New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-03
ao,sctad a. the persons 10 meet him were Mr. w. G.
~ C N;nn;a formerly limited States Minister

Rivep Of Virginia. formerly Ohiten osa'oe
IN France; Judge Summer, from the came State;
Gsn Oonoyau, from Missouri, who distinguished
! himself in the Mexican war, and myself aud MT.
Crtbrie who had been Secretary of tae Treasury in
Mr Perce's administration. AT IL O'Clock his po-
iit;cal friends had ascertaned that he was in the
c,y. and the room was filed, and Judge Logan came
"a r and informed us that We must defer the meet
ING until we could have with ni1i alone. Several
days elapsed. We did meet him about o'clock at
night, and had conversation OF several hours aua
I tion with him. took occasion shortly afterward,
as well could, to write down that conversation.
The substance Of it was about this: MIR. Lincoln II
commenced the conversation, after receiving US very
kindly by stating that he was accidentally elected
President Of the United States; that he had
never aspired to position OF that Kind
that il had never entered his head but that
from the fact HE having made race for the
Senate Of the United States with Judge Doug
las, in the State Of Illinois, his name became
prominent, and he waB accidentally selected and H
elected afterward as President OF the United Sates
that running that III local election his speeches
bad been published and that any one mis- ht ex- |
anime his speeches. and they would find that he had
sad nothing against the interests Of the South. lie
dehed them to point out any one sentence IN all incl
various addresses that be bad made In that canvass
that could be tortured into ennity against the South
except, he remarked, one expression, namely, that
" house divided against itself must fall; they must
either be all Slave or all Free States; and lie said
that he explained aiterward that that was an ABB
+ basis OF bis political action. lie remarked a. The
same tino that the clause in the Constitution Of the
n United States reg uring fugitive slaves 70 be dev-
cred up was a ti.utiongl provision, was part OF
=, the organic law of the land, ana mat ne
VI woaid execute that with more fidelity than
d any Southern man that they could posi-
Div find, and he could not imagine what
10 Nas the cause Of the deep and apparently set-
lied enmity that existed toward him throughout Tie
entire South, looking at me at Tie umc as II TO iLVe
f,r, | llfH "a a ~
much mistaken il he supposed that the deep (er-
vading feeling throughout Tie South originated IN
any personal enuity toward himself; that ga not
suppose that there WAS any feeling OF that KIND on
al tue part Of an individual in tie South that he was
d the representative of great par,yoi merely C.
m tionsl party--eccted platform which they cen
sdoIed would, # carried cut he destructive 81 TIER
l. dearest and best rights and that 1t was On That nc
count, ard that alone--the at.ewpt 10 throw com
Of mon Government the Government Tor all the SAFES,
., in auagO nisn 10 tue interests " portion OF the
very STATES whose Government II was-Whieh was
. the OF the deep and settled feeling when en'
isteG throughout the entire South. We apreaied TO
ol bin then TO give the guarantees which were de-
p nandcd 10y the Southern men IN that Peace Confer
~ ence representing 10 him that was IN no power,
he that lie az TIA; time power IN the STATE, NAV
B. he held IN the hollow Of his hand the destiny OF hr-
IL " millions OF people, that if he said that the
~ guarantee should be made and would make IT, there
II would lie no difficulty IN carrying out any pro-
ei pr3inme that might be adopted. lie said that he
Is slavery should not be oested any way, directly
be o. indirectly in the States; thu, he was willing 10
10 20 further and give guarantee that II should not
be be nOlesed in the District Of Columbia THAI he
20, would 90 still further and cay that IL should not be
70 disturbed ~ The docks, arsena.s, forts, and other
u places within the saVehOlOnS States, bui Ca Tor
III Slavery in the Territories, that bis whole lie was
Is dedicated IN opposition to ITS extension tleie ilat
II. he was elected by party which had made that
a portion OF its PLATFORM and he should consider that
b, be was betrayng that party he agreed, under
g, any state Of TIC case, 10 allow Slavery to Re e-
~ tended III the Territories. We pointed our to LIN
a that there was not Of territory belonging to
u the United States where the foot Of slave Olld
ever tread; that there were natural laws which
IA wOald forbid Slavery gcing into New-AcElco, d
oil mountainous region, ana the colder regions OF tie
n, North; and that II was utterly impossible that
as Slavery could ever extend there; and We Gcnied
that q common government had power 10 make tie
t. prohibition, and asked him why, il LIE e
ie really true sincere Union man, have TN empty
ed stronger prohibition than any that could be passed
- by oct OF Congress liear, hear.l That he waived
u bv eaying that he committed on this subject.
nc Then it that replied to him, MI President,
&C. YOU say you accidentally selected, and elected
Of Ivy party. You were the candidate q the party;
u but when YOU were clectei, Dir, thOnght-l have
mt been taught 10 beeyethat you were the President
DC Of The Union. opposed you, cir, | sad TO lin,
Id " with ali the zeal aud energy oi which
ter enGeavOred 20 prevent your election, Lot be
y caase bad ally personal feelings Of enmty toward
ne very result now witness. / opposed you, sir.
is bot you are my President; you have been elected
Il according 10 the forms OF tho Constitution AID yOu
o. are the President Of tie people Of the United States
and think thai some little Difference is duo to tic
or Opinions OF those who constitute the majority, accord
cd ing TO lie voc taat bad been Iclled Of 100 600
.. men in tie United States" lie at once ratter
III bIlskly said: " IL lie was minority President lie
us not the fret, and that at all events ho had OBJ
ed tanned mon votes than we could muster for any
u e.her man." Think, as can recollec, tlOse
about his identical words responded 1T once 10
IN bin that did not intend TO recall to him that he WAS
minority President, but supply to announce the
II, broad fact that he the resident OF the men
10 who voted for him, bat Of the whole people OF the
ne United States and that Of the wishes and feelings
OF and interests Of the whole people of the United
be Staiesthe party with 100, OOO majority as well 40
n the minority party by whom he was elected ought
III to be consulted by hlm. Gen. Donovan here inter.
posed and presented three alternative propositions
10 him. First that he might remain pert city idle
and massive, and let the disntegra!On Of tie States
70 on as u had gone on second give guarantees
~ such 81 asked, and bring the whole power Of
his Administration TO bear in obtaining those guasau-
ties; Or thTd resort TO coercion and attempt force
the teceGng States into obedience. lie illustrated very
distinctly aud clearly thOse three proportions. When
y the conversation had sackencd Il ittle yeLtured
~ to apf cal 10 him, IN manner ia which ap-
al pealed 10 any other man and never expect 10 do
"a again. L SAID that 10 The last proposition de-
eIrcd 20 gay one word-that frosted and PRAYED to
" God that be would not resort TO coercion; that il he
did, the history Of Lis Administration would he writ
D. ten Ia blood, and all the waters OF tho Atlantic
Ocean could never wash it from his hands. I" Hear
e hear" and applause. lie asked me what | would
:, do and ii 1 meant by coercion The collecting Of the
l. revenue and the taking back OF the forts which Le
sald belonged 10 the United States | replied fLat
IS that the only mode in which il vas possible
that lie could under tie Constitution resort 20 c0er
d ciOn-by tn attempt 10 collect the revenue aud to
(. take back the forts. lie had placed hinseif in IA
cdaF with rounds 10 it, with Lis feet upOn tho Ligh
l les lrV L.,