The person that would have been most likely to make this statement at the beginning of Reconstruction is Abraham Lincoln.
This is because Abraham Lincoln is the president of the United States during the beginning of the Reconstruction era after the end of the American civil war in the year 1865.
At the time of the Reconstruction period, Abraham Lincoln gave a full pardon to Confederates states based on forgiveness.
This he did by issuing a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863 to the Americans know he wants to reunite the United States.
Hence, in this case, the correct answer to the question is option B "Abraham Lincoln.
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