃
CHAPTER XIV。 LINCOLN'S FINAL INTENTIONS
The victory of the Union Party in November enabled Lincoln to enjoy for a brief period of his career as President what may be thought of as a lull in the storm。 He knew now that he had at last built up a firm and powerful support。 With this assured； his policy； both domestic and foreignthe key to which was still the blockademight be considered victorious at all points。 There remains to be noticed； however； one event of the year 1864 which was of vital importance in maintaining the blockade。
It is a principle of international law that a belligerent must itself attend to the great task of suppressing contraband trade with its enemy。 Lincoln was careful to observe this principle。 Though British merchants were frankly speculating in contraband trade； he made no demand upon the British Government to relieve him of the difficulty of stopping it。 England also took the legitimate position under international law and warned her merchants that； while it was none of the Government's business to prevent such trade； they practised it at their own risk； subject to well…understood penalties agreed upon among nations。 The merchants nevertheless continued to take the risk； while both they and the authorities of the Confederacy thought they saw a way of minimizing the danger。 Instead of shipping supplies direct to the Confederate ports they shipped them to Matamoros； in Mexico； or to the West Indies。 As these ports were in neutral territory； the merchants thought their goods would be safe against capture until they left the Mexican or West Indian port on their brief concluding passage to the territory of the Confederacy。 Nassau； then a petty West India town； was the chief depot of such trade and soon became a great commercial center。 To it came vast quantities of European goods which were then transferred to swift； small vessels； or 〃blockade…runners；〃 which took a gambler's chance and often succeeded in eluding the Federal patrol ships and in rushing their cargoes safe into a Confederate port。
Obviously； it was a great disadvantage to the United States to allow contraband supplies to be accumulated； without interference； close to the blockaded coast； and the Lincoln Government determined to remove this disadvantage。 With this end in view it evoked the principle of the continuous voyage； which indeed was not new； but which was destined to become fixed in international law by the Supreme Court of the United States。 American cruisers were instructed to stop British ships sailing between the British ports of Liverpool and Nassau； they were to use the recognized international rights of visit and search； and if there was evidence that the cargo was not destined for actual consumption at Nassau； they were to bring the ship into an American port to be dealt with by an American prize court。 When such arrests began； the owners clamored to the British Government； and both dealers in contraband and professional blockade…runners worked themselves into a fury because American cruisers watched British ports and searched British ships on the high seas。 With regard to this matter； the British Government and the Government at Washington had their last important correspondence during the war。 The United States stood firm for the idea that when goods were ultimately intended for the Confederacy； no matter how roundabout the journey； they could be considered as making a single continuous voyage and were liable to capture from the day they left Liverpool。 Early in 1865； the Supreme Court of the United States fully developed the principle of continuous voyage in four celebrated cases that are now among the landmarks of international law。*
* The Great war has once again led to controversy over this subject； so vital to neutral states。
This was the last step in making the blockade effective。 Thereafter； it slowly strangled the South。 The Federal armies enormously overmatched the Southern； and from November； 1864； their continuance in the field was made sure。 Grim work still lay before Lincoln； but the day of anxiety was past。 In this moment of comparative ease； the aged Chief Justice Taney died； and Lincoln appointed to that high position his ungenerous rival； Chase。
Even now Lincoln had not established himself as a leader superior to party； but he had the satisfaction； early in 1865； of seeing the ranks of the opposition begin to break。 Naturally； the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution； abolishing slavery throughout the United States； appeared to Lincoln as in a way the consummation of his labors。 When the House voted on the resolution to send this amendment to the States； several Democrats joined the government forces。 Two nights afterward； speaking to a serenading party at the White House； Lincoln made a brief speech； part of which is thus reported by his secretaries： 〃He thought this measure was a very fitting if not an indispensable adjunct to the winding up of the great difficulty。 He wished the reunion of all the States perfected； and so effected as to remove all causes of disturbance in the future； and to attain this end； it was necessary that the original disturbing cause should； if possible； be rooted out。〃
An event which in its full detail belongs to Confederate rather than to Union history took place soon after this。 At Hampton Roads； Lincoln and Seward met Confederate commissioners who had asked for a parleywith regard to peace。 Nothing came of the meeting； but the conference gave rise to a legend； false in fact and yet true in spirit； according to which Lincoln wrote on a sheet of paper the word 〃Union；〃 pushed it across to Alexander H。 Stephens and said； 〃Write under that anything you please。〃
This fiction expresses Lincoln's attitude toward the sinking Confederacy。 On his return from Hampton Roads he submitted to his Cabinet a draft of a message which he proposed to send to Congress。 He recommended the appropriation of 400；000；000 to be distributed among the slave states on condition that war cease before April 1； 1865。 Not a member of the Cabinet approved。 His secretary； Mr。 Nicolay； writes： 〃The President； in evident surprise and sorrow at the want of statesmanlike liberality shown by his executive council