If Lincoln had not died

[Jenny]

(12-31-2012 10:03 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I have always had a nagging doubt in my mind that Lincoln could have achieved the "perfect" Reconstruction that he (and we) envisioned him having. I base this solely on the whims of the Radicals in Congress.

Contrary to what it seems like today, it is still Congress that makes the laws in our system of government (or at least is supposed to!). While Congress supported Lincoln and his wartime measures, I wonder - once the war was over - whether they would have continued to support Lincoln's peacetime measures. Would their human nature's cry for revenge been louder than Lincoln's proposals?

You just voiced what I've always thought, Laurie. It does make one think just how willing Congress would have been to go along with Lincoln's envisioned peaceful endeavors back then.