New-York tribune., 1885-07-12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
A STATESMAN'S TACT.
"REMINISCENCES BY W. 8. WILKINSON,
C0DU.iQhf, 1885.

these sections three characteristic elements: lhe
ayowcd friends of the Southern Confederacy: the
more conservative class, friendly to the South ami
its institutions ON account of social and caste
affiliations yet still disposed to cling to the
Union: and the extreme iconoclastic anti-slavery
element. fanatIcally opposed to joining hands with
apv faction not as radical as themselves. 1t seemed
70 Mr. Lincoln great problem OF the hour 10 mar
onize the latter two elements in the support OF the
IJuion 70 this end he deemed it wise to place III
command of the military forces in Missouri man
of conservative views, whose aim would be to hold
as large a number as possible OF the modern pro-
slavery people on the side of the Union. With this
view he appointed General Schoiield to the com
uand of the troops in that State. Schoiield was.a
good soldier and fully in accord with the President
nc TO the policy to be pursued in the case. Hc
retained many of the moderate pro-siavery peop'o
IN the smaller Offices; and as to the contracts ou'
of which large sums of money could be made tie
General showed the strictest importantly aS
between the two clements above named.
This of course CALLED the radicals to the quick.
They controlled the delegation IN Congress. ana
demanded not only all the offices in the State. hut
also all the profits at the disposal OF the command
inc general i'm the due administration OF military
business. Schoicld presented q firm front against
these demands, and 30 the radicals perehiptoriiy
urred his removal. In the meantime the frcsidcht
had sent in the name of Schoield for malor-gen-
eralshp 1t had not yet been acted on, and the
delegation from Missouri were exhausting oVery
means to defeat the nomination. They appealed
strongly to the more radical Senators. and so
etFecrively that the nomination was hung up" Tor
about six weeks Mr.. Lincoln was very anxious
that il shonld be confirmed. and tho Missouri
Congressman were still moro bent on its defeat.
AT last the President sent note Que day To
Senator Chandler and myself, requesting us 70 caii
on him early the next morning we opcyeo 'no
reouest promptly and found Mr. Lincoln at work III
his office Instantly entered he broke the ice oy
saving he wished to talk with us about Generai
Schofield, emphasizing his anxiety that the senate
,hould confirm the appointment. He proceeded TO
rive his reasons for his action, quoting the OPINIONS
of Generals Grant and Sherman that he was an
excellent soldier and their wish that he shoulo
command a corps in their army. tic coupled -'hese
remarks with an allusion to General kosecrahs'
saying that both Grant and Sherman appeared 10
dislike him. though he did not know the reason
why; and that this attitude piacou ho'e0i""' ''
q very unpleasant position
4 II. .o,t;nued as follows: "Rosccrans has n great
many friends: he fought the battle of Stone River
aud won a brilliant victory. aud his advocates
hegin TO grumble about his treatment. NOW VIII
tell vou what have been thinking about. IL yoh
will confirm Schoteld Will remove INN from the
command in Missouri and sendI him down 10 Shei
man That will satisfy the radicals linen VIII
to MISSOURI atlu tiith VIII P'N"'N "~
Iatter's friends In this the whole thing can
ha barmouized and our friends hang together hko q
,orsocep IL il needless to say that when the
ce,ate fu,lv praspcd the plan of the Pres dent Ill
This regard there no longer any oppostloh u
.ho con,;roation of Schofeld. The latter was sent
In ioin Sherman Ia the South 10 'ecrahs was
annoutcd to the command in Missouri ana al
worked harmoniously 1and huns 'ose'n'i 90 '''
Lincoln had predcted n,
.;,,bt ha cife1 ;lfuatratinQ the PrcGi-
dents remarkable tact and skill i'll smoothing over
d,sicul,ies which we're likely to culminate IN
,,acul,ar trouble At one time there was great
discontent among the .laboring classes IN the City
of New-York espec ally amongthe lrsh when was
heightened by the draft, recently ordered Tor tue
nrompt filing up of our depleted ranks. This dis
c,ntent had assumed such proportions as 10
threaten the peace of tho CITY and mper tho cause
of tina country. In this extremity Mr. Lincoln
conceived the notion of raising an Irish brigade III
Ncw-York. to be olicered exclusively by irishmci.
The difficult question was how to organize It, ana
who could be got to do it successfully! After
thinking the matter 0vor, Mr.. Lincoln wroto 10
James T. Brady the brilliant and influential irish
LAWYER. asking him to come to Washington Oh a
matter of public business. Mr.. Brady promptly
obeyed the summons and was dumbfounded whoh
he was informed that the mission to be imposed on
him was to raise and officer an Irish brigade III
WY
knew nothing of military matters. such things
bemg entirely outside of his experience; that no
had not the most distant notion how to 90 to WORK
at such an organization. confidence in his own
q Judgment in the appointment of officers.
The Presidents shrewd reply was: " You know
nlentv of Irishmen who d. know all about such
matters and as to the appointment OF oiiicers.-did
vou ever know an Irishman who would decline an
office or refuse pair Of epauets or do anything
1,ah had fInm
The upshots of tie conference was that Brady
undertook the mission, returned to New-York and
raised the brigade without difficulty, oiiicered by
freshmen as Mr. Lincoln had suggested When that
,naoni6cent body of three thousand lrlshmen
marched down Broadway en- route for the seat OF
war. the smouldering discomfort among the irish
which had threatened to break into naine was
renlaced by an ardent enthusiasm which mado the
air ring with shouts aud huzzas. MIR. Lincons
Immediate object was fully realized by the exercise
of that keen practical insight and knowledge oi
human nature which shone so conspicuousiy IN hi'"'
have given tho above fact exactly as IL was
related to me by Mr.. Brady at the time.
yyh;Io Mr. Lincoln was not in the habit OF
.rddanlv changing his mind once hc had settled on
nolicv vet he took council with his friends and
gave due weight to their opinions Ienleiiipci n =
circumstance which occurred snor'y t%n TI;nos
Inauguration, as told me- by one 9! inc iia.nos Ior
deegation i'm Congress- The RepnDncan meinpcrs
fran that State had agreed on a list OF cahudates
for the Offices in Illinois. which they suDhlteu W
tbs President asking for their appointment. On
looking over the list Mr.. Lincoln said that ne la"
promised to appoint TO e tne to
him stating to whom ne had promised the pace.
The Illinois Congressman strongly ooocrea reasorS ~
Mr. Ijncon's choice and gave very cogcnt Teisons
Whv their own man should be appointed instead.
Weip Mr. Lincoln finally said, cant run I'M, mi
machine alone and don don't see 4" Ias foTmy waS' friend
All agreed that his friend should Dc taken e9o1