New-York tribune., 1873-05-16
WASHINGTON.
MR.. ADAMs's EULoGY ON SECRETARY syw
ARD.

NIX. ADAMSS EULOGY ON SECRETARY ap,y
ARD.
STATEMENT OF TTTE HON. MONTGOMERY Br..n,v
TER PROM TIE LATE CHIEP-JUSrIcy cu.sp
LiscoIS's PANE INDICATED.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THB TRBUsgl
WASHINGTON May l5.-There continues % eri,,
among tho friends Of Lincoln considerable tend..
ness on the subject of the Grafton Of Chari,.
Francis Adams on the character of Mr. saya,d
With regard to the proposition that tba sui
ing members Of President Lincolp,a Cabinet shor,a
unite in controyerting some portions Of Mr. ADAM.
remarks, Mr. Montgomery Blair. ex-Postna.t.,
General, has prepared the following statement,
The statement 1t appeared fn the public pre., r..
the late ChiefJustice, Mr.. wees and myself haa a.
termned to unite In protesting against the iniu,,,s.
done to Mr. Lincoln by Mr. Adams In his euIoey uno.
Mr. Seward s not strictly accurate. The facts arc th,,
on the appearance Of Mr.. Adams's grafton Mr. wsn..
wrote me that he thought Mr. Adams had not ob.,v.1
the customary limits OF eulOgY which tolerated any o..
trayagance OF praise to the subject OF 1t while noAn,
derogatory to others spoken but had unduy ex,a
Mr.. Seward at the expense Of Mr.. Lincoln and n.
thought that those who knew his statement 70 be
ought 10 say concnrred with Mr. Wees in the go..
injustice done Mr. Lincoln by Mr. Adams but thoughts
would be sufficient and would avoid unseemy contrs
versy. II the survivors OF Mr. Lncolns Cabinet sh.sa
unite in saving that Mr.. Adams had been nised "a !.
State without going into pariculars and so wrote 70
Mr. welles and also 10 the ChiefJustice from whom
several days afterward, received this reply:
No. COZ EST, Mondav. o'clock. APril a. isa
NY DEAR Mr. BLAIR: h. ~ not read Mr. Adams,
Grafton There Il OCCASION think, 10 aDprebeDd any
damage to hr. LincOn's memory from the exaggerated
Shonld have no obscto1 to eomnagn % v,e eeai h t
self and Mr. Wees, and letting the results De made pub
lie. Sincerely yours Is. r. CHAsk
TO the Hon. Mr. Blair.
Before this noe 10 hand saw by tone Of Tie
public press that the ChefJustice says, there "a.
really occasion TO apprehend damage to Mr. LincOn,
memory from the exaggeration OF Mr. Sewards merih
and being at the time very much engaged professionally
did not so to the ChiefJustce TO confer with him
till he had left the city. know however. from other
friends who conferred with him here and in EewYork
that he cOncurred fully in saying that Mr. Adams bad
been misled. and Senator Cameron concurs 10 th
There could not be greater msconception OF hsory
than to give TO Mr. Lincoln subordinate part either
in his own Administration or In the Republican party
prior to the nomination, and compare him with PleTes
Buchanan, and other inferior whose elevation was
due to intrigue. Lincoln Mr.. Stewards leading
pctOr at Chicago from the start and nominated By
acclamation almost on tho second ballot. lie vas tie
recognized leader Of his party In Illinois in 1855,
he preferred candidate for the Senate OF all bat
five OF those who elected Judge Trumbull. who being
Democrats would not then vote for Mr. Lincoln. but
while Judge Trumbul's friends would not for Ian
coin, he Q4ncoln) went on the floor OF tho HOUSE
and urged his friends to vote for Truu5un
He had been a leading competitor for the
VicePresdency against Mr. Dayton in 1886, and this
before his debate with Douglas which proved him 70 DO
the representative OF the Republican party OF tha,
day, and everybody knows that he continued TO be s
true representative thenoeforward till the hour VI hs
DEATH whilst Mr. Seward, by his speech on the i2th %
January. 1861, In the Senate which echoed in the
House by his friend and eulogst Mr. Adams the 3st
lost them both confidence of that party. Mr. Seward
referring 10 the secession then in progress.
said that he would meet eXactiOns with c0ncessohs
and violence with peace. And accordingly agreed with
the Confederate Commissioners 10 surrender fOrs
on their requirement But Mr. Lincoln declared, Ia hs
Inaugural that the power conhded to me will be used
10 hold occupy and possess the property and places
belonging to the Government" and ordered tho rs
enforcem 1t OF Sumter which Mr. Seward had stipulated
10 give within five days. This was az the beginning
the AdmiDistra and Mr.. Lincoln was equally true 70
his own convictions all important questions 70 the
end 1t is not an uncommon error among the astus 10
impute the success Of those who are accepted a.
great by the common people to the sharpness q
the inferior but able they call " their
assistance. This, remember. the belief Of such
persons with respect Gen. Jackson. Indeed many Of
the able men he had brought about him from time y
time thought they took Of him, and were inait
pensabe to him, while the truth that be was taking
care OF them and the country also Now they are for
gotten while with each revolving year. the mist: Of
party heats pass away and the old hero's simple gran
deur Of character Is better understood he gro"
greater in the eyes Of his countrymen. 50 1t will be
with Lincoln He was really great soul-a patent
magnanimous truthful, loving and l0yabe man, Win
out egots devoted to great purposes and with resPec
TO all essential things very resolute man.