The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-13
Views Of President Lincoln on
Missouri Affairs.


Missouri Affairs,
REPORT or JAMES TAussra, ESQ.
Hess-s. Er;Je prctortous, Theodore Okshz,.-
sen ard II. T.. RonbGNer, OonNxs,ttee, etc. (:
GsNrI RhEs:-During professional Wis
1t to Was4l2ston City, presented to the
President of the United States. in compli-
ance with your instructions, a copy of the
resolutions adopted in mass meeting at St.
Louis on the 10th of May, 1853, and I re-
queSted a reply to the suggestions there
in contained.
The President, after a careful and loud
reading of the whole report of proceedings,
saw proper to enter into conversation OF
two hours duration, in the course of which
most Of the topics embraced in the resolu-
tons and other subjects were discussed
AS my share in the conversation is OF
secondary importance, propose to omit it
entirely in this report, and, avoiding de.
tails, to communicate to you the substance
of note worthy remarks made by the
President.
l. The President said that it may be a
misfortune for the nation that he was elect
ed President. But having been elected by
the people, he meant to be President, and
to perform his duty according to has best
understanding, if he had to die for it. No
general will be removed, nor will any
change IN the Cabinet be made 10 suit the
views Or wishes of any particular party,
faction, or set of men. Gen. Halleck is not
guilty of the charges made against him,
most of which arise from misapprehension
or ignorance Of those who prefer them.
2. The President said it was mistake to
suppose that Generals John c. Fremont,
b. +. Butler, and +. Sigel are Systematic
ally kept out of command" as stated in
the fourth resolutions; that on the contrary,
he fully appreciated the merits of the gem
erals named; that by their own action they
had placed themselves in the position
which they occupied; that he was not only
willing; to place them again in command
as soon as he could find spheres of action
for them, without doing injustice to 9TH
ers, but that at present he ''had more pegs
than holes to put them in"
3. AS to the want of unity, the President,
without admitting such to be the case, in
timated that each member Of the Cabinet
was responsible mainly for the manner of
conducting the affairs of his particular de-
partment; that there was no Capitalization
of responsibility for the action Of the Cabi-
net anywhere except in the President
himself.
4. The dissensions between Union men
in Missouri are due solely to factiOus
spirit which is exceedingly reprehensible.
The two parties ought to have their heads
knocked together. "Either would rather
see the defeat of their adversary than that
of Jefferson Davis" To this spirit of fac
ton is to be aScribed the failure of the Leg
islature to elect Senators and the defeat of
the Missouri Aid bill In Congress, the pas
sage of which the President strongly de-
sired.
The President said that the Unisn men
in Missouri who are in favor of gradual
emancipation represented his views better
than those who are in favor of immediate
emancipation. In explanation of his views
on this subject the President said that in
his speeches he had frequently used as an
illustration the case of q man who had an
excressenee on the back of his neck, the
removal of which, an one operation, would
result in the death of the patient, while,
'tinkering it off by degrees would preserve
life. Although sorely tempted I did not
reply with the illustration of the dog whose
tail was amputated by inches, but confin-
ed myself to arguments.
The President announced clearly hot. as
far as he eoGs ct present GdUtSed the radicals
an Missouri had no right TO consider Them
sekUes The opponents Of his views on the sab
Ject of emancipation IN that Slate.
5. Gen. Curtis was not relieved on ac-
count of any wrong act, or great mistake
committed by him. The system of Provost
Marshals, established by him throughout
the State, gave rise to violent complaint
That the President had thought at one time
to appoint Gen. Fremont in his place; that
at another time ne had thought of appoint
ing Gen. Mcdowell, whom he characterized
as a good and loyal, although very unfor-
tunate soldier, and that at last Gen. Scho-
field was appointed with a view if possible
to reconcile and satisfy the two factions in
Missouri. He has instructions not to in
terfsre with either party, but to contine
himself to his military duties.
l need hardly assure you, gentlemen,
that our side f the case was as fully pre-
scented as the occasion admitted. AT the
close of the conversation the President re-
marked that there was evidently ''serious
misunderstanding springing up between
him and the Germans of st. Louis, which
he would like to see removed.
Observing to him that the difference of
opinion related to facts, men, and meas
ures, l withdrew.
am, very respectfully, etc.
JAMES TAUsSIG.