Stevens and other radicals were frustrated at how slow Lincoln was to adopt their policies for emancipation; according to Brodie, "Lincoln seldom succeeded in matching Stevens's pace, though both were marching towards the same bright horizon".
Stevens și alți radicali erau frustrați de cât de len le adoptase Lincoln politicile de emancipare; conform lui Brodie, „Lincoln a reușit rareori să țină pasul cu Stevens, deși amândoi mergeau către aceleași orizonturi luminoase”.