There was talk in both countries of intervention.Napoleon,especially,loomed large on the horizon as a possible ally of the Confederacy.And yet,all this while,Lincoln had it in his power at any minute to lay the specter of foreign intervention.A pledge to the "Liberal party throughout the world"that the war would bring about the destruction of slavery,and great political powers both in England and in France would at once cross the paths of their governments should they move toward intervention.Weighty as were all these reasons for a change of policy--turning the flank of the Vindictives on the war powers,committing the Abolitionists to the Administration,winning over the European Liberals--there was a fourth reason which,very probably,weighed upon Lincoln most powerfully of them all.Profound gloom had settled upon the country.There was no enthusiasm for military service.
And Stanton,who lacked entirely the psychologic vision of the statesman,had recently committed an astounding blunder.After a few months in power he had concluded that the government had enough soldiers and had closed the recruiting offices.[11]Why Lincoln permitted this singular proceeding has never been satisfactorily explained.*Now he was reaping the fruits.Adefeated army,a hopeless country,and no prospect of swift reinforcement!If a shift of ground on the question of emancipation would arouse new enthusiasm,bring in a new stream of recruits,Lincoln was prepared to shift.
*Stanton's motive was probably economy.Congress was terrified by the expense of the war.The Committee was deeply alarmed over the political effect of war taxation.They and Stanton were all convinced that McClellan was amply strong enough to crush the Confederacy.
But even in this dire extremity,he would not give way without a last attempt to save his earlier policy.On July twelfth,he called together the Senators and Representatives of the Border States.He read to them a written argument in favor of compensated emancipation,the Federal government to assist the States in providing funds for the purpose.
"Let the States that are in rebellion,"said he,"see definitely and certainly that in no event will the States you represent ever join their proposed Confederacy,and they can not much longer maintain the contest.But you can not divest them of their hope to ultimately have you with them so long as you show a determination to perpetuate the institution within your own States....If the war continues long,as it must if the object be not sooner attained,the institution in your States will be extinguished by mere friction and abrasion--by the mere incidents of war....Our common country is in great peril,demanding the loftiest views and boldest action to bring it speedy relief.Once relieved its form of government is saved to the world,its beloved history and cherished memories are vindicated,and its happy future fully assured and rendered inconceivably grand."[12]
He made no impression.They would commit themselves to nothing.Lincoln abandoned his earlier policy.
Of what happened next,he said later,"It had got to be...
.Things had gone on from bad to worse until I felt that we had reached the end of our rope on the plan of operations we had been pursuing;that we had about played our last card and must change our tactics or lose the game.I now determined upon the adoption of the emancipation policy.."[13]