as for civility, consider senator ben wade of ohio, bluff ben as he was known. by 1862 everyone in washington had heard wade's opinion, his theory that aip ham lincoln's actions could be explained by the simple fact he was quote, white trash. wade set the tone of debate for 1862 when on new year's eve he led a delegation from congress to the white house and began his presentation by saying mr. president, you are murdering your country by inches. and he was from lincoln's own republican party. i would venture it is also a mistake to imagine that congress in those days attracted a higher caliber of human fire power than today. it is true there were remarkable men in that congress. unfortunately, ever course, no women. starting with the great abolitionists and diplomat charles sumner and including justin morrell of vermont and william fessendon of maine. lincoln himself averred that these leaders were nothing special compared to the, quote, great men of america's past, washington, jefferson, madison, or even more recently clay and john quincy adams and daniel webste