Twenty Years of Congress, Vol. 1 From Lincoln to Garfield, with a Review of the Events Which Led to the Political Revolution of 1860

CHAPTER XXV.

Chapter 26149 wordsPublic domain

President's Message, December, 1864.--General Sherman's March.-- Compensated Emancipation abandoned.--Thirteenth Amendment.--Earnestly recommended by the President.--He appeals to the Democratic Members. --Mr. Ashley's Energetic Work.--Democratic Opportunity.--Unwisely neglected.--Mr. Pendleton's Argument.--Final Vote.--Amendment adopted.--Cases arising under it.--Supreme Court.--Change of Judges at Different Periods.--Peace Conference at Fortress Monroe.-- Secretary Chase resigns.--Mr. Fessenden succeeds him.--Mr. Fessenden's Report.--Surrender of Lee.--General Grant's Military Character.-- Assassination of President Lincoln.--His Characteristics.--Cost of the War.--Compared with Wars of Other Nations.--Our Navy.--Created during the War.--Effective Blockade.--Its Effect upon the South.-- Its Influence upon the Struggle.--Relative Numbers in Loyal and Disloyal States.--Comparison of Union and Confederate Armies.-- Confederate Army at the Close of the War.--Union Armies compared with Armies of Foreign Countries.--Area of the War.--Its Effect upon the Cost.--Character of Edwin M. Stanton.