The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-23
PRESIDENTIAL INTRIGUING: FOr
REELECTION.
Some Hitherto Unpublished Facts
About Lincoln and Others.

From the Rochester IN. W Union.
The plotting and counter plotting OF
Abraham Lincoln during the last month
and half to make himself sure Of his re-
election, furnish a most disgraceful and
humiliating chapter in American politics,
and a. the same time forcibly illustrate
the disastrous effect of the Presidents
violation of his own maxim, "not to swap
horses while crossing stream" We have
been furnished, from sources of the high.
est character, facts-that cannot be de-
nied-with reference to the intriguing Of
that period, the relation of one or two OF
which may serve to open the eyes of any,
if any there be, who still have faith in the
much Wanted "honesty of Abraham Lin
coin" ..-
1t will be borne in mind that the very
moment Horace Greeley left New York
empowered by the President to 90 to Nj
agara Falls and give Messrs. Clay, Hol-
combe & Go. safe conduct to Washington,
| F. P. Blair, Senior, the father of the Post.
master General, reached the metropolis
| from Washington. The missions of Messrs.
Greeley and Blair had far closer relations
to each other than the former named gen.
| tleman ever dreamed of in philosophy.
The facts: Mr. Blair first called upon
| Gen. Dix and laid before him bis business.
1t was to secure a written pledge from
Gen. Mcclellan that he would decline the
nomination of the Chicago Convention.
Gen. Dix suggested that if Gen McClel-
Ian gave any such pledge it would be only
| upon the exaction of high command or
such condition as the administration would
not be likely to yield to.
Mr.. Blair replied that Mr.. Lincoln him.
self had always believed in McClellan, that
had it not been for the spressure ~ of the
radicals he would never have removed
him; that he detested the radicals and
their representative in the Cabinet, Stan
ton, who was the leading and actual cause
of all his troubles and the country's mill
tary disasters; that he was now ready to
cut entirely loose from the malignants,
dismiss Stanton, put Mcclellan in his
place, or give him any command he might
ask, change his war policy to agree with
the several memoranda Of Gen. Mcclellan
in the early part of the war, and give the
Southern people, distinguished from their
leaders, such assurances as would speedi-
ly divert their support from jeff. Davis.
Mr.. Blair expressed his confidence that
if such an arrangement. could be brought
about the democracy and the whole con-
servative power of the country would be
secured for Mr. Lincoln's reelection, and
it would be thus insured. Gen. Dix was
entirely reticent in the matter of opinion,
but Mr.. Blair proceeded to his task, for
the performance and failure of which were
noticed at the time.
No sooner was the failure of Mr.. Blair's
effort to make terms with Gen. McC lellan,
in the hope of thus securing the Demo-
cratic and conservative vote, made known
to Lincoln, than he took immediate steps
to arrest the peace maneuvreing between
Greeley and the Rebel Commissioners then
going on at the Falls. The application of
Mr.. Greeley for further instructions came
just in the nick of time to give plausible
excuse for interference. The conservative
card had failed, and now the only hope of
Mr.. Lincoln was to throw himself wholly
into the arms of the radicals-to set his
fate on the head Of the negro and stand
the hazard of that issue. Stanton, who
had been kept in entire ignorance Of all
these Niagara Falls and New York pro-
ceedings, was, as Mr.. Greeley has tartly
stated, then called in, and the result was
the NTo whom it may concern ultima
tum.
The effect has disappointed Mr.. Lincoln
it has driven and is driving from his
support thousands of his former friends
who were willing 70 go bis emancipation
proclamation declaring the slaves of rebels
free, but who are not willing to insist up
on the abandonment of the institution of
slavery.
WATCHWORDS FOR PATRIOTS.
Notices for the Campaign. selected
from Gen. BIcClellan's Writings.
The true issue for which we are fighting is
the preservation of the Union and upholding
the laws of the general government Instruc-
tons to Gen. Burnside, Jan. Z, 1862.
We are fighting solely for the integrity of
the Union, to uphold the power of our nation
al government, and to restore to the nation
the blessing of peace and good order.-Tn-
structions to Gen. Halleck, Nou. IL, 1851.
You will please constantly to bear in mind
the precise issue for which we are fighting:
that issue is the preservation of the Union and
the restoration of the full authority of the gen.
eral government over all portions of our terri.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to Gen. Buell., Non. 7,'1861.
We shall most readily suppress this rebellion
and restore the authority OF the government by
religiously respecting the constitutional rights
OF all.-l"st'esctsoms to Gen. Buell., Nou. Z, 1861.
Be careful so to treat the unarmed inhabi-
tantS as to contract not widen the breach eX-
isting between US and the rebels.-Lastrucsso''
to Gen. Buell., Nou. IL, 1861.
have always found that it is the tendency OF
subordinates to make vexation arrests on mere
suspicion. Illustrations to Gen. Buell.. No0 II,
1861.
Saw as little a. possible about politics or the
negro.-Ipstrxction TO Gen. Burnside, Jan. 2,
1862.
The unity Of the nation, the preservation of
our institutions are 80 dear to me that have
willingly sacrificed my private happiness with