The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen L. Carter Read Free Book Online Page B

play. Powerful men throughout the nation. A conspiracy, if you will, behind the conspiracy.” McShane caught something in his clerk’s posture. “I know that you have no patience with such theories, Hilliman. But I have sources of my own. One of them tells me that a list of names was lost in Virginia, and the conspirators are frantic to find it. The list, if it exists, very likely would tell us who is plotting against Mr. Lincoln. Not an assassination this time, but his removal through legal means. You don’t believe a word, I can see it in your face.”
    Jonathan had heard the conspiracy theories before. All of Washingtonseemed infected with the need to blame secret malevolent forces for every misfortune. But McShane had contracted a particularly virulent strain of the disease. In the shadowed office, the wild set of his eyes was actually frightening.
    “Please, sir,” said Jonathan. “Just tell me what you would like me to do.”
    The lawyer recovered himself. “Yes. Well. I have just come from Mr. Stanton. We spoke about Miss Canner.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “She has become, in my judgment, a liability.” Jonathan started to protest, but the lawyer was still talking. His face was flushed; here, Jonathan realized, was the true source of the man’s anger. Whatever he was about to say had him furious at their client. “Not that my judgment matters at the moment. Not where Miss Canner is concerned. Miss Canner is special. Did you know that, Hilliman?” Again he gave Jonathan no time to respond. “Stanton has General Baker looking into her background. She may be connected to the conspiracy.” The eyes took on that hunted look again. “And now of course Sumner is involved.”
    Jonathan was dumbstruck. Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts was the most brilliant man in the Senate, and probably the most respected. He had been close to Mrs. Lincoln but somehow had never warmed to the President himself. Officially, Sumner remained neutral on the impeachment, but his fellow Radicals were courting him assiduously. Lincoln, alas, had nothing in his larder that Sumner seemed to want. And because Sumner controlled two or three undecided votes along with his own, any “problem” with him, unless swiftly resolved, would likely spell the end for their client.
    “Involved how?” Jonathan finally managed, unable to hide his surprise. “What does Senator Sumner have to do with Miss Canner?”
    Again McShane’s practical side asserted itself. “Hilliman, look. This thing is going to be close. Any fool can see that. Once upon a time, Mr. Lincoln would have swatted Sumner and his friends like pesky gnats. But he has not been the same man since Mrs. Lincoln’s tragic passing, and the Radicals have grown bold. So Mr. Lincoln has sent feelers to Sumner’s people. Offers to negotiate. But every attempt has been rebuffed. Now, all of a sudden, it turns out that Sumner wants Miss Canner to work on our client’s case.”
    “Why would he care?”
    “Because Sumner is a romantic. Maybe you remember how, just lastyear, he persuaded the Supreme Court to admit the first negro lawyer to its bar. Well, in Miss Canner, Sumner has found a new cause. His next blow for the colored race. And now it is we who must go along. Stanton has spoken to Sumner directly. He believes that we have no choice. We have decided not to trouble the President.” McShane grew wistful. “We may, however, be able to turn her presence to our advantage.”
    Jonathan nodded eagerly. “I told you, she’s very smart—”
    “That is not what I was referring to,” said the lawyer, tone colder still. “Pay attention, Hilliman. The heart of the Radical case against Mr. Lincoln is that he has been insufficiently supportive of the colored race. If it becomes known that Miss Canner is working for us, we present a powerful symbol to the contrary.”
    Jonathan chose his words carefully. “I take it, then, that we will be giving Miss Canner real work to