4) preserving the union meant fighting his own party politically just as much as the south. The radical republicans like Thaddeus Stevens were true abolitionist

4) preserving the union meant fighting his own party politically just as much as the south. The radical republicans like Thaddeus Stevens were true abolitionists and deeply committed to the equality of all races - he was more than willing to massacre all of the white southerners to achieve this end. These factions had to be tamped down, as well as the traitorous Copperheads.