On Friday, August 5, 1864 in the New York Tribune Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Representative Henry Davis of Maryland issued a statement known to history as the Wade-Davis Manifesto, criticizing Lincoln for his pocket veto of the Radical reconstruction plan. Wade and Davis declared it “their right and duty to check the encroachments of the Executive on the authority of Congress…,” accusing Lincoln of interfering with Congress’ constitutionally mandated responsibility of creating law. Wade and Davis chided the president, noting “the authority of Congress is paramount and must be respected.” Opposition by these prominent Congressional Radical Republicans simply fueled speculation that Lincoln would be defeated for re-election in November. Some even began to speculate that Ulysses Grant might become a candidate to replace Abraham Lincoln as president.
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.