The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-05


much 10 be doubted whether he was ever
afterward so much depressed in spirits and
Tor so long a time.
The moment he arrived in Washington he
was, OF course, overrun by politicians OF
every phase Of Republicanism, and besieged
night ard day both by the honest and dis
honest The former with long-winded advice
or inpracticable plans 10 save the Union;
fhe latter with schemes for personal or
political advantage 1t was hard to say
which Of these two classes was the most
annoying aud wearisome, but they both con-
sumed much valuable time and greatly tried
The Presidents patience, of which, fortune
ately, he possessed a superabundance.
There was at the time a Peace Conven-
tion in session al Willard's Hotel consist
ing Of ola gentlemen sent from every State
in the Uui0n, 10 consult together and devise
and submit 10 the country measures which
should quiet the public feeling and restore
iatemal relations. They had been wise
men IN tGeir day, but that day had passed,
aud their wisdom had become folly IN sucha
crisis M then beset us. Whilst they were
with immense gravity and importance effect
ingsomp proposed modification OF the fugitive
slave Hv oragreeiug upon some small conces-
sion 10 the supporters Of State sovereignty,
the whole country was in the throes Of a
revolution which swept away both slavery
and State sovereignty. They were worthy
and most eminent body OF gentlemen I'D every
respect. except comprehension OF the siiua-
tion witG which they thought they were
dealing Whilst they were Matching out
small remedies for old and incurablc evils
and Caci,.ing over The outcome, the whole
basis of their conference had practically
vanished ont of existence.
gUE uNI0N WAS ALREADY GONE
whilst they were deciding how to save it, so
Jar as 8, crssion could destroy it, and the iugi-
live slave law no longer possessed interest
for The dominating actors in the drama OF
The rTca, rebellion. Nevertheless they were
full 40 GOOD intentions and what they con-
eidercd wise counsel j remember very well
the eil,ri made by delegation from the
RepuhIcau members of the Conference 10
advise 81. Lincoln on the subject OF hls
Cabinet. At that time il may be said that
anybody Thought himself competent to
advise Alr Lincoln One Of the members Of
the dric-liinn TecOunted to me immediately
after il occurred the result OF their mission.
The Uuly person who was certainly known
t0 have ba,n OF red and 10 have accepted an
app0.aiaent in the Cabinet WAS Mr. Seward,
though tie public seemed TO have practically
made lp its mind who the other members
were likely TO be. The object OF this Re-
publican delegation from the Peace Confer
ence WAS 10 advise Mn. Lincoln, in case he
bad de-, mined TO appoint Mr.. Seward,
not 10 aupo!ut Mr.. Chase also, as the two
men were SO opposed 10 each other IN many
ways Chat discOrd in the Cabinet would be
introduced just when harmony was Of all
things essential. They told him that the
critical c addition Of afldiIs did not admit OF
any spules IT want OF concert among the
members OF the Executive Department Of the
Government, and much else OF wise counsel,
which can easily be imagined, was bestowed
freely n upon one ignorant OF the very TudI-
mcnts % public administration. The sole
reply tlGuy received was a question from the
President if they did not think he could
manage his own Cabinet" This question
CONF let, ly staggered them, and they with
drew Wiih the saddest fOrebOdings. As the
memBu 81 The delegation who told me re-
marked, ,he idea Of this obscure and un-
letIereG lawyer from Illinois talking so
flippautly 0l managing such men as Seward
and Cia-e was too much for us" Yet il is
fact, a. ~ hich thinking people have not yet
ceased 10 ondeT, that Dir. Lincoln put into
his Cabinet not only
EEWARD AND CHASE,
but every other one OF his competitors for
the nomination at the Chicago Convention,
and tia he bumped their heads together in
such manner that at the end OF three years
there Was not one OF them left who had the
sligE!est hope OF cOntesting his nomination
for second term. The truth was that in
those aFly days Of March there was prob
ably nos one Of the members Of Mr.. Lin
calne Cabinet who did not consider himself
vastly Dir Lincolns superior, and the only
quesBou appeared TO be, which one OF them
should appropriate the Presidential func-
ti0ns, 10 I'd The least, how much authority or
influence The new President should De per-
mItted % exercise in their respective Depart
ments 0uo year corrected all this misap-
preheHsion, and placed Mr.. Lincoln where
be always afierWard remained, master OF
himself and his administration. Under
that k.aa'y, simple expression Of face and
those % d and gentle manners there lay
concctl.a an iron viii and a sagacity and
adrOsHs-, in public affairs never before
possess by any public man IN this country
Pefbaps might be going too far TO say that
lac Wss canning IN the ordinary sense hut
certain il is that he was impressed at the
earliest ls0ment Of schemes and plots Of
both political friends and enemies, and found
lttle ir uble in undermining them all.
With q smile that was "childlike and
bland Ae could listen 10 statements and
revelations the most disagreeable and obnox-
iOus fl.d Hith the same suaye countenance
be c0u deal the authors a fatal blow. The
enormous burdens and difficulties Of his
position were far more than ought ever 10
have been imposed on one man with the
expectation that lie could support and over
come them, and Oitentmes his political
friendr, a. least the members Of his own
politics. parry, were the most troublesome
and haze 10 satisfy OF ALL ID is not TOO much
10 Say, hat at The beginning Of the third
year oi ais administration a majority Oi
Repnbi.caus, both in the Senate and the
House. were violently opposed 10 him, and II
they couia have done 80 would gladly have
chang,o iIm for almost any one OF his Cabi-
net Tie radical Republicans 10 man were
bitterly opposed TO him. 10 doubt they
Tesorea 10 questionable methods 10 make
their hostility effective, but Il must be SAID
too, thu Sir Lincoln was not above resort
lug to n.. t.lods equally doubtful 10 bold his
own Witness that remarkable episode o.
the attempt TO put Frank Blair into the
House U' Representatives and make him
kpeaktr as the Presidents friend, while ht
still ic.U the commission Of
GENERAL IN THE ARMY.
The whole story is set forth in the proceed
ings OF Congress, accessible 10 everybody
AZ IN .. n. ...r1.. -