The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-19
LITERATURE.
EDWIN NJ STANTON AND THE LINCOLN cAsIsrs

Inc NORM Ameracdn Review has made some valuable
aoaiuons to contemporaneous history not the Least
important OF which is the publication of number
OF letters from Edwin NJ Stanton to James Buchanan.
IN the November number of that magazine. They
were handed to the editor of Rep.e,s by dstin-
guished gentleman who became possessed of them
from collection of private papers left by the late
President Buchanan. At the time these letters
written lls6l) Mr.. Stanton bitterly opposed to
Mr.. Seward, and indeed. the whole administration
of Lincoln. The period was one OF the ost
striking in the history of the late war. aud that
Mr.. stantons letters throw now light upon it will
be seen by the following extracts. The first date
Washington. March IA. 1861. and in it he says:-
There il no doubt OF Sumter being evacuated: re.
port says tho order has gone but that think
doubtful You will have noticed the resolution in
troduced yesterday by Mr.. Douglas in the Senate
That looks like comprehensive platform tor reii
gushing everything in the seeded Statos ana
those who sympathize with them. 10 me it Seems
like tine a,s Sps nsea @
probably lit his administration continues fouI
years. MAKE chans s Ina, VIII anecs smn cons'sa
continues undated. Every department IL overrun.
and by the time THAI all the patronage is distributed
the republican party Will DO dissolved.
April he writes:-
have not had any intercourse with any Of tho
present Cabinet, except few brief interviews
with Mr. Bates. the Attorney General. on business
not seen. He is said TO be very much broken down
with the pressure that is upon him in respect to
The policy of the admin istration in respect to tho
seeding States remains in obscurity. There has
been rumor for the last two or three days that.
Notwithstanding all that has been said. there will DO
an effort to reinforce Fort Sumter. But do not
believe u word Of it. The special messenger.
could not be done. The first month OF the
administration seems to have furnished an ample
indication or your policy, and to have rendered all
occasion OF other defence needless.
The letter dated April II il short
ARSIR-We have the war upon US. The telegraphic
news Of this morning you will have before this
l. That the effort to reinforce will be failure.
O. That in less than twenty-fours from this time
Anderson will have SURRENDERED.
s. That in less than thirty days Davis will be in
possession OF Washington. Yours truly:
His Excellency JAMES BUCHANAN.
In the letter of May IL read:-
The fling of Mr.. +. W. Seward about "negotia-
tons" would merit retort II there an inde-
pendent press and the state of the times admitted
ried on by Mr.. seward with the Confederate Com
missioners through Judge Campbell and Judge Nell
son VIII some day, perhaps be brought to light and
Seward and the Lincoln administration will not DO
In position to make sneering observations respect
1t was in reference to these that Jefferson
Davis, in his message. spoke with so much
severity. You no doubt observed his au-
sion to informal negotiations through .
person holding high station in the government Of
the United states and which were IN Dy
understood that Judge Campbell was tho person al
luded to. and that Judge Nelson. and perhaps Ca
trou were the other persons cognixant of Mr. Sew
ards assurances respecting the evacuation OF Fort
Sumter. In respect to the military opera
tons going on or contemplated little Is until
the res uts are announced in the newspapers. Con-
eral Scott seems to have carte blanche. He s. In
fact, the government. and II his health continues
vigorous measures are anticipated. Your
cordial concurrence in the disposition to maintain
the government and resist aggression gives great
satisfaction and pleased to observe letter from
you in the Inteiii9encer of this morning.
Referring to the negotiations" In another letter
he says
Mr.. Stewards silence will not relieve him from
the imputation of deceit and double dealing In the
minds OF many. although do not believe 1t can
justly be imputed to him. have no doubt he be-
lieved that Sumter would DO evacuated he stated
it would be. But the party overruled him with
give up his Office That IL a sacrifice no republican
will be apt to make But this correspondence shows
that Mr.. Frederick Seward not In the line OF
truth when he said that negotiations ceased on the
4th of March.
June he writcs:-
While every patriot has rejoiccd at the enthusiast
tic spirit with which the nation has aroused to
maintain its existence and honor. the pecuaiion aud
fraud that immediately spring up to prey upon the
and SPOIL have created strong feeling OF losthing
and disgust. And sooner had the appearance OF
i'm minent danger passed away, and the administers
ton recovered from its panic than determination
became manifest to give strict party direction rs far
as possible to the great national movemcnt After
few democratic appointments, AS Butler and Dix
everything else has been exclusively devoted to
black republican interests. This has already ex-
cited strong reactionary feeling not only in New
York. but in the Western States. General Dix In
forms me that he has been badly treated by Cam
eron and so dsau listed by the general of tho
administration that he intends Immediately to re-
sign. This will DO followed by withdrawal OF fnan-
cisl confidence and support to very great extent.
Indeed the course OF things for the last four weeks
has been such to excite dstrust in every depart
ment Of tho government.
In this letter he speaks of Cassius NJ Clay. who
"has been playing the fool at London by writing
letters to the Times" The 'rumored appointment
of Cummings. of the Bulletin. as brigadier general
and Quartermaster general has produced worry gen.
eral dissatisfaction and distrust." he writes
buchanan sent him historical sketch Of himself.
which. after reading and consulting with Judge
Black and General Dix. he concluded 1t would do NO
good to publish that time but thinks that "when
matters are moro tranquil 1t will produce . strong
impression"
So far (he writes) % your administration is con.
cerned it's policy in reference to both Sumter and
Pickcns IL fully vindcaed by tho OF the pres
administration for forty days after the inaugu.
ration Of Lincoln. No was made OF the means
that had been prepared tor reinforcing SUMTER
republican Senator informed me. short time ago,
that General Scott personally urged him to
the evacuation of both sumter and Pickens; and it
IL fact Of general notoriety published in all the
papers 1t the time and contradicted. that not
only the General but other military men who were
may be said now, think that the public
will be disposed to do full justice to your efforts to
avert the calamity of civil war; and every month
for long time to come will. am afraid, furnish
fresh evidence OF the magnitude of that calamity.
General Dix ~ still here He has been
shamcfully treated by the administration.
The last letter In this collection IL dated July 20.
and is very severe in its denunciaton of the admin
istration:-
The dreadful disaster or Sunday can scarcely DO
mentioned. The imbecility Of this administration
eliminated in that catastrophe-an irrctrievablo
misfortune aud national disgrace mover to DO for.
gotten to be added to the ruin OF all pcsceful
pursuits and national bankruptcy as the result OK
Lincoln's running tho machine" for hve months.
You perceivo that Bennett IL for change OF the
Cabinet. and proposes for one OF tho now
Cabinet Mr.. Holt. IS not NM
likely that some change In tho War ana Navy
departments may take place, but none beyond
these two departments until Jefferson Davis turns