The morning news., 1892-02-06
THE MASK OF A DIPLOMAT
1T FELL AFTER WEED HAD PRO-
DUCED A SLIP OF PAPER.

AL pSA t6At 4uClO6ulS OF EOllLlCal bis
tory That Have Not Been Revealed
Publicly Until Now - Archbishop
Hughes Request - An Interview
With the Due De Morny.
From the Neio York sun.
On hot afternoon in August, 1861, three
gentlemen entered coach which had been
standing for several hours in front of the
state department in Washington. They
were about TO begin a journey, the conse-
quences Of which, as they were revealed
afterward, were Of mighty import to the
federal government. Some of the results
have become public history, but one OF the
most extraordinary and important incl
dents Of that journey, which had national
ity as its stake, has, until this publication,
been unreyealed, excepting to few of the
intimates Of the person who played the
principal part.
In the coach were Archbishop Hughes
OF New York city. Bishop McIlvaine
of Ohio and, facing the distin-
guished clergymen, Thurlow Weed,
who had gained repute for the
management of men in affairs temporal
almost as great as that which attended the
reputation Of the spiritual ministers. They
rode for awhile in silence, for they were
impressed with the responsi bility that had
been placed upon them.
"Of course, you are going in the same
representative capacity as Bishop Mcilvaine
and myself, are you not, Mr.. Weed ~
Archbishop Hughes asked, breaking the
silence.
mo, not that, archbishop. Ny relation
to this commission is to be that of a sort Of
clerk or subordinate" Mr.. Weed. replied,
and he spoke somewhat sadly. When the
archbishop, seeming surprised, said 'im-
possible" Mr.. Weed, shaking his head
with every manifestation Of disappointment,
replied: "Butit is to be SO, archbishop"
stop" the archbishop said, speaking
with some excitement, stop right here.
Driver, take US Immediately back to the
state department.. Mr.. Weed, if your Gre
dentials are not precisely what ours are
will not undertake this commission. 1 will
not make this Journey
The driver turned his horses, and while
they were on their return Mr.. Weed urged
the archbishop to say or do nothing which
would embarrass Secretary Seward, but
Archbishop Hughes insisted, and when he
was in the presence of Mr.. Seward he said
to the chief of Lincolns administration:
Mr.. Secretary, l have come that may
insist that Mr.. Weeds credentials be exactly
what mine and Bishop McIlvaine's are, so
that he may have precisely the standing in
Europe which will await u.s."
Mr.. Seward expostulated. He said that
it would have given him delight to honor
Mr.. Weed thus, but he felt that Mr.. Weeds
reputation as politician might impair his
value as full commissioner. Archbishop
Hughes was amazed, for he knew that for
thirty years Weed had been the tried and
faithful friend of Seward, had been his
right hand in all the politics which made
Seward governor aud senator, and which
had brought the presidency almost within
his grasp. Therefore be was irritated, and
he said, with something OF pRssion in his
speech and manner: "Then, Mr.. Secretary,
| must decline to accept this responsibility.
| insist, if | am to go, that Mr.. Weed shall
hold exactly the same relation to the gov
ernment that do"
Seward hesitated. He arose and paced
the floor, the archbishop, then in the
splendid vigor OF health and OF imposing
physical appearance, looking down with
amazement upon the little Secretary OF
State. who seemed unwilling to grant the
request. After few minutes Sewa said
that, as it was the earnest request of the
archbishop, and as that request accorded
with his own personal desire, it should be
granted. The archbishop expressed his
thanks and returned to Mr.. Weed
to whom he said: 'It is to be so. Your
credentials are to be precisely the same as
| our own" The probate perceived the ex-
preston of Joy which the news brought TO
Mr.. Weeds countenance. and he knew then
that the only ambition for official trust
| which Thurlow Weed had entertained since
his early manhood had been gratified. 1t
had been the desire Of Mr.. Weeds heart,
when the commission to Europe on behalf
, of the federal government was contem-
plated, that he, like Franklin. should serve
his government as special commissioner in
time of national peril.
Archbishop Hughes sailed a few DAYS
later, but Mr.. Weed was DELAYED until
Aug. ". The agreement Of the commits
sioners was that they should meet In Lon-
| don as soon as possible. Mr.. Weed took
passage on the Arago and Gen. Scott was
his companion. An hour or SO before the
steamship sailed Mr.. Weed, who was in the
cabin looking at the state room assigned to
| Gen. Scott, was told that man on the pier
| was very anxious to see him. Weed ex-
pressed some impatience, for he was greatly
interested in the work of the ships carpen-
ters, who were enlarging the bunk in Scott's
state room to permit the generals giant
like proportions to be stretched at full
length. Thomas L. James, then an officer
OF the custom house, urged Mr.. Weed TO
come ashore aud see the man, who init
mated that his business was of great i'm
portance. Whatever of Importance it had
| was contained in letter which the man
handed to Mr.. Weed. saying that it would
| probably be of great service to him when
he arrived in Paris.
On the ship Mr.. Weed talked with Gen.
| Scott rather cautiously about the mission
on which he and his associates we're en-
gagged, but he spoke with more freedom of
his approaching meeting v ith Charles Fran
els Adams. then minister at the court Of
st. James. For several years Mr.. Weed
| had entertained more bitter feelings toward
Mr. Adams than politics had ever engen-
dered in him in respect to any other man
except Millard Fillmore. Several years
before, at the time William Pennington Of
| New Jersey was elected speaker of the
House. Mr.. Adams, then a member of con-
gress, arose in his seat and declined to vote
for the candidate for public printer on the
ground that he was the candi-
date of that notorious lobbyist, "
meaning Thurlow Weed The attack cut
Weed to the quick. He wrote to Mr.. Sc
ward, then in the Senate, stating that he
did not know this candidate, had never
| seen him, and had never suggested his nom
| ination. The attack vas malicious and un-
| true. He also reminded Seward that he
was one of the first to suggest John Quincy
Adams nomination for the presidency, and
that it had been due very largely to his own
efforts that the attempt TO bribe the New
York legislature to vote for another candi-
date had been frustrated, aud MIR. Ad-
ans election thereby secured. Mr.. Weed
closed by saying that he resented the in~
suit, wonld denounce Mr.. Adams as mali
cious persons and who never have relations