Missouri was, in Lincoln’s eyes, evenly balanced between Union and Rebel supporters. Indeed, Missouri had its own version of the Civil War that seemed to have a life of its own [in fact, the one in Missouri lasted well beyond the end of formal hostilities].
So when two groups of men came to Lincoln to argue as to whether or not a St. Louis church should be closed as a result of statements of disloyalty from its minister Lincoln’s reaction wasn’t surprising at all.
When the men finished their presentation Lincoln said that the situation reminded him of the story of a man he knew back in Sangamon County who had a melon patch that kept getting ruined by a wild hog.
Eventually the man and his sons decided to take their guns and track the animal down. They followed the tracks to the neighboring creek, where they disappeared. They discovered them on the opposite bank, and waded through. They kept on the trail a couple of hundred yards, when the tracks again went into the creek, and promptly turned up on the other side.
Out of breath and patience, the farmer said, "John, you cross over and go up on that side of the creek, and I’ll keep up on this side, because I believe that hog is on both sides of the creek!"
"Gentlemen," concluded Lincoln, "that is just where I stand in regard to your controversies in St. Louis. I am on both sides. I can't allow my Generals to run the churches, and I can’t allow your ministers to preach rebellion."
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