The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-19


the last session under the administration OF Mr..
Buchanan. Tied hand and foot by the conditions
under which he had received his nomination four
years before, his course had been faltering ana
certain, meriting praise neither for prudence nor
patriotism. In the condition things were In at that
moment, with Cabinet divided, and both branches
OF the Legislature utterly without spirit TO con-
cert measures the effect was equivalent TO
disintegratton: ,Disatiection became rife every.
where south OF Mason and Dtx0n's line. And IN
the city OF Washington itself 1t became difficult TO
find among the residents persons wholly free from
1t. II such was tine condition OF the disanected
party II was scarcely better with the loyal side.
The President elect was still at home In Illinois,
giving signs OF life and there was no one OF the
faithful men vested with authority to speak or act
in his behalf That something ought to be done to
keep the control OF the capital and bridge over the
interval before the Attn OF March in peace and
quiet was manifest.
SEWARD THE MAN FOR AN EMERGENCY.
In this emergency | have 1t IN my power to
his sole responsibility OF his calmness in the
midst of diicoty OF HIS fertility In resource, OF his
courage In at once breaking up the remnants OF
trusty men, whether in the government, in the
army, in the municipal boards or elsewhere, to Sc
s p0 sep
General Scott, then Commander-n-Chief,a although
surrounded by less than even lukewarm assistants,
haps, not yet come, if Il ever does, when
all the details OF these operations will be disclosed.
But II It should, It yin only add one more to the
memory OF Mr.. Seward. But out OF all the sources
OF anxiety and distrust heaped up in this most
fearful interval that which appeared to many the
most appalling was the fact that We were about to
have for our guide through this perilous strife per-
son selected partly on account OF the absence Of
iie SO it seemed absolutely indispensable on every
account that not only Mr. Seward should have
been early secured IN prominent post, but that
his advice, at least should have been asked in
gard to tho completion OF the organization. The
value OF such counsel in securing harmony in policy
is too well understood to need explanation. But
a q Vnf nf al I
was at quite late period OF the session before he
had disclosed his intention to place Mr.. Seward
some OF Mr.. Stewards friends been made by this
proceeding of the spirit OF the President that they
were disposed to advise him not to assume any re-
TRIBUTE TO THE NAME OF LINCOLN.
Let me not be understood as desiring to say q
word In spirit OF derogation from the memory Of
before the world pure, brave, honest man faith
full to his arduous task, and laying down his lie
the same time it is the duty OF history In dealing
with all human action, to do strict justice in dis
terminating between persons, and by no means to
other. Furthermore, he was quite deficient in
his acquaintance with the character and qualities
or public their aptitude for the positions to
which he assigned them. Indeed, he never Sc
lected them solely by that standard. Admitting
this to be accurate statement the difficulties in
the way OF Mr.. Seward on his assuming the duties
OF the Foreign department may be readily imagined.
The immediate Reorganization of the service
1t may be easily conceived what an effect could be
produced in all quarters by the equivocal half
hearted tone prevailing among the American
agents themselves. Yet, assuming 1t to be inds-
pensable that the foreign service should be reor-
ganized, very grave difficulty forthwith presented
ITSELF The republican party had been so generally
III opposition that but few OF its prominent men,
bers had had any advantages OF experience in
office. And in the foreign service especially, ex-
perience Is almost Indispensable to usefulness.
Mr.. Seward himself came into the State Depart
ment with no acquaintance with the forms or bust
ness other than that obtained incidentally through
his service In the Senate. He had not had the
benefit OF official presence abroad, an advantage
BY no means trlning In conducting the foreign ar
fairs.
MR. Stewards DIPLOMACY.
The marvellous fertility Of Mr.. Stewards pen
spread itself at once over every important point
the globe, and the lofty rmness OF his tone in
fused spirit Of unity Of action such as had never
been witnessed before. The effect OF this was that
rom state 81 utter decentralization at the outset,
the foreign service rapidly became the most ener.
getic and united organization thus far made
abroad. The evidence OF this will remain patent
n the archives OF the nation so long as they
toned whether any head of an executive de-
partment ever approached Mr.. Seward In the
issuing during the critical period OF the
war. While necessarily subject to imperlectien,
upon the rapidity with which he wrote
his papers Will occasion rather surprise their gen.
eral excellence than at any casual defects they may
contain. Even IN the darkese hours his clarion
voice rang out sharp ana Clear In full faith OF
the triumph of the great cause than even In the
moment OF its complete success. And the conse-
quence is that the lame of William II. seward as q
sagacious statesman is more widely spread ever
every part OF the globe than that OF any preceding
statesman in our history.
THE FRIENDSHIP OF LINCOLN AND SEWARD.
Great as were the services OF Mr.. Seward In his
)wn peculiar department, it would be mistake to
nIer that they were restricted within that limit.
now come to point where what appears to me
20 have been one OF his greatest qualities Ia to be
set forth. It is Impossible for two persons In the
relations OF the President and the Secretary OF
stotn m 90 On 1nnn har ypff oh mn
measure OF their respective powers. Mr. Lincoln
could not fail sson to perceive the TACT that what
Judgment he had to deal with q superior in native
intellectual power, in extent OF requirement, in
breadth Of philosophical experience and In the
Seward could not have been long blind to the
OF the chief in these respects, however
highly he might value his'integrity OF purpose, his
shrewd capacity and his generous and amiable dis
position. In order to cut up by the roots the
possibility of Misunderstanding from such
causes eau n M, seward deliberately came to
left in him OF aspiration in the future, by establish
ing distinct understanding with the President on
that subject The erect OF this act OF self abnega-
ton was soon apparent in the steady subsequent
union OF the parties. Thus 1t happened that Mr..
Seward voluntarily dismissed forever the noblest
dreams OF an ambition he had the clearest right to
indulge, In exchange Tor more solid power to
direct affairs for the benefit OF the nation, through
later time to reap the honors due chiefly to his
labors.
THE DEATH OF LINCOLN.
am not going to touch upon the incidents OF
the great war. IL Is enough to say that Gettys-
burg and Vicksburg turned the tide, and the ad-
ministraten had nothing more to fear from popu-
lar distrust. The election confirmed 1t in power.
and little was left to do but to heal the wounds in
flicted and restore the blessed days Of peace and
prosperity. Scarcely had the necessary measures
been matnred and fortune begun once more to
smile, when the hand Of the assassin unerring in
its instructive sagacity vented all the rage or the
batfed enemy upon the heads OF the two
individuals or all Others who most ais
tinctly symbolized the emancipation OF the
slave and the doom OF the masters
pride. Then followed successor to the chair
sadly wanting In the happest qualities or his pre-
bat readily moulded to the very same
policy which mad been inaugurated by him. In his
earnestness to save il Mr.. seward subordinated
himself Just as before. But the change OF person
proved little less disastrous TO his hopes than 1t
had been sixteen years before In the case OF Gen.
eral Taylor. Nevertheless, he steadily and bravely
adhered 10 the chief for the sake OF the policy, to
the last, and quietly bore the odium OF failure
he had no power TO avert. IL would have been
worth all 1t cost, could he have succeeded. But,
IA IL was. rarely has IL been fate oft ha same