It seemed to me that whatever of right might exist the South was at the mercy of the North; that the radical party led by Stevens and Wade dominated the North and could dictate its own terms; and that the shortest way round lay in that course which was best calculated to disarm radicalism by an intelligent appeal to the business interests and conservative elements of Northern society, supported by a domestic policy of justice alike to whites and blacks.
Though the institution of African slavery was gone the negro continued the subject of savage contention.

I urged that he be taken out of the arena of agitation, and my way of taking him out was to concede him his legal and civil rights.

The lately ratified Constitutional Amendments, I contended, were the real Treaty of Peace between the North and South.
The recognition of these Amendments in good faith by the white people of the South was indispensable to that perfect peace which was desired by the best people of both sections.

The political emancipation of the blacks was essential to the moral emancipation of the whites.

With the disappearance of the negro question as cause of agitation, I argued, radicalism of the intense, proscriptive sort would die out; the liberty-loving, patriotic people of the North would assert themselves; and, this one obstacle to a better understanding removed, the restoration of Constitutional Government would follow, being a matter of momentous concern to the body of the people both North and South.
Such a policy of conciliation suited the Southern extremists as little as it suited the Northern extremists.