New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-27

THE PRESIDENT JUDGED BY HIS ASSOC1-


I,oc,,cru yerier. Svo., PIP. XIX, 65O. Norm
American Publishing Company.
large mart of the material of this volume has
sresdy appeared in THr TRIBUNE. but our readers
sill be glad to have the interesting record in a
nermanept form. and with the full and valuable
complementary chapters which now accompany the
renrlnted papers. Mr. Rice undertook an excellent
work In collecting these personal memories OF
Lincoln from Large number of the men who wero
associated with him az various periods oil his career
Hi. political comrades. domestic friends, otilciaI
subordinatcs, WASHINGTON journalists who were
more or less intimate at the White House, military
mon and Concrcssmen o. both parties have con-
tr;luted their impressions and recoiectiohs
and it is highly curious to rem ark how per
sons Of such various predictions and va
rions opportunities of judgment were Affected by
the Presidents character. Here we bave views OF
MI. Lincoln taken from all sides and yet. while
there are some unimportant differences IN state
ments of particular incidents. there close agree
mcnt in nearly all estimates OF the nature of the
man The only instance in which it is necessary TO
make any allowance for personal equation is the
paper by Dom Piatt; but the discordant note
shot into the general harmony by this gallant
soldier and journalist so frankly accounted for
under his own hand that 1t hardly constitutes a
disturbing element
Mr.. Rice contI ibutes an Introduction which will
be regarded as not the least important part OF the
book Ii includes facsimile of the celebrated
dispatch OF Mr.. Seward to Charles Francis Adams,
with the changes and corrections in the Presidents
hand which was long the subject of vague rumor
and curiosity. Written III May 1851, while the
Rebel Commas oners were in LONDON ana MT.
Adams was just entering uron his duties. II was
intended to prescribe the attitude OF our Minister
toward the British Government in very serious
-. . oft Ia Init
in the questions upon which peace with Great
Britain seemed to dtreni. Mf. Rice declares that
the Presidents notifications of the original
dispatch without question saved the Nation from
n war with England" This is saying too much.
The disratch was for the private pernsal OF Mr.
Adams and was under no circumstances TO he read
or shown to anv one else. Mr.. Adams was not tie
man TO make an mdiscreet use of it. Nevertheless
the Presidents alterations in the draft were OK
tremely judicious. Mr. Stewards tone in several
paragraphs was not ong nnfrendly bnt threaten
ing; MI Lincoln left the dispatch moderate and
amiable. but not less positive and really more
disniied and impressvc aud one notes with aston
ishmcnt how far the inexperienced Western
politician, fresh in Office, harassed by admins
tratlye measures AID appointments. which were
never so harassing as at that revolutionary time,
and crushed by military cares. surpassed the
matte prudence and adroitness for which Mr..
Seward has enjoyed. and well deserved. renown.
According to ex- Assistant Attornev-Genera Titan
7 Conev il was Mr. Lincoln who suggested the
ooint which Secretary Seward made with so much
erect in his dispatch agreeing 10 the surrender OF
Mason and Slidell. am not much OF p'lze
LAWYER" sad tie President to the Attorney
General " but It seems TO me pretty clear that II
Wilkes saw iii 70 make that capture on the nigh
seas he had no night II turn his quarterback into "A
p,ize court" The Rebellion gave us two men,
Lincoln and Grant. who seemed Providentially
appointed for crucial emergencies. They had
neither great ntellects nor complete training: but
they alone in time of need rose to the highest
demands of the occasion. Both were great in
saving common sense; both compensated for a
lack Of the philosophical generalizhg mind by
extraordinary clearness Of perception, orderly
arrangement OF ideas and shrewd judgment of the
means and instruments of action. Grant exhibited
arare combination of the cool original. far-seeing
stIaecist with tie fearless leader of bot fight.
In Lincoln we saw parallel combination of the
INDEPENDENT statesman and patriot with the astute
party politician who could give lessons even to
Thurlow Weed in the arts of management The
President and the General were equally great to
plan and to execute. the one in war. the ether in
political government.
Many of the contributors to this volume dwell
upon Mr.. Lincoln's shrewdness as politician
Judge Kelley speaks of his sensitveness to party
CiscOrds and the Importance which he attached Il
knowing the affiliations and influence of all the
men with whom he was associated John b. Alley
Of Massachusetts. declares that he was thorough
politician." who never failed to secure the con
frmaion of bis nominees by the Senate, or to carry
through Congress any measure that he cared mucl
hon So a
State Of New-York, went TO Washington in So
TO make arrangements for collecting the soldiers
votes he was thwarted by Mr. Stanton, and wa'
returning home in despair when T.. Il. Washburnt
advised him to see the President. you don
know Lincoln" said Mr. Washburne; he is as
good politician as he is a President. and if there
vas 10 other way to get those votes he would 90
round with a carpet-bag and collect them himself y
Mr. pepew ", mt to the White House and the Sec
rotary of War promptly overnled. Mr.
Lincoln :" was always a politician well as
statesman" says Governor Fenton; and he il us
trates the remark by anecdote OF the means
adopted by the President in 1864 to satisfy Thur
low Weed about the patronage of the York
Custom House. George W. Julian, after being
regularly renominated for Congress in 1861 was
opposed by Republican paper in his district
edited by Mr. Holloway. the Commissioner Of
Patents He complained to the President:
sYour nomination." said Mr. Lincoln. is as
binding on kepu blicans as mine, and y0n eau rest
assured that Mr.. Holloway shall support yOu,
openly and Internationally. OF lose his heau."
This was entirely satisfactory bot after waiting
week or TWO Tor the announcement OF my name,
j returned 10 be President with the information
that Mr. Holloway was sill keeping mp his tight.
and that ! had cone 10 ask OF him decisive
measures. saw in an instant that his ire was
reused lie rang the bell for his messenger, and
said 10 him IN a very excited and emphatic way:
Tell Mr.. Holloway to come to me-"
The messenger lesitated, looking somewhat
surprised and bewildcIed when Mr.. Lincoln said
in a tone still more emphatic:
I" TEL Mr. LOiiOWdy 10 come 10 me-"
1t was perfectly eviGeut that the business wond
now be attended to- ant IN a few days my name was
duly announced and the work oil party insubOrdI-
nation ceased
A still mprc pointed anecdote is related by Mr..