Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-21
WONDERFUL ABRAHAM LINCOLN.


The following bit of hitherto secret
history, which is exceedingly interest
ing, is from 1.-The Life of Abraham
Lincoln written by Messrs. Nicolay and
Hay. and published in the Century mag
azine:
For years before the Chicago conven-
ton of 1860 met, William Il. Seward
had been recognized. by friends and foes
alike, as the foremost leader and spokes-
man Of the Republican party. When
the convention met he expected to re-
ceive its nomination for the presidency.
On the first ballot in the convention he
got 173 1-2 votes to Abraham Llncoln's
1902. There is little Qf any room for
doubt that he was both surprised and
chagrined when the lank, storytelling
Illinois lawyer was nominated over his
head, that he thought the convention
had made political mistake. or that he
entered Mr.. Lincoln's cabinet with patrl-
otto sentiments indeed but also with a
distinct sense of intellectual superiority
to his official superior, and distinct
expectation of pulling stroke oar to the
new administration.
Messrs. Nicolay and Hay now make
public the fact that ON April /, 1851, Mr..
Seward transmitted to Mr.. Lincoln a
paper with the caption, ''Some Thoughts
for the Presidents Consideration. In
this paper he said that after month In
power the administration was still with
out a policy, either domestic or foreign.
The continuance Of this state of affairs
would be both scandalous and danger
Gus, he said. As the basis OF a domestic
policy he suggested this: Change the
question before the public from one upon
| slavery, or about slavery, to a question
upon union or disunion." In the other
matter of foreign policy, he was for
demanding Categorical explanations
from France and Spain at once, and for
convening congress and declaring war
| against them if these were not forth
coming. He brought this extraordinary
paper to close, as follows:
| But whatever policy We adopt, there
must be an energetic prosecution of 1t.
For this purpose it must be somebody S
business to pursue and direct 1t lnces-
sanity
Either the president must do it him
self, and be all the while active in it, or
| Devolve it on some member OF his
cabinet. Once adopted, debates on 1t
must end, and all agree and abide.
An essentially weak and timorous man
in Abraham Lincoln's place might have
acQuieSced in the suggestion and made
over the control of his administration to
his secretary of state. A hot-tempered,
hasty man would probably have used
such language to Mr.. Seward as would
have compelled that gentleman, in COM
mon self-respect to instantly retire
from the cabinet. Abraham Lincoln
was not ratified, and he didn't fly into a
passion. He knew the Importance of
having Mr.. Seward at the state depart
ment, and had no intention of depriving
himself (and the country of the secre-
tary's services He had as little inten-
ton of abdictating in Mr.. Seward
favor. His reply to the paper, handed
to Mr. Seward the same day, is too adj
mirable for tact and temper, firmness
and gentleHess, to bear condensing.
Here it is in full:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April l, 1861.
Hon. W. Fl. Seward:
My dear sir: Since parting with you L
have been considering your paper dated
this day, and entitled ''Some Thoughts for
the Presidents Consideration" The first
proposition in it is, First, We are at the
end of months administration, and yet
without policy, either domestic or
foreign"
At the beginning of that month, in the
inaugural, l said: ''The power confided
in me will be used to hold, occupy and
possess the property and places belonging
to the government, and to collect the
duties and imposts." This had your dis
tinct approval at the Tins and taken in
connection with the order l Immediately
gave General Scott, directing him to en-
ploy every means in his power to
strengthen and hold the forts, comprises
the exact domestic policy you now urge,
with the single exception that it does not
propose to abandon Fort Sumter.
Again, do not perceive how the rein
forcement of Fort Sumter would be done
on slavery or party issue, while that of
Fort Pickens would be on more national
and patriotic one.
The news received yesterday in regard to
St. Domingo certainly brings a new item
within the range of our foreign policy: but
up to that time we have been preparing
circulars and instructions 30 ministers and
| the like, all in perfect harmony. without
even suggestion that we had no foreign
policy.
Upon your closing proposition. that
whatever policy we adopt there must be
an energetic prosecution of il. For this
purpose it must be somebody's business to
pursue and direct II necessarily. Either
| the president must do it himself, and be
all the while active in it. or devolve it on
some member of his cabinet. Once adopted
debates on it must end and all agree and
abide" remark that if this done l must
do it. When a general line of policy is
| adopted ! apprehend that there is no dan
ger of it's being changed without good
| reason, or continuing to be a subject of
| unnecessary debate; still upon points arts
ing in its progress wish, and suppose l
am entitled to have, the advice of all the
cabinet. Your Ob't Serv't,
A. LINCOLN
That was all, and it was enough. So
far as is known, both Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. Seward let the incident drop right
there and kept their own counsel about
it then and afterwards. How thorough
" the former was master in his own ad-
ministration, how Loyalty and ably the
latter co-operated with him, is matter of
history.
! A wonderful man was Abraham Lin
coin, of Illinois, and great one. Gen
erations and centuries may pass before
! the world sees his like again.