. . . to check the encroachment of the Executive on the authority of Congress, and to require it to confine itself to its proper sphere.”  It insinuated the basest motives for the President’s interest in reconstruction, and for rejecting their own bill.  “The President by preventing this bill from becoming a law, holds the electoral votes of the Rebel States at the dictation of his personal ambition. . . .  If electors for President be allowed to be chosen in either of those States, a sinister light will be cast on the motives which induced the President to ‘hold for naught’ the will of Congress rather than his government in Louisiana and Arkansas.”

After a long discussion of his whole course with regard to reconstruction, having heaped abuse upon him with shocking liberality, the Manifesto concluded: 

“Such are the fruits of this rash and fatal act of the President—­a blow at the friends of the Administration, at the rights of humanity, and at the principles of Republican government The President has greatly presumed on the forbearance which the supporters of his Administration have so long practised in view of the arduous conflict in which we are engaged, and the reckless ferocity of our political opponents.  But he must understand that our support is of a ‘cause’ and not of a man; that the authority of Congress is paramount and must be respected; that the whole body of the Union men in Congress will not submit to be impeached by him of rash and unconstitutional legislation; and if he wishes our support he must confine him-self to his executive duties—­to obey and execute, not make the laws—­to suppress by arms, armed rebellion, and leave political reorganization to Congress.  If the supporters of the government fail to insist on this they become responsible for the usurpations they fail to rebuke and are justly liable to the indignation of the people whose rights and security, committed to their keeping, they sacrifice.  Let them consider the remedy of these usurpations, and, having found it, fearlessly execute it.”

To these incredible charges, Lincoln made no reply.  He knew, what some statesmen never appear to know, the times when one should risk all upon that French proverb, “who excuses, accuses.”  However, he made his futile attempt to bring Greeley to reason, to induce him to tell the truth about Niagara without confessing to the country the full measure of the despair that had inspired his course.  When Greeley refused to do so, Lincoln turned to other matters, to preparation for the draft, and grimly left the politicians to do their worst.  They went about it with zest.  Their reliance was chiefly their power to infect the type of party man who is easily swept from his moorings by the cry that the party is in danger, that sacrifices must be made to preserve the party unity, that otherwise the party will go to pieces.  By the middle of August, six weeks after Lincoln’s defiance of them on the fourth of July, they were in high feather, convinced that