General John W. Geary

[David Lockmiller]

Harper’s Weekly agreed with the president’s assessment, calling the election
result “the proclamation of the American people that they are not conquered; that the
rebellion is not successful; and that, deeply as they deplore war and its inevitable
suffering and loss, yet they have no choice between war and national ruin, and must
therefore fight on.” Lincoln’s reelection demonstrated “that the people are conscious of
the power and force of their own Government” and vindicated “the American system of
free popular government. No system in history was ever exposed to such a strain directly
along the fibre as that which ours has endured in the war and the political campaign, and
no other could possibly have endured it successfully. The result is due to the general
intelligence of the people, and to the security of perfectly free discussion.” The U.S.
showed itself to be “a nation which comprehends its priceless importance to human
progress and civilization, and which recognizes that law is the indispensable condition of
Liberty.”

More succinctly, General John W. Geary told his wife, it “is now certain that
the United States must be all free or all slave, and the momentous question has been
decided in favor of freedom by the edict of the people in November.” Charles Eliot
Norton predicted that November 8, 1864, “will always be esteemed as one of our great
historic days. Never before was a people called upon for a decision involving more vital
interests not only to itself but to the progress of mankind, and never did any people show
itself so worthy to be entrusted with freedom and power.”

[David Lockmiller]

Lincoln’s annual message to Congress in December also pleased Radicals. It
eloquently summarized the lesson taught by the election: “The most reliable indication of
public purpose in this country is derived through our popular elections. Judging by the
recent canvass and its result, the purpose of the people, within the loyal States, to
maintain the integrity of the Union, was never more firm, nor more nearly unanimous,
than now. The extraordinary calmness and good order with which the millions of voters
met and mingled at the polls, give strong assurance of this. Not only all those who
supported the Union ticket, so called, but a great majority of the opposing party also, may
be fairly claimed to entertain, and to be actuated by, the same purpose. It is an
unanswerable argument to this effect, that no candidate for any office whatever, high or
low, has ventured to seek votes on the avowal that he was for giving up the Union. There
have been much impugning of motives, and much heated controversy as to the proper
means and best mode of advancing the Union cause; but on the distinct issue of Union or
no Union, the politicians have shown their instinctive knowledge that there is no diversity
among the people. In affording the people the fair opportunity of showing, one to another
and to the world, this firmness and unanimity of purpose, the election has been of vast
value to the national cause.”

Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Vol. Two, Chap. 34, Page 726