Hetookintohisconfidence“thestrongerhalfoftheCabinet，Seward，StantonandFessenden，“andtogethertheyassaultedtheCommittee。[13]Itwasareceptionamazinglydifferentfromwhathadbeenexpected。Insteadofterrifiedpartydiplomatsshakingintheirshoes，tryingtofaceallpointsatonce，morbidoverpossiblepoliticaldefeatsineveryquarter，theyfoundwhatmayhaveseemedtothemamaninadream；onewhowasintenselysad，butwhogavenosuggestionofpanic，nosolicitudeabouthisownfate，nodoubtofhisultimatevictory。Theirpracticalastutenesswasdisarmedbythathigherastutenessattainedonlybypeculiarmindswhichcandiscernthroughsomesureinteriortesttheraremomentwhenitisthepartofwisdomnottobeastuteatall。
BackedbythosestrongMinisters，allentirelyunderhisinfluence，LincolnfullypersuadedtheCommitteethatatthismoment，anyovertureforpeacewouldbetheworstofstrategicblunders，“wouldbeworsethanlosingthepresidentialcontest——itwouldbeignominiouslysurrenderingitinadvance。“[14]
LincolnwonacompletespiritualvictoryovertheCommittee。
Thesedispiritedmen，whohadcometoWashingtontobegforapolicyofnegotiation，wentawayinsuchadifferenttemperthatBennett’sWashingtoncorrespondentjeeredinprintatthe“sillyreport“oftheirhavingassembledtodiscusspeace。[15]
Obviously，theyhadmerelyheldameetingoftheExecutiveCommittee。TheTribunecorrespondenttelegraphedthattheywereconfidentofLincoln’sreelection。[l6]