The strength of the Nation had been tried and not found wanting.
It had overthrown a mighty rebellion. The burden of slavery,
which had hung like a millstone about the neck of the Republic,
had been thrown off. Congress had been triumphant in its
contest with the President. The loyal people of the country
looked to Grant with an almost superstitious hope. They were
prepared to expect almost any miracle from the great genius
who had subdued the rebellion, and conducted without failure
military operations on a scale of which the world up to that
time had had no experience. So the dominant party addressed
itself without fear to the great work before it.
They had to determine on what conditions the States that
had been in rebellion should come back to their place under
the Constitution.
They were to determine on what terms the men who had taken
part in the rebellion should be fully restored to citizenship.
They were to determine the civil and political condition
of more than five million people just set free from slavery.
They were to secure fair elections in fifteen States, where
for many years neither free elections nor free speech had
been tolerated.
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