That policy relied for its vindication upon the judgment and conscience of the loyal people, and it was an impeachment of their good faith to say that either could be affected by the removal of one man, or of many men, from official position under the Federal Government.

The Reconstruction policy stood upon a strong and enduring principle,--as strong and enduring as the question of human right,--and was sustained with vigor and enthusiasm by the great party which was responsible for the war measures that had saved the Union.

The same sentiment did not attach to the Tenure-of-office Law, which indeed was only the cause of subsequent humiliation to all who had taken part in its enactment.( 2) It was part of the fixed policy of Mr.Lincoln's administration to increase the number of distinctively free States from that section of the public domain which had never been in any way contaminated by the institution of slavery.

To this end he was anxious to encourage the settlement of the Territories already organized west of the Missouri river.

To provide for the still more rapid creation of North-western States, two additional Territories, Idaho and Montana, were organized from the area which had been included in Dakota.