Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-04-05
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How LinCOln'S Confidence
in Stewards Judgment
Was Justified
By Holland.

Lincoln aud MAN. times In ways OF
which the public had nc knowledge"
said the late Chief Justice Noah Davis
TO me alta time when he was narrating
some OF his interesting experiences
while serving as member o. Con-
gress from New York district, at
the beginning of President Grants
first administration. Judge Davis's
prominence and influence as a Re
publican politician. and his warm per-
sonal and political friendship for Will
lam H. Seward, justified his friends
In bringing him forward as candi-
date for the United States Senate in
the mid-sixties. His opponent in the
Republican caucus was Roscoe Conk-
ling, who was successful, although
by majority of only two votes.
Judge Davis received while in
Washington much information which
was of confidential nature, but the
lapse Of years justified him in feeling
that these condolences were no longer
sacred. For that reason. he was able
to tell me of one important service
which Secretary Seward performed In
the early days Of the Civil War.
Lincoln made up his original cab
met almost purely upon sentimental
considerations" Judge Davis said.
"His belief was that II was eXpedlent
for him TO name as members of his
cabinet the men who had been prom
inent before the Republican National
Convention of 1860 and candidates
for the Presidential nomination lie
decided as soon as he was nominated
that If he were elected he should ask
William II. Seward, who was leading
candidate against Lincoln for the
Presidential nomination, TO accept the
State Department.
II do not believe that a more fort
innate association of President and
Secretary of State can be discovered
in our entire history than that which
brought President Lincoln and Sec
rotary Seward into the closest Official
and personal relation.
Seward discovered, soon after he
took the State Department, that Lin
coin was still disposed to make i'm
portant official appointments from the
! list Of those who had been very PROM
| monty before the country as Repub-
lican leaders. Seward believed that
this was a rule which would best be
proved by the exceptions. He had a
chance within a few days after the
inauguration of Lincoln to offer an
exception to his rule.
"In conversation with President
Lincoln about diplomatic appoint
ments, Seward discovered that Linz
coin thought il would be eXpedient to
make General John c. Fremont min
lister to the Court of ST. James. He
also expected to make high diplomatic
appointment for William l.. Dayton.
Steward said. practically in these
words: I appreciate fully your mo-
tive in selecting General Fremont for
the mission to Great Britain You
think that as General Fremont was
the first Republican candidate for
President and william l.. Dayton the
first Republican candition for Vice
President you would make the recog-
milton of their leadership which would
be gratifying to their party by ap-
pontment to high diplomatic posts
Lincoln admitted that this was the
motive which induced him 10 consider
these appointments. Seward then
said that it was of the highest i'm.
portance that our representative at
the court OF ST. James should be a
man Of profound learning. of wide
reaching experience in diplomacy and
Of thorough understanding Of the
characteristics of the public men and
people of Great Britain. Seward in
timated that he did not have the
greatest confidence in General Ere.
mont's diplomatic tact or skill
"Thereupon Lincoln asked him 4
he had anybody in mind who meas
ured up to the qualifications essen
tial TO our minister TO the court o.
ST. James. Seward frankly confess
cd that he had, and that he felt as
sured that no man in the United
States would with greater discretion
look after the interests of the coun
try i'm case civil war began in thu
United States than Charles Francis
Adams.
After meditating few moments
MIR. Lincoln told Seward that If HI
were satisfied that Adams was tn
man for the task then that wal
enough Adams's nomination Shouts
be made.
"The nomination was made. ant
after Mr.. Adams had with great dis
erection and frmness handled th
very difficult diplomatic problems tha
arose Lincoln frankly admitted tina
I Stewards judgment respecting thi
appointment had been absolutely &C
curatc.
Seward lived long enough, al
though Mr. Lincoln did not. to know
that Adams by his courageous AM
highly strategic stand prevented tn
failure Of the Washington treaty an
the Geneva tribunal which decide
that Great Britain should pay to tn
United States fifteen million dollar
for losses occasioned by the destruo
ton to American commerce inficte
by the Confederate cruiser Alabama
Copyright. 1918. by +. J. Edwards