disaster at Petersburg, weighed heavily upon our spirits.  To a question, I answered that the people expected a still more vigorous prosecution of the war; more troops and needful appliances would, if called for, be forthcoming.  ‘I will tell you what the people want,’ said the President, ’they want, and must have, success.  But whether that come or not, I shall stay right here and do my duty.  Here I shall be; and they may come and hang me on that tree’ (pointing out of the window to one), ‘but, God helping me, I shall never desert my post.’  This was said in a way that assured me that these were the sentiments of his inmost soul.”

The President, about this time, was greatly worried by Horace Greeley and others, who importuned him to receive negotiations for peace from the Confederate authorities.  He at length said to Mr. Greeley, “I not only intend a sincere effort for peace, but you shall be a personal witness that it is made.”  On the same day that the call for additional troops was made, the President issued, through Mr. Greeley, the famous letter, “To Whom It May Concern,” promising safe conduct to any person or persons authorized to present “any proposition which embraces the restoration of peace, the integrity of the whole Union, and the abandonment of slavery.”  Nothing came of the proposed negotiations, except to stop for a time the mischievous fault-finding; which was, of course, the result aimed at by Lincoln.  The act was severely condemned by many Republicans; but Lincoln only said, “It is hardly fair for them to say the letter amounts to nothing.  It will shut up Greeley, and satisfy the people who are clamoring for peace.  That’s something, anyhow!”

So much blame was heaped upon the Government, and so great was the dissatisfaction at the North, that Lincoln looked upon the election of his competitor, General McClellan, and his own retirement, as not improbable.  An incident in evidence of his discouragement is related by Secretary Welles.  Entering the Executive office one day, Mr. Welles was asked to write his name across the back of a sealed paper which the President handed him.  The names of several other members of the Cabinet were already on the paper, with the dates of signature.  After the election, Lincoln opened the document in the presence of his Cabinet and read to them its contents, as follows: 

     EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
     August 23, 1864.

This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this administration will not be re-elected.  Then it will be my duty to co-operate with the President-elect so as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration.

     A. LINCOLN.

By this careful prevision had Lincoln pledged himself to give to his successor that unselfish and patriotic assistance of which he himself had stood so sorely in need.