A Night of Horrors: A Historical Thriller about the 24 Hours of Lincoln's Assassination by John C. Berry

strokes of Lincoln’s policies and plan, but they privately worried about the difficult work ahead of them and the political road down which they would have to travel.
    “I now realize that I had been too quick to work with some of the rebel legislatures. Though I never formally recognized the Virginia legislature, their reaction and the course they took affirm to me that I had been too fast in my desire for early reconstruction. We can’t undertake to run State governments in all these Southern States. Their people must do that, even if at first some of them do it badly.”
    “I have a proposal that I wish to submit for the Cabinet’s consideration,” Stanton announced. He stood up from his chair and took the great rolls of paper and spread them on the table before the President and his Cabinet. Stanton proceeded to outline a proposal of establishing military governors in the southern states who would rule under martial law until civil rule is reestablished. “We must,” Stanton interjected, “combine Virginia and North Carolina into a single military department. The War Department shall garrison or destroy existing forts in the rebellious states. The Navy Department shall occupy harbors and take possession of Navy yards, ships, and ordnance held by formerly rebellious states. In short, gentlemen, my plan will set in motion the machinery of the United States Government. Its laws should be faithfully observed and enforced by the Army occupying the states. Anything like domestic violence or insurrection should be immediately repressed. But all public authorities and private citizens, if not found in actual hostility to the Government of the Union, shall not be molested.” Stanton stood over his large rolls of paper pointing out key forts, harbors, and other points of interest as he laid out his proposal.
    “If we combine Virginia and North Carolina into a single military district, then we are obliterating state lines. We must not alter the boundaries of states if we are to bring them into the Union with as much harmony as possible.” Gideon Welles was the first to speak up as Stanton took his seat. Others around the table commented that his point was well made. “Virginia, I believe, Mr. President, is central to your vision of reconstruction. We must not stultify ourselves as regards Virginia by blurring her boundaries with those of another state.” The discussion went on for more than two hours with each Cabinet member earnestly driving his points home.
    “Stanton, I believe there are merits to your proposal. They fall in line with the major points that this Cabinet has discussed and that I have laid out for us these past few weeks. I also believe that Welles, here, has made a good point about state boundaries. I have not had the time to consider these matters as thoroughly as each of you. I’d like for you, Stanton, to bring to the next meeting a written proposal, incorporating the points of discussion made here today, particularly those of Mr. Welles. And we will table the discussion of Negro suffrage and focus on policies to reconstruct the government.
    “But let me be clear, gentlemen, now is the time for us to act decisively and with speed. There is no greater or more important question that has come before any past or future Cabinet. It is, in my estimation, Providential that this great rebellion is coming to an end just as Congress has adjourned. From now until December, when they return, there will be far fewer disturbing elements of that body to hinder and embarrass us. We have the chance to reanimate the Union and get the Government reoperational in those states if we act with wisdom and discretion. We can do better and accomplish more without, rather than with, the Congress.
    “You know that I respect that body, but there are men there who are full of vindictiveness and hate for the rebel leaders. Their motives are good, but their feelings become a force for division rather than unity. As for the