of the people in him and his administration.  Every loyal State but three—­New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky—­gave him its electoral vote; and his popular majority over McClellan, the Democratic candidate, was upwards of 400,000.  Lincoln was cheered but not exultant at the news.  Late in the evening of election day (November 8, 1864) he said, in response to public congratulations:  “I am thankful to God for this approval of the people.  But while deeply grateful for this mark of their confidence in me, if I know my own heart my gratitude is free from any taint of personal triumph.  It is not in my nature to triumph over anyone; but I give thanks to Almighty God for this evidence of the people’s resolution to stand by free government and the rights of humanity.”

While the election returns were coming in, early in the evening, Lincoln was at the War Department with a little group assembled to hear them read.  How different the scene from that in the quiet country town where he had waited for the returns on a similar occasion four years before!  Then all was peace—­the lull before the storm.  Now the storm had broken, and its greatest fury was raging about that patient and devoted man who waited to hear the decision of the nation’s supreme tribunal—­the voice of the people whose decree would settle the fate of himself and of the country.  Mr. Charles A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, who was in the group, gives this description of the scene:  “General Eckert was coming in continually with telegrams containing election returns.  Mr. Stanton would read them, and the President would look at them and comment upon them.  Presently there came a lull in the returns, and Mr. Lincoln called me up to a place by his side.  ‘Dana,’ said he, ’have you ever read any of the writings of Petroleum V. Nasby?’ ‘No, sir,’ I said, ’I have only looked at some of them, and they seemed to me funny.’  ‘Well,’ said he, ‘let me read you a specimen,’ and pulling out a thin yellow-covered pamphlet from his breast pocket he began to read aloud.  Mr. Stanton viewed this proceeding with great impatience, as I could see; but Mr. Lincoln paid no attention to that.  He would read a page or a story, pause to con a new election telegram, and then open the book again and go ahead with a new passage.  Finally Mr. Chase came in; and presently Mr. Whitelaw Reid, and then the reading was interrupted.  Mr. Stanton went to the door and beckoned me into the next room.  I shall never forget his indignation at what seemed to him disgusting nonsense.”

The morning following the election one of his private secretaries, Mr. Neill, coming to the Executive office earlier than usual, found Lincoln at his table engaged in his regular routine of official work.  “Entering the room,” says Mr. Neill, “I took a seat by his side, extended my hand, and congratulated him upon the vote, for the country’s sake and for his own sake.  Turning away from the papers which had been occupying his attention, he spoke kindly of his competitor, the calm, prudent General, and great organizer.”