Lincoln Lost His Head or Jefferson Davis a President

abraham-lincoln-pictureLincoln almost lost his head over the controversy of whether Jefferson Davis was truly a President. Towards the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln received numerous requests for peace conferences with officials of the  Confederate Nation. Lincoln didn’t consider the southern confederation of states a nation and since they were not really a legitimate, separate and duly formed government, the President did not recognize the rebel leader, Jefferson Davis as President. Let it be understood, President Lincoln wanted to defeat the armed rebellion, have the southern states rejoin the union of their own accord and recognize the Emancipation Proclamation. There was really no legitimate emissary that could represent all the states, there was no Government of the Confederacy, hence Jefferson Davis could not be a President. It appeared that the blood bath could continue indefinitely.

davisXXXLincoln was a word-smith extraordinaire, eloquent and humorous. He had a tendency for subtle sarcasm, that could cut to the core or defer a decision, using backwoods tales and logic. The President had become weary over the pressure of the never-ending nightmare of the civil conflict. One of his staff, shared an idea with Lincoln that he thought might solve  the negotiation stalemate. The staffer referred to the correspondence between Charles the First and his correspondence with the parliament as a precedent for a negotiation between a constitutional ruler and rebels. Lincoln’s face reflected a thoughtfulness and then a sly smile graced his lips, he then replied;

“Upon questions of history, I must refer you to Mr. Seward, for he is posted in such things, and I don’t profess to be; but my one distinct recollection of the matter is, that Charles lost his head.”

Bummer

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