Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-13


his interview Mr.. Blair reports that Mr.. Bryant
considered Mr.. Lincoln. q 10Th all aJa'emenfs,"
as " the only man on whom we could rely for the
maintenance Of the cause in which we were en-
barked" ss.s8 f',3 s.t n.
Then follows brief account Of Mr.. Blair's in
tervisw with the conductors Of two other leading
organs of public opinion which he aimed to con-
ciliate in the interest Of Mr.. Lincoln, with what
manner Of success the public may read in their
columns from day to day.
Mr.. Blair next proceeds to give detailed ac-
count of his interview with Gen. Mcclellan. We
now learn that at this stage Of the transaction,
which subsequently, eliminated in the arrange
ment concerted between Mr.. Lincoln and Gen.
Grant, Mr.. Francis p Blair, senior, in opening
the subject of his interview to Gen. Mcclellan,
distinctly informed him that he "did not come
from Mr.. Lincoln" that he chad no authority or
even consent from Mr.. Lincoln to make represen-
tations or overtures Of any SORT" and that /" Mr..
Lincoln had not been apprized Of his visit or pur-
pose" But after this preamble Mr. Blair proceeded
at some length in arrangement designed to convince
Gen. Mcclellan of the impolicy Of becoming can
ddate for the Presidency in opposition to Mr.. Lin
colin. The considerations to this effect are such As
any political friend of the President would natu-
rally urge from desire to promote his election,
and as every honest partisan of the President sup
poses that his election is identified with the pros
perty and safety Of the country do not question
the sincerity with which Mr.. Blair sought to i'm
press on Gen. Mcclellan the propriety Of renOuno-
ing in advance the nomination which he had not
yet received, but which he was likely to receive
from the spontaneous voice Of large portion of
his countrymen.
Mr.. Blair, however, did not rsSt satisfied with
such generalities Hewged Gen. Nc C1sllam g to
address a note to Mr.. Lincoln asking command
IN The army, and declaring at the sans time that
he did not seek 1t s0iM a viev to recommend him
self TO a Presidential nomination" This note
was to be the evidence that he had abandoned the
idea Of being candidate for the Presidency, if he
entertained it," and that he wished on such terms
!" to return to service in the field" Mr.. Blair
states that he added, Elf the President refused it
he (the Presidency would then be responsible for
the consequences" while off he assented, the re-
suit would be that he (Gen. McClellan) would
confound his enemies who had urged on the War
Committee and impressed it on the public mind
that the delays Of the great army he had command
ed in achieving decisive results were the conse-
qucncc Of an ambition to clutch the Presidency"
Let us pause at this point to examine the neces-
sary implications Of such proposition. Gen. Nc
Clelan was to write the letter thus prescribed for
him in order to satisfy the President that he had
renouuced all aspirations to the Presidency. But
he could not do SO without thereby confessing that
he had been an aspirant to that Office, and if, with
the dignity of the pure and illustrious Lowndes,
he thinks the Presidency an Office " neither to be
sought nor declined" he could not have written
any such letter without placing himself in the
false attitude Of having sought an Office which he
had not sought, and of having renowned nomi-
nation which as yet had never been rendered to him
The public will iursher learn, from the argument
employed by Mr.. Blair in support of his PROPOSE.
ton, that it was " the enemies" of Gen. Mcclellan
who, as he believes, had "urged on the War Com
mittee," and sought to make impressions on the
public mind injurious to the honor of that officer.
If this transaction had ended here the inter-
views between Mr. Blair and Gen. Mcclellan would
have been rather of private than public import
ance. But IL did not end here. Mr.. Blair, ON re-
turning TO Washington, made report 10 Mr.. Lin
cola of "the attempt he had made at the concilid-
tion OF parties an Nep York." and lie adds tia,
he told the President he "thought IL probable Gen.
Nc Clelon might aorite to him in respect to him
self" SO Mr.. Lincoln was informed of the nature
and object of Mr.. Blair's interview with Gen. Nc
Cellan. And how did the President receive the
information Let Mr.. Blair answer I" He neither
expressed approval nor Interpretation ofaohat
had done, but has manner 0ds as courteous and as
kind as Gen. Nc C7ellan's had BEEN"
There is the end of Mr.. Blairs narrative Of
this transaction. He was called only to explain
his share in it. We now see that he had
the honor Of initiating it, that he first sounded
General Mcclellan on the delicate subject, ana
that he then made report thereon to the Presi
dent, aOho, instead Of rejecting the proportion,
proceeded, as zoe learn from Mr.. Montgomery
Blair, TO "concert" With Gen. Grant for carrying
the arrangement into effect. We thus see that thu
President endorsed the proposition of Mr.. Blair
and made it his own in way which betrayed III,
greatest possible alacrity to profit BY it, for he die