Beyond his experiment with the "Louisiana plan" Mr.Lincoln had never given the slightest indication either by word or deed as to the specific course he would adopt in the rehabilitation of the insurrectionary States.

His characteristic anecdote of the young preacher who was exhorted "not to cross 'Big Muddy' until he reached it" was a perfect illustration of the painstaking, watchful habit in which he dealt with all public questions.

He invariably declined to anticipate an issue or settle a question before it came to him in its natural, logical order.
Louisiana was wholly in the possession of the Union troops in 1862-3, and presented a question that to his view had ripened for decision.
Hence his prompt and definite procedure in that State.

Severely challenged for what his accusers deemed a blunder, Mr.Lincoln defended himself with fair and full statements of fact, and was apparently justified in adopting the policy he had chosen.

He had fortified his own judgment, as he frankly declared, "by submitting the Louisiana plan in advance to every member of the Cabinet, and every member approved it." His "promise was out," he said, to sustain this policy, but "bad promises," he significantly added, "are better broken than kept, and I shall treat this as a bad promise and break it whenever I shall be convinced that keeping it is adverse to the public interest." It is apparent therefore that Mr.Lincoln had no fixed plan for the reconstruction of the States.