He hated the President's pocket humorists and had small patience with his tales.

"Was ever a great war fought," he cried, "with such a camp-following as our Congressmen ?" Lincoln looked comically surprised.
"You're too harsh, Mr.Stanton.I admit there are one or two rascals who'd be better hanged.

But the trouble is that most of them are too high-principled.

They are that set on liberty that they won't take the trouble to safeguard it.

They would rather lose the war than give up their little notions.