The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-04
Wasatch Block.

lucky and retire TO private life Lincoln
who had been rather reserved up TO this
time here got no and put his hand on my
shoulder and said. 4 don't want you
to 20 home, Mr.. Clay. l want 10
do something for you. but l am
80 hedged around here that l can't
do lust what will Isn't there some place
you will take! Well said l, You have
made up your cabinet How about the
missions TO France and EnglandP Presi-
den Lincoln then said, that these had been
promised to Adams and Dayton, and that
he didn't see how he could let me have
either of them. Well, said |, that settles
1t. There is no other place want. Will
go back 10 kentucky President Ltncolns
again urged me not to 20. He said, stay a
few days, Mr.. Clay, and l will see what
Can be done.' This was in the morning.
That evening l dined with San ord, who
| had Just been made minister 10 Belgium.
While we were at dinner, the waiter came
| to ms and told me that Senator Baker of
Oregon wanted me to step out into the hall
| for a moment. / had known Baker very
we'll in tae Mexican war. he was noole
! fellow left the table and went out. He
said. The President has sent me to see you.
| He has been considering your case and he
wants to do something to please you. He
wants to know if something else except
London or Paris will not be acceptable to
you. Why don't you take the Russian
ministry! Russia is great country, and 1T
may De an important element in the coming
struggle. 1t is one OF tue greatest courts
of Europe and if l were you, would take
it,"
s'WeI," continued General Clay, II just
had a good dinner and Baker was my
friend, and l finally told him that l would
take the Russian mission and that he might
90 and tell the President that would ac-
cept it if be would appoint me. or if he
would wait until the dinner was over, l
would go with him. Wait for the dinner,
said he. 'Haug the dinner. Let's 90 to the
White House now l have cab here and
tell you the President is waiting All
right said /, and with that | went
with him TO the White House.
President Lincoln was sitting IN his Office
His legs were scratched out. His head was
resting on his hands and he was In deer
thought. AS we came in, MIR. Baker sad
Mr.. President, Clay will take the Ru sian
mission Lincoln sprang to his feet anC
shook me by both hands and said Clay,
thank YOU You relieve me of great en-
barrassments' And so 1 went to Russia
THE EXPERIENCES OF A DIPLOMAT.
''How did you like your missions"
asked.
CLAY. 'tAud | think l did great deal TO
Auerica during my stay there. 1t wa
through me that Alaska was seeded to thu
United States, and | carried on all the pre-
hulinary negotiations. The question cam
I'D first through the project for building
, telegraph line through Siberia across Beh
ring straits. An American traveller nance
Perry Med. Collins had gone.across Siberi
and he had interested Mr.. Sioley, the pres
idant of the Western Union Telegraph, i
the scheme for building telegraph lin
from America across Behring strait
through Europe to ST. Petersburg. Siole
= attempted to get a charter for thi
line through me, and got one which woul
, have made the fortunes OF the company ha
, they not spoiled the JOB at WaShlngto
. through our secretary of state, Seward
pressing the infamous Perkins claim.
Z nv charter we had clause which provide
that every telegram from Siberia TO ST
Peterburg should pay to the America
= company rebate OF one half of the priC
: of the telegram. This l got out of N
friendships at St. Petersburg, and had il
n terested two of the grand dukes OF Russi
n to take stock in the company Then 81
q ward pressed the Perkins claim. 1t was a
outrageous steal and Seward knew it. Fl
commanded mo to press it, and l bande
= mis- letter to Prince Gortchacow. Gortch
l COW read and spoke English as we'll as d
81 Hs looked over the letter and then slappt
l. 1t down on the table and emphatically sal,
[ we will go to war before we will pay
q single red kopeck of it From this tin
o on he was angry with Seward, and no r.
II fused to give any concessions In favor
y the telegraph line. He was we'll enous
.. satisfied to have it built, but he did not Ii
tend to show any favors. 1 then got the
1T the right to build the line under other COZ
n ditions, and through this came about Il
y negotia tons which gave Us Alaska"