Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-16

hiphth VI the ne" duIDlnlStTht1Or
had closed. The first of April Mr.
Seward submitted memorandum
entitled "Some Thoughts for the
Presidents Consideration" He be,
gan this by saying: We are al
the end of months administration
and yet without policy, either for.
eign or domestic" Then follows q
series of suggestions hardly less re.
markable for their character than
for their emanation. There are
quite a BAKERS dozen of them, for
the most part flimsy and irrelevant
but two of them are so conspicuous
for a lack Of sagacity and compre-
hension that l shall quote them as a
sample of the whole:
We must change the question be-
fore the public" says Mr.. Seward,
from one. upon slavery, or about
slavery, for one upon union or dis.
union"-as if it had not been thus
changed already--and 81 would de.
mand explanations from Spain and
france energetically, at once \
and IT satisfactory explanations arc
not received from Spain and France
l would convene Congress and de.
clare war against them >
| would seek explanation from Great
Britain and Russia, and send agents
into Canada, Mexico and Centra
America to arouse a vigorous spirit
OF continental Independence on thi:
continent against European interven
tiOn.r
Think of it AT the moment this
advice was seriously given the head
OF the government by the head of
the cabinet--suppOsed to be the most
accomplished statesman and the
most astute diplomatist of his time
Southern Confederacy had been
established, and all Europe was
eager for some preteXt to put in its
oar, and effectually, finally, to secure
dissolution of the Union and the
overthrow of the Republican ex-
pertinent in America.
The government had only to make
a grimace at France and Spain, to
bat its eye at England and Russia,
to raise up a quadruple alliance, mon
archy against democracy, bringing
down upon the United States the ma
vies the world, and doubly assuring,
douhiy confirming the government of
of Jefferson Davis.
L agree with Lincoln's biographers
that in his well-known reply to Sew
ard not word was omitted that
was necessary, and not hint or allu-
sion is contained that could be dis
pensed with. 1t was conclusive. 1t
ended the argument. Mr.. Seward
1roppedinto his place. Mr.. Lincoln
never referred to it. From that time
forward, the understanding between
them was mutual and perfect. So
much so, that when, the 2lst of the
.ollowing May, Mr.. Seward sub
nltted to the President the draft Of
letter of instruction to Charles
Francis Adams, then minister to
England, Mr.. Lincoln did not hesi-
ate to change much of its character
md purpose by alternating its text.
The original copy of this dispatch,
n Stewards handwriting, with Mr..
Lincoln's interlineations, is now to
1e seen on file in the Department of
state. 1t is safe to say that if that
etter had gone as Mr.. Seward wrote
t, war with England would have
Ieen inevitable. Mr.. Lincoln's ad-
litions, hardly less than his SUP.
)resslons, present curious contrast |
between the seer of affairs and the
scholar in affairs. Even in the sub
'titution of one word for another
Mr.. Lincoln shows a comprehension |
both of the situation and the Ian
suage which seems to have been |
wholly wanting in Mr.. Sewsrd, with |
all his experience and learning. It'll
IS said that, pondering over this
document, weighing in his mind it's
meaning and import, his head bent
md pencil in his hand, MIR. Lincoln
was overheard murmuring to him.
self, Zone war at time--one war
1T time"
TALKS 1T OVER WITH STANTON.
Whilst am on the matter of who
was really President when Abraham
Lincoln occupied the office, | may
as well dispose of it. We all remem-
ber that, in setting up for a bigger
man than his chief, Mr. Chase Jared
no better than Mr.. Seward. But i:
is sometimes said that Mr.. Stanton
was more successful in this line
Many amusing stories are told of
how Stanton lOrded it over Lincoln.
On certain occasion il is related
that the President was informed by
an irate friend that the Secretary of
War had not only refused to execute
an order of his, but had called the
President a fool in the bargain
- Did Stanton say l was a fool ?n
said Lincoln. Yes" replied his
friend, "he called you blank, blank
fool" Lincoln looked first good
at his friend and then out
of the window in the direction of
the War Department.. and then care
lessly observed. eff Stanton said
that / was blank fool, it must be
true, for he is nearly always right
and generally says what he means
l will just step over and see Stanton"
LINCOLN AND THE SOUTH.
/ want to say just here a few words
about Mr.. LincOln's relation to the
South and toward the people Of the
South.
He was, himself Southern man.
He and all his tribe were Southern
ers. Although he left Kentucky
when the merest child, he was an
old child; he never was very
young; he grew into manhood in a
Kentucky colony for what is Illi-
nois, what is Chicago, but a Ken
tucky colony, grown somewhat out
OF proportion? He was, i'm one
sense, what we used to call "poor
white" Awkward, perhaps; un-
calmly, perhaps; niggerless, GER