The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-03-27

ing the days that interviewed between
the passage of the bill and the Dist
of December, talked several times
to Mr.. Lincoln about the bill, but he
failed to say positively whether or
not he would approve of it. We had
several prominent republicans to
visit him each day and talk to him
about the matter, in order to ascer-
tain what would be the final result,
but in vain. We could get no init
nation of the Presidents views on
the subject. In the meantime Sen
ator Wiley and | visited every mem
Der of the Cabinet personally, as we
had an idea that the President would
have Cabinet consultation before
final action. Senator Wiley objec-
ted to the course somewhat as he
feared it would appear indicate.
But finally overcome his scruples
and we went to the gentlemen of the
Cabinet.
The first one we called upon was
Mr.. Stanton, Secretary of War. We
introduced ourselves and told him
our errand. He was outspoken in
his opinion that we should have a
new State, and he advised us by all
means to see each member of the
Cabinet and ascertain his views.
INTERVIEW WITH SEWARD.
Next we called upon Secretary of
State Seward. AS we entered the
room where he sat at work at his
desk, an attendant brought in the
foreign mail and laid it before him.
The mail was very large, and this
was the most inopportune time we
could have attempted an audience
with the Secretary, for there was
then a great deal of diplomatic cor
respondence being carried on. The
attitude of England was very much
feared, and on one of those letters
might have depended the fate of the
Nation. We spoke to Mr.. Seward,
however, and told him the object of
our visit.
He replied: Gentlemen, it is a
matter of the highest moment, and /
should be very glad to talk it over
with you, but, as you see, my for
eign mail is just in. 1t is of the
greatest Importance and must be at
tended to at once. / shall, therefore,
not have time to consult with you at
present.
"Said l: Mr.. Seward, can you
tell us whether or not you are on our
sidey
GAS | have just said, l cannot
talk the matter over just now, he
replied: 1T used to be when | was
in Congress, that when anyone inter
ested in the passage of a bill APP
preached me to see how | would
vote on it, if l was opposed to it |
listened to all he had to say; on the
other hand, if favored it, | declined
to hear any argument in its favor, as
l was always pushed for time. Gentle
men, you see my foreign mail is wait
ing, and | have no time now to hear
you
1--WE left Mr.. Seward feeling much
encouraged by the roundabout as
surance he had given us that he IA
vored the bill. We found Mr.. Chase
Secretary of the Treasury, in oul
favor, but we received cold comfort
from Wells and Bates, while we
struck snag when we called to see
Montgomery Blair. He told us that
he would not 'tamely submit to sit
calmly by and see the grand old
Commonwealth of Virginia, Mother
of Presidents, thus dismembered to
crafty the inclinations of Il small
proportion of her citizens and a
great deal of other heroic stuff | dc
not now remember. Senator Wiley
generally the most quiet and modest
of men, became justly incensed al
the uncalled for vehemence of Mr..
Blair's opposition, and he entered
into heated argument with him, in
which. let me assume, my colleague
had by far the best of it.
CATER our visit l had influential
Republicans see the various members
of the Cabinet daily, and urge upon
them the necessity of the new State
l also called on the President, but
with as little apparent success as be
FORE On this occasion, he asked INT
this question:
"'Is this bill constitutional
"Why, MIR. President l replied
that is no longer debatable ques
ton. Our Senators and Representa-
tives have been admitted to Con
gress from the State, and the Exec
utive Department of the United
States has recognized the restored
Government of West Virginia, as the
true Government
ITO this he made no reply, but h,
appeared as though but half con
WINGED of the expediency of the dc
sired approval.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
"On December 81, the last day il
which the President had to sign tn,
bill, / remember coming out of tn,
National Hotel, where | boarded
and looking at my watch, was sur
prised to find that it was four o'clock
The thought struck me that | mus
see the President at once, or, perhaps
it would be too late. / jumped Oh
the cars and soon found myself a
the White House. The doors of tn
mansion were closed and locked, ant
it seemed impossible to get to SCI
the President. The entire force o
attaches were working for the mex
mornings New Years reception, ant
would admit no one. | was in DIES
pair. SO impressed was l with tn,
Importance of my mission. that
went to a window on the left side 0
the portico, threw up the sash, ant
leaping in found myself in what i
used as the general reception room
went out into the hall, and upstairs
where | found all the doors open blu
no one in sight. ] went to the room
used by the President as an office
but found it unoccupied. l deter
mined to see Mr.. Lincoln at all haz
ards, even if l had to wait in tn
hall until he came to retire for tn
night. l became excited and wake,
back and forth along the great hal
in front of the Office door. Final,
ne I turpn1 in NV WALL af tho roo