Lincoln on Democracy

"I Do NOT INTEND TO BE A TYRANT"

296 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY another. Again, the facts must be ascertained, and credit given, for the unequal numbers of soldiers which have already gone from the several Districts. In all these points errors will occur in spite of the utmost fidelity. The government is bound to administer the law with such an approach to exactness as is usual in analagous cases, and as entire good faith and fidelity will reach. Ifso great departures as to be inconsistent with such good faith and fidelity, or great departures occurring in any way, be pointed out, they shall be corrected; and any agent shown to have caused such departures intentionally, shall be dismissed. With these views, and on these principles, I feel bound to tell you it is my purpose to see the draft law faithfully executed. "I Do NOT INTEND TO BE A TYRANT" Informal Comments to and About Radical Republicans [SEPTEMBER 30 AND OCTOBER 28, 1863] The so-called radicals-Republicans with the most liberal attitude toward race-hounded Lincoln on such issues as emancipation, military strategy, and reunification, which most of them insisted be based on strict loyalty tests. For generations, historians have speculated about how Lincoln might have handled this wing ofhisparty had he lived. In thefirst extract here, Lincoln commented on efforts by radicalsfrom Kansas and Missouri to secure a change in military command. In the second, he hinted that their hostility toward him notwithstanding, he felt their viewpoint was understandable. Both conversations were recorded by Lincoln's private secretary. My Radical friends will ... see that I understand and appreciate their position. Still you appear to come before me as my friends, if I agree with you, and not otherwise. I do not here speak of mere personal friendship. When I speak of my friends I mean those who are friendly Lincoln and Liberty, 1862-1863 297 to my measures, to the policy of the Government. I am well aware that by many, by some even among this delegation-I shall not name them-I have been in public speeches and in printed documents charged with "tyranny and willfulness," with a disposition to make my own personal will supreme. I do not intend to be a tyrant. At all events I shall take care that in my own eyes I do not become one. I have no right to act the tyrant to mere political opponents. If a man votes for supplies of men and money, encourages enlistments, discourages desertions , does all in his power to carry the war on to a successful issue, I have no right to question him for his abstract political opinions. I must make a dividing line somewhere between those who are the opponents ofthe Government, and those who only approve peculiar features ofmy Administration while they sustain the Government. They [the radicals] are nearer to me than the other side, in thought and sentiment, though bitterly hostile personally. They are utterly lawless -the unhandiest devils in the world to deal with-but after all their faces are set Zionwards. ...