Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/337

ABRAHAM LINCOLN 273 ually died away, as did also the opposition in con servative quarters to the enlistment of negro sol diers. Their good conduct, their quick submission to discipline, and their excellent behavior in several battles rapidly made an end of the prejudice against them; and when, in the winter session of congress of 1863- 4, Mr. Lincoln again urged upon the attention of that body the passage of a consti tutional amendment abolishing slavery, his proposi tion met with the concurrence of a majority of con gress, though it failed of the necessary two-thirds vote in the house of representatives. During the following year, however, public opinion made rapid progress, and the influence of the president with congress was largely increased after his triumphant re-election. In his annual message of December 6, 1864, he once more pleaded, this time with irre sistible force, in favor of constitutional emancipa tion in all the states. As there had been much con troversy during the year in regard to the presi dent s anti-slavery convictions, and the suggestion had been made in many quarters that, for the sake of peace, he might be induced to withdraw the proclamation, he repeated the declaration made the year before: "While I remain in my present position I shall not attempt to retreat or modify the emancipation proclamation; nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of congress. If