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House. He looked up from his breakfast as Lee came in.
"I had the gray mare saddled up," Lee said. "She's calm and sensible and a
bit like riding in a rocking chair."
"I thank you kindly. I'm still not fit enough to ride a sprightly mount like
yourTraveller . I think that I'll be on my way now before the day heats up."
The weather was fine, the sun warm and despite the twinges of pain he still
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felt from his wound he had the strength of a man on a mission. And the mare
was slow and as steady as promised. He crossed thePotomac and turned
downPennsylvania Avenue . Apparently he must have been seen as he came up the
drive, because as he approached theExecutiveMansion , Lincoln himself came out
on the steps to greet him.
"You are looking spry and fit,Jefferson . Seeing you here like this is the
best news I could have ever received."
"Better every day, Abraham, always better."
Lincolnbeckoned and one of the guards hurried forward to helpDavis to
dismount from his horse.
"Come into the green room and avoid the stairs,"Lincoln said. "Can I offer
you some refreshment?"
"At this time of day I think a cup of tea would be most satisfactory."
"Do you hear that,Nicolay ?"Lincoln called to his secretary who was waiting
in the hall. "And see that no one disturbs us after that."
Jefferson Davis drank his tea then spoke. "How goes this British intrusion
intoMexico ? I read the reports in the papers, but they are all wind and no
meat. The newspaper writers wrap themselves in the flag and go on about the
Monroe Doctrine and manifest destiny. But they seem to be a little light on
facts."
"That's only because they have none. The surrounding jungle keeps news out
and the enemy safe within. But all in all I would say that things are going as
well as can be expected at this stage. It is not public knowledge yet, but
guns and ammunition are reaching the Mexican army and their irregulars. On the
diplomatic front things go much more slowly. Emperor Napoleon insists that
they are inMexico at the invitation of the people and makes reference often to
the money owed to them. He wants the world to believe that the Emperor
Maximilian was asked to rule by the people ofMexico . I doubt if anyone other
than Maximilian himself believes suchtosh ."
"And here at home? How goes the peace?"
He asked the question in a flat voice, but there was a tension behind his
words that could not be concealed.Lincoln put his cup down and hesitated
before he spoke.
"I wish I could tell you that everything is fine because it is not. Though
there has already been much progress right across the country, and
particularly in the South. The economy is booming with the new mills and
factories, the railways rebuilt, new rolling stock coming out of the train
yards. New warships launched, others being built. But, as always, Congress is
being difficult about the appropriations bill. And there is a strong movement
to dispatch troops toMexico to throw the British out. And the British seem to
be up to their old tricks sending arms to theWest Indies , planning to retake
the islands."
"That's all politics. I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about
thenigras and the South."
Lincolnsighed. "I thought that you might be."
"People come to see me. They tell me things that I don't like to hear. The
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freed slaves are getting very uppity. They got schools going in their churches
now, with teachers from the North teaching them how to read and write."
"That is not against the law."
"Well it should be. Who is going to work the fields while they are all in
their schools and such and dilly-dallying and telling each other how great
they are? And when they're not in school they're out there plowing a couple of
acres for themselves. While the cotton just hangs in the fields and rots."
"That is what the Freemen's Bureau is for. They can aid the planters as well
as the Negroes, they can find field hands..."
"I don't see any Southerner of class going to those places, asking favors
ofcarpetbagging Yankees andnigras ."
"It's not quite like that. You can help,Jefferson . Talk to them, they know
and respect you. Write for the newspapers, lead the way. We never thought that
peace would be easy to obtain. But we have. Now we must hold it to our bosoms
most strongly and not throw this golden opportunity away because of ancients
hatreds..."
Lincolnbroke off asDavis slowly stood up. "That's not for me to do," he said.
"It is for you and your Mr. Mill to find a way out of this situation that you
have created. And, I am most positive about this, it must be done soon."
Lincolncould think of no response to that. He said a few polite words as he
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