On the evening of February 5, 1865,
he called his cabinet together, and read to them the draft of a joint
resolution and proclamation embodying this idea, offering the Southern
States four hundred million dollars, or a sum equal to the cost of the
war for two hundred days, on condition that hostilities cease by the
first of April, 1865; to be paid in six per cent. government bonds, pro
rata on their slave populations as shown by the census of 1860--one half
on April 1, the other half only upon condition that the Thirteenth
Amendment be ratified by a requisite number of States before July 1,
1865.
It turned out that he was more humane and liberal than his
constitutional advisers. The indorsement in his own handwriting on the
manuscript draft records the result of his appeal and suggestion:
"February 5, 1865. To-day, these papers, which explain themselves,
were drawn up and submitted to the cabinet, and unanimously
disapproved by them.
"A. LINCOLN."
With the words, "You are all opposed to me," sadly uttered, the
President folded up the paper and ceased the discussion.
The formal inauguration of Mr. Lincoln for his second presidential term
took place at the appointed time, March 4, 1865. There is little
variation in the simple but impressive pageantry with which the official
ceremony is celebrated.
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