You had to win or lose at Antietam. If you had won I was vindicated, and your success would have been mine! But when Lee's army escaped, you lost the power over the imagination of your men, the threat of a Dictatorship had passed--the supremacy of the civil government was restored, and I removed you from command---- McCLELLAN [_Angrily._] I repeat that your act was one of foul injustice! LINCOLN [_Cordially._] All right then. I've given you my side. Granted for the sake of argument that I have treated you unfairly, I'm going to put you to a supreme test. I am going to propose, on a certain condition, to the man whom I have wronged, an amazing thing---- McCLELLAN Hence the secrecy with which I am summoned! LINCOLN Yes. I have just written out on this sheet of paper---- [_Takes up the sheet._] and addressed to Henry Raymond, Chairman of our National Committee, my resignation as a Candidate for the Presidency for a second term--and I will give it to him to-night, if you will agree to take my place and _save_ the Union? McCLELLAN [_Overwhelmed with excitement._] What-can-you-mean----? LINCOLN Exactly what I've said. McCLELLAN [_Paces the floor trembling._] And your conditions----? LINCOLN Very simple. Agree to preside to-morrow night at a great Democratic Union Mass Meeting in New York, and boldly put yourself at the head of that wing of your party which stands for the preservation of the Union---- McCLELLAN And you----? LINCOLN I will withdraw from the race, secure your endorsement, or prevent my party from naming a successor, take the stump for you and guarantee your election. McCLELLAN [_Studies_ LINCOLN _a moment with suspicion._] You are in earnest----? LINCOLN I was never more so. McCLELLAN And there is no string to this offer? LINCOLN On my word of honor---- [_Dreamily._] It is needless for me to say that I came into this office with high ambitions to serve my country. My dream of glory may be at an end and I have left only the agony and the tears---- [_He pauses, breathes deeply, and struggles with his emotions, recovers himself, and goes on wistfully._]