The Washington critic., 1888-01-14
General Ikings,s Keply.
WA-IIINGrON. Jnn. 2 n

NAolilN"ToN, jan " 1888.
Alfred SaaderSo,, tsg., Harrisburg, Pa.
Ny DEAR SIR: Your welcome letter of
the 81 instant came duly TO hand. You
are only one of many who have expressed
approval of my late communication con-
demning the partisan venom of MessrS.
Nicolay and Hay rs displayed in their
tiresome compilation touching the life of
President Lincoln, which appears from
month to month in the Century Maga-
zine ] knew ! was voicing u strong and
indignant public sentiment, and sense
of duty impelled me- as a friend Of Presi-
dent buchanan, to speak out, regardless
of social considerations.
Although both of those gentlemen are
no doubt rank partisans and must be held
equally responsible, / ann inclined to
think that, OF the two inlstands NiCo-
lays contains the greater quantity of gall.
As you will have observed, ! dcclinedtO go
into a retutatiOn of their rChashed charges
against Mr. Buchanau-the same having
been often met and fully answered, In
my view, in any such undertaking, "tho
game is not worth the candle and now
that the public attention ha, been spe-
Cially drawn to their unbushng eIlrOnt-
cry, they may be safely left to finish their
ill;iudged work unnoiced.
AS you request | have turned To the
correspondence of the Department OF
first months Of President Lincoln admins
istration, and ! found Of course, what
already knew, that il bears out all you say
of it, rs TO the identity of the policy
adopted by Mr. Buchanan and Mr., Linz
coin
IN REGARD TO COERCION.
1t is in Senate document second Sc, nom,
Thuty-seventh Congress volume |, 1852.
am not aware that this correspondence
has been published complete IN any Other
form, but the substance of it was doubt
less given in the newspapers of the day.
On the 2Sth of February, 1861, Judge
Black, Secretary of State, sent to our min
them of the action taken by certain of the
Southern States on the election of Lincoln,
that conventions had been called in South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana and TeXas-that
all but the last named had passed Ordi-
nances of secession, and that q COnyen-
ton at Montgomery had adopted pro-
vsional constitution, taking the dcsigna-
ton of "Conlcderates States Of America
He proceeded to say that il was not im-
probable that persons claiming 10 repre-
sent the States which had thus attempted
to throw of the Federal Obligation would
seek q recognition of their independence;
and he referred TO President Buchanau's
last annual message for fun information
rs TO hi, views ON the subject, especially
with reference to the powers of the Gov
ernmont under the COnStiuuOn-shpw
that there was no constitutional right Of
secession,
Secretary Stewards first circularicttc 10
our foreign ministers bears date March o,
1861. In il he 'rcuoWs the injunction Of
Secretary Blacks circular above cited,
and again urges the use OF "ull diligence
TO countcUct and prevent the designs OF
those who would invoke foreign inter
ycntiun." He refers to Mr.. LiucOn' $
inaugural address AZ setting forth clearly
the errors of the scces,iunistS, as well as
the general policy the Government in.
tended TO pursue with a view 20 the
prCscrN Nadun Of
DOMESTIC PEACE ANp ORDER
The ministers We're instructed % assure
the foreign governments "that the Pre,i-
dent entertains full confidence i'm the
speedy restoration of the harmony and
unity Of the Government by a firm yet
just and liberal bearing, co operating with
the liberal and loyal action of the
American people
In the letter to which you refer aj-
dressed to Mir Charles Francis Adams
uur Minister in London, Mr. seward de.
clarcs that "a policy ut yuuciiatllu, for
bCmanCe and .lrmues- was tua rule by
| which the Administration would he goy-
emod. Speaking of coercion, hc says
"ouiy an Imperial and depotie goy-
/ cmmDnt could slhW3sfe thoroughly
disallcctCd and nsurfcci0nay member
! Of the State Firmncss on the part