Andrew Johnson was NOT the man to do Reconstruction.
Agreed, And neither were the Radical Republicans who, like you, thought Lincoln was too soft.
Yes, he was weak. And Stanton took advantage of that.. to the point of getting Gen. Halleck to try to take over Gen. Sherman’s command in NC during the negotiations of surrender with CSA Gen. Johnston. Stanton was a liar when it came to Lincoln— and many think he, as Sec. of War, set up the killers network (why, for instance there was the one bridge across the Potomac that was left open for Booth to escape, and several other incriminating facts of Stantons actions).
Sherman was supported by Grant to give the same terms of surrender given to Lee by Grant. But the politicians of Radicals got hold of this, and as documented in Sherman’s memoirs they tried to steal his troops from his command- to continue slaughtering burning and pillaging in NC and Southern Virginia— to follow up on the escaping CSA cabinet. It was Grant who called off Gen. Wilson’s dogs pursuing Davis in GA— to make him aware of the evil he was unleashing. Davis- as Architect of the Capitol was known to loyal Unionists... but hated by Radical thieves and their plans.
Lincoln would have “let em down easy” as he told Grant. A true negotiator and shrewd leader- much better for the South than what happened after. Political murder of Lincoln imho.
A great book on this subject— is British historian B.H. Liddell Hart’s “Sherman: Soldier, Realist, American”.
The last chapter, dealing with Sherman’s negotiations with Gen. Johnston, describes well researched, the actions of Stanton in response to Sherman, who was talking with Johnston and CSA Sec. of War Breckenridge- Davis and Cabinet were still escaping and in Greensboro, NC on the way to GA. This was contemporaneous with Lincoln’s murder—with the political upheaval that brought. Upheaval which Grant’s terms to Lee did not have- as Lincoln was still alive and supported Grant fully- Grant acting on Lincoln’s instructions. Not so with Sherman who communicated with Grant and acted under his direction.Stanton and the Radicals now had Lincoln out of the way and a weak VP (who missed conviction on impeachement by 1 vote btw) Johnson. Stanton was pulling a fast one- along with the nobody Gen. Halleck. Grant’s memoirs register he was appalled as them trying to take over his junior general’s troops. But that is what they tried. All that followed with Reconstruction was the work of these crazy Radicals (who much resemble today’s Leftist demonrats- ironically).