{{cquote|"I wish the president [would] tell the rebels that he can only grant pardons, that only Congress can admit states, that Congress is not in Session & won't be until December---and that he must keep the peace meantime."||||Howe, 1865<ref name=pp95-96/>}}
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{{cquote|"I wish the president [would] tell the rebels that he can only grant pardons, that only Congress can admit states, that Congress is not in Session & won't be until December---and that he must keep the peace meantime."||||Howe, 1865<ref name=pp95-96>''Timothy O. Howe, Stalwart Republican'', pp. 95–96.</ref>}}
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Despite his vigorous defense of the Lincoln Administration, Howe became disillusioned with its moderate approach. He decried of "this dawdling war... this limping policy," in reference to President Lincoln's policies.<ref name=p94/> State Republican boss Elisha Keyes remarked on his fierce contempt of Lincoln, whose 1864 reelection Howe gave mere lukewarm support for.<ref name=pp95-96>''Timothy O. Howe, Stalwart Republican'', pp. 95-96.</ref> Instead, he focused his political energy in stumping for the election of his friend Philetus Sawyer to the U.S. House.
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Despite his vigorous defense of the Lincoln Administration, Howe became disillusioned with its moderate approach. He decried of "this dawdling war... this limping policy," in reference to President Lincoln's policies.<ref name=p94/> State Republican boss Elisha Keyes remarked on his fierce contempt of Lincoln, whose 1864 reelection Howe gave mere lukewarm support for.<ref name=pp95-96/> Instead, he focused his political energy in stumping for the election of his friend Philetus Sawyer to the U.S. House.
====Grant era, intraparty state politics, internal improvements====
====Grant era, intraparty state politics, internal improvements====