Changes

His editorials and news reports explaining the policies and candidates of the Republican Party were reprinted and discussed throughout the country.  Many small newspapers relied heavily on the reporting and editorials of the Tribune.  He served as Congressman for three months, 1848–1849, but failed in numerous other attempts to win elective office.  In 1860 he supported the conservative ex-Whig [[Edward Bates]] of Missouri for president, an action that weakened Greeley's old ally Seward.<ref>Van Dusen 241-44</ref>

His editorials and news reports explaining the policies and candidates of the Republican Party were reprinted and discussed throughout the country.  Many small newspapers relied heavily on the reporting and editorials of the Tribune.  He served as Congressman for three months, 1848–1849, but failed in numerous other attempts to win elective office.  In 1860 he supported the conservative ex-Whig [[Edward Bates]] of Missouri for president, an action that weakened Greeley's old ally Seward.<ref>Van Dusen 241-44</ref>

Greeley made the Tribune the leading newspaper opposing the [[Slave Power]], that is, what he considered the conspiracy by slave owners to seize control of the federal government and block the progress of liberty. In the secession crisis of 1861 he took a hard line against the Confederacy.  Theoretically, he agreed, the South could declare independence; but in reality he said there was "a violent, unscrupulous, desperate minority, who have conspired to clutch power"  –secession was an illegitimate conspiracy that had to be crushed by federal power.  He took a [[Radical Republican]] position during the war, in opposition to Lincoln’s moderation.  In the summer of 1862, he wrote a famous editorial entitled "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" demanding a more aggressive attack on the Confederacy and faster emancipation of the slaves. A month later he hailed Lincoln’s [[Emancipation Proclamation]].

Greeley made the Tribune the leading newspaper opposing the [[Slave Power]], that is, what he considered the conspiracy by slave owners to seize control of the federal government and block the progress of liberty. In the secession crisis of 1861 he took a hard line against the Confederacy.  Theoretically, he agreed, the South could declare independence; but in reality he said there was "a violent, unscrupulous, desperate minority, who have conspired to clutch power"  –secession was an illegitimate conspiracy that had to be crushed by federal power.  He took a [[Radical Republican]] position during the war, in opposition to Lincoln's moderation.  In the summer of 1862, he wrote a famous editorial entitled "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" demanding a more aggressive attack on the Confederacy and faster emancipation of the slaves. A month later he hailed Lincoln's [[Emancipation Proclamation]].

Although after 1860 he increasingly lost control of the ''Tribune’s'' operations, and wrote fewer editorials, in 1864 he expressed defeatism regarding Lincoln’s chances of reelection, an attitude that was echoed across the country when his editorials were reprinted.  Oddly he also pursued a peace policy in 1863-64 that involved discussions with [[Copperheads]] and opened the possibility of a compromise with the Confederacy.  Lincoln was aghast, but outsmarted Greeley by appointing him to a peace commission he knew the Confederates would repudiate.

Although after 1860 he increasingly lost control of the ''Tribune’s'' operations, and wrote fewer editorials, in 1864 he expressed defeatism regarding Lincoln's chances of reelection, an attitude that was echoed across the country when his editorials were reprinted.  Oddly he also pursued a peace policy in 1863-64 that involved discussions with [[Copperheads]] and opened the possibility of a compromise with the Confederacy.  Lincoln was aghast, but outsmarted Greeley by appointing him to a peace commission he knew the Confederates would repudiate.