, 1873-04-22
LINCOLN N-SEWARD.

Mr, Charles Frnncis Adams concludes his ablo
historical essay on William H. Seward thus;
but tho memory Of him who guided our co'irse
through tho most appalling tempest set experienced
In our annala scarcely fn 10 confront oil future
pepirants In tho honorable career, m example
which every ono Of them may initiate to bis advantage
but few can hope to be 30 fortunate as to excel.
Tho scope Of this eulogium could hadly bc
wider il Divine Providence had boon tho him"
reforred to as having guided our course through
tho most appalling tempest yet experienced
in our annala. Did Mr. Seward guido
our course through that appalling tempest
Mr, Adams docs not ahow that he did,
-doea not come anywhere nenr showing 1t. Tho
only considerable ovont Which ho points out US
having boon under the especial direction of Mr.
Seward was the surrender Of Mason and sltdeu
to the British authorities after tho front affair.
This affair fol under hiB special Jurisdiction as
Secretary of State, and waa undoubtedly vol nd
yised and wcll managed. But it comes far short,
| eyon when coupled with Mr. sovard'a general
management Of foreign affairs, OF justifying tho
sentiment that Mr. Seward guided our course
through tho appalling tempeat-a continent
| that cannot bo acquiescel in without grave in
Justice to other actors in TINT tremendous drama
| n1r. Albums, apparently anticipating this OBJ
lection, saya in another place:
Lot me not bo understood desiring to Say word
In spirit Of derogatlon from the momory Of Abraham
Lincoln Ho proved hlmsef boforo tho world pure,
brave houeat man, faithful to his arduous taak, and
laying down his life at tho last the penalty for his
country's eafoy. At tho Bamo mo, 1t rs tho duty OF
history III dealing with I'LL human action to do strict
Justice In discriminating between parsons, and by no
eang to award to ono honors that clearly belong to
| another.
To soy that Mr. Lincoln was "h pure, brave,
honest man, faithful to his arduous task" loay-
ing it to bo inforred that llo was intellectual
| nonentity as compared with NIr. Seward, ah, ill.,
dood, he pretty roundly aasorts in another place,
proves TINT h1r. Adams, however familiar with
h1r, Seward "a man and statesman, waR
totally rnacquainted with Mr. Lincoln in the
formor capacity md very little In the latter;
| Hero is tho contrast he draws between them:
Mr. Lincoln could not fall soon to perceive tho fac
| that shatever estimate he might put on Ills natura
Judgment ho had to deal with superior in nhtiVo tn
tellcctuai poor In extent Of requirement. in breadtt
Of philosophical experience, and In tho force Of mora
have bocn long blind to tho deficiencies Of tbs chcf
these reBpectH however highly ho might valno his In
tegrlty Of purpose, his shrowd, natural judgment, mt
his generous mud amisble disposition.
That Mr. Seward was tho superior OF hEr. Lin
coin in extent Of requirement and breadth
philosophical experience must be admitted bu
that he WAS his superior, or lis equal, In natiy'
intellectual power, or in the forco Of moral dis
clplino, we firmly deny. Mr. Seward WAS ho
lioycd to 10, along with Mr. Adams and man.
other ab1e and oxcollont mon, compromlaor q
tho beginning Of the accession movement
and opposed to tho employment 0
forco in order to provent secession
Wo affirm, as an historical fact, susceptible 0
proof, TINT evory mombor Of Mr. Lncoln's Cab
not, except Montgomery Blair, WIS III favor q
surrondoriug Fort Sumter in the first instance
and that every member OF tho Cabinet, oxcer
Blair and Wo]les, WAS opposed to the attempt
sond provisions md supplies to Mai. Andersen
When it was determined to send the supplio
Mr. Seward spirited away (perhaps not desigl
oaly) tho steamer powhatan, containing Cap
Fox's launches and the ealors to lnan them, AZ
sent hor of to ronsacola by Means Of an ord'
, which neyor won't through tho Navy Depar
, ment. On tile 12tl, Of April, 1861, II wo recolle
: rightly, h1r. Seward addressed dispatch
n hlr. Adams, directing him 10 assure the Drltis
y Government that thore would DO no resort
:. arms to maintain tile Union, but that re-untt
i, would be effected peacoably, y,-thus colieodil
thai tho Union was in fact thon dIaaovod. At
lator period lin 1859, In another dispatch (pe
d hapH not to hIr. Adams), lo classod tho robe
\ and tho omancipationists together as equal
0 standing In the way Of q restoration Of Il
d Union, showing that ho was himsolf opposed
Il tho emancipation policy. Was this slip Of t.
0 pon {Mr. Adams tells us that such slips aro to
q found in llis volumtnous diplomatic corrospon
ouce), ord it set forth ha deliberate oonvIctto
10 ut tho tlmo? Our recollection Ia worry clear til
4 Mr.. Bossrl was thon regarded not only by t
l. country, but by nearly al tho pub
o mon at Washington, as tho reaolute
}. Of those who sought to give to tho Uuiou eau