President Lincoln was too good a man to be influenced by an honest opposition on political grounds. A few days later, Mr. Sumner received from him the following note.
“Executive Mansion, Washington, March 5, 1865.
“Hon. C. Sumner.
“My dear Sir,—I should be pleased for you to accompany us to-morrow evening, at ten o’clock, on a visit of half an hour to the Inaugural Ball. I enclose a ticket. Our carriage will call for you at half past nine.
“Yours truly,
“A. Lincoln.”
At the appointed time the carriage was at Mr. Sumner’s lodgings. During the ball he was with the Presidential party, which gave occasion to comment; the New York Herald remarking, “It was presumed that the President had indorsed his Reconstruction theories.” There is reason to believe that he had not; but he recognized the right of Mr. Sumner to his own individual judgment.
The following extract from the letter of a newspaper correspondent at Washington illustrates the course of the President towards Mr. Sumner.
“Mrs. Lincoln went down the Potomac this morning for City Point and Richmond, escorted by Mr. Sumner, who remains in Washington to exert his influence in the right direction in closing up the war. Nor let any man suppose that Mr. Sumner’s influence is slight over this Administration, when Congress is in session. I know of no man who has more. The President disagrees entirely with Mr. Sumner in his views respecting Reconstruction. He was almost indignant at the Senator’s course towards Louisiana, adverting to it over and over again in the presence of strangers. But still he respects Mr. Sumner, confers with him, and perhaps fears him. Besides, the Senator has great influence with Mr. Stanton and Mr. Welles. Mr. Sumner is a clever diplomatist, and has always been friendly with Mr. Lincoln. So long as ‘peace negotiations’ are talked of, Mr. Sumner will not leave Washington but for a day or two, I presume.”
The effort of Mr. Sumner on the Louisiana question found a warm and cordial response, as amply appears from letters at the time.