thaddius stevens and his colleagues in the house of representatives closed shop the first week of march, the first day of lincoln's second administration. lincoln undressed the second inaugural. we can refer to things he said. we would have seen what reconstruction policy he would have pursued. maybe and maybe not. think about it. nine months had passed. 1888, the first time voters in presidential elections, how many were conceived and born during that interlude? that is a long period of time. johnson, the new president, new the inaugurated vice president and now suddenly president was in charge. he meant to take charge, and he did. what did congress members now in december that they could not have known back in march? and what might they have known in december that was at least foreseeable back in march? these kinds of materials, they had to work with when they came into session. there are two places i want to take you, to give a sense of what it is they thought was imperative to act upon. one, we will take you to mississippi. if it is ok by you, off to mississippi. they would have kno