Evening journal., 1913-08-08
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Sealed Orders Which
Brought Joy to LinCOln'S
Cabinet
By HJnsud

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By HJiisnd.
The Hon. Frederick W. Seward,
who was assistant secretary Of State
under his father In the administration
of President Lincoln and who was at
all times the executive head under
his father of the State Department,
related to me some years ago some of
the peculiar incidents associated
with the visit of the Russian deet to
the United States in one of the dark
est periods Of the Civil War
at was at a time" said Mr. Sew
ard, when my Father had satisfac-
tory evidence. as he thought of the
intention of France, presumably
aided by Great Britain, TO force the
blockade of southern ports and pre-
sumably to recognize the Southern
coniederacy.
"The blockade of the southern
ports, while not as dramatic or con
spicuOus a feature OF the Civil War
as we're the land battles, was per
haps the most efficient influence in
crushing the attempt to establish the
Confederate government as any Of
the work done by the Federal au-
thorities.
THE blockade was remarkably well
maintained. II made impossible the
shipment of cotton to France and
England, and. in that way, prevent
ed the Confederate government from
receiving in return greatly needed
supplies both of war material and of
food. Slowly but surely this blockade
starved the Confederacy
"On the other hand. France and
Great Britain We're sOrely IN need of
cotton to supply their manufactures.
Louis Napoleon took the position that
his French artisans should not be
made to suffer because Of the Civil
War in the United States. For a
long time Napoleon was confessedly
friendly to the Confederate govern
ment.
so also. In Great Britain the great
majority of the aristOcratic class and
many of The manufacturers were
anxious that the attempt TO establish
a new nation south of the Potomac
and Ohio Rivers should be successful
"At last the determination was
reached, according to evidence, re-
ceived by my father, to force the
blockade. and II II were necessary to
recognize the COnfederacy My father
had received confidential dispatches
from Russia, telling him that the Car
had been approached and had posi-
lively declined to participate i'm any
proceedings whose purpose was the
recognition Of the Southern COnfed-
eracy and the breaking of the block
ade Very likely the Cars reasons
for this attitude were political. since
he did not care TO see Great Britain
and France increase in influence, as
they certainly would have done thai
the Confederacy been established per-
manently and I'm part through their
efforts.
"My father was also informed thai
the Car would send a Russiau fee
to the United States, a portion OF
which would anchor off San Francisco
while the greater part Of The feel
would anchor at New York. Further
more. my father was notified that thu
admiral of the fleet would sail witt
l sealed dispatches which he was to de
liver 10 the President Of the United
States.
"Of course, this intimation gave ui
great qualification. We believed tina
nothing more would he necessar,
chan this demonstration Of Russian
friendship 10 prevent the contem
/ plated action by France and Grea
Britain.
THAT was a day Of great rejoicing
| in Washington in administration cir
/ cles when the sealed order was de
! Hvered by The admiral of the Rus
/ sian feet to President Lincoln. Fo
when these orders were opened W
learned that the admiral had bee
directed by the Car TO put himsel
and his fleet AT the disposal of tn
President of the United States. w
knew from that moment that neithe
France nor Great Britain would al
tempt TO break the blockade or wOul
unite I'm recognition of the Souther
Confederacy
"I have always felt that the begir
ming of the end was Coincident In tin
with me appearance of the Russia
fleet In the narbor of New York an
the delivery of sealed orders by II
admiral 90 the President of the Unite
states"
Copyright. 1913, by g. j. Edward
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will Ia
"How Goodwin Smith Was Nictinlz'
hy d Promoter