, 1873-04-25
MR. ADAMS AND THE CHICAGO C0NVEN-
TION OF 1860.

EpA4A w AlesA1 AGE Az
..4....ss.A..s.e.s..=.....--.. 4....ss.A..s.e.s..=.....--..
MR. ADAMS AND THE CHICAGO CoNVEM-
TI0N OF 1860.
Tho recent oulogy pronounced upon tho Hfo
anlmomory Of William II. Seward, before tho Now
York Logialature, by tho Hon. Charles Francis
Adams, is meeting with very searching criticism
in tho columns Of the loading newspapers, both
East and Wost; not from any desire to dotract
from Mr.. sewnrd'a wc1l-earnoa reputation ~ n
statesman, but because, like many other biogra-
phors who cannot oRti,nnto tho worth OF nan
| without making unfavorable comparisons with
others, 7Ir. Adams sought to elevate Mr. Sow
ard by underwriting Mr. Lincoln. No ono can
doubt tint Mr.. Adams was sincere III
MI that le gaia concerning Mr. Sow
ard, hut thoro woro ultimately aouo
circu1nstancos which could not fail to proJu-
tico his Judgment. Years ago, 1lr. Seward wrote
! biography Of John Quincy Adams, aud nlsopro-
no1lucod glowing eu1cgy upon Lis lifo md
| character before tho Now York Legislature. It
! VAS but natural, therefore. that tho Bon shou1d
| layo held this fact in the kindost remembrance.
| Again, It s doubtful wAother 3fr. Albums had
! my porsonul knowledge of Mr.. Lincoln, or any
/ means Of Judging Of him, except 90 C. distant
observer, having no sympathy with Mr. Lincoln's
| humble origin and rado antoccionts-with his
lack Of that culture which is gained from tile
literary md artistic pursuits Of an elegant loa-
uro, and With Lis cloae affiliations with the COM
mon people, from whom Mr. Adams Inns always
been remote. Lastly, during tho whole OF tho
great crisis in tho history Of this country pro-
ducod by tho War Of tho Rebellion. Mr. Adams
VAS in England, in diplomatic capacity, and a1l
Of Lis official rclations with this country woro
maintained in correspondence With Alr. Seward,
Ills chief seldom or novor With N1r. Lincoln. Il
il curious fact, too, TINT Mr, Lincoln WAS aa
far from approciating A1r. Adams Us AIr. Adams
from approcinting A1r. Lincoln if We may trust q
private letter from Montgomery Blair to don.
Fremont, published by tho 1attor in Lis testi-
mony boforo tho Committee on tho Conduct
Of the War, the substance of which IL i:
"Tho President ngroea with you EFremont]
TINT Adams is wholly devoted to his monoy-
bags"-a very unjust estin,ato Of BIr. Adams, Us
wo think. His long-ntanding friendship and in-
timncy with h1r. Seward, md want of noquaint~
anco with Mr.. Lincoln, would tond to bias Mr.
Adams in A1r. sowarl's favor, and cnlat his
| BympathieH strongly for Il man who had much in
common with hiuluolf and with whom alone ho
Ind been brought ln contact during tho dark
luya Of tho Ncbcllion. It ia not surprising,
therefore, that ho should claim for Mr. soward
tho credit Of tho aafo conduct OF tho Govorn-
mont and tho auccoasfu1 1ssuo OF tho war npd,
claiming thio, Of necessity lo would deploro tho
dofeat Of A1r. Seward III tho Chicago Convention,
aud ascr;bo 1t to tho ohicanory md intrigue of
1lr. Lincoln and lia friends.
TO dispose Of botl those assumptions ut once
would require moro Bpaco than can be afforded
in III ordinary newspaper article. Tho charge
Of polticnl intrigue in tho Chicago Convention,
however, 1nay bo easily diBpoaod Of. nIr. Bow
ards Immediate friends, under tho lendorahiP of
h1r. Thurlow Weed, made tho contest for the
nomination ut Chicago n purely personal one,
without roforonce to tho wishos or policy Of tho
purity at largo mud they commenced organizing
for lis nomination Two Or three years boforo tho
LoI1fCAIIoILj uy III W A1n!!A!Hls44V lAU-
lie opinion. AB tho tlmc for tho Convention
drew nigh, and it became apparent that it waa
impossible to Hewardize tho roto Of Indiana
anl Illinois, q bold movement was made
upon tho Southern States. Mr. Thurlow
Wood aud delegation from Nov York wont to
Baltimore and sought 10 nrrango q delegation
from Maryland pledged for Mr. Seward Al
first tho movement waa laughed at aud was
doomed hoax, put whom Tho poop1o Of Dalti'
moro found tlat mooting had actually boou
convened, they broko 1t up by mob yiolcnco, ant
drove tho so-oallod dclogatoa from tho lall, aut
Slilo puIsuiug them through tho streots tl1t
blairs got possession Of tho lall md hastily or.
ganizca Il delegation for n1r, Dates,-a proceed
Ing which would navor have happonel had uoi
tho Wccd cliquo sought to spring this Hewari
movement upon tie pooplc. Tho caao Of tht
Texss representation was even more glazing tha1