Lincoln in the World (56 page)

114
. Lincoln to Seward, Mar. 18, 1861,
CWL
, v. 4, pp. 292–93; Koerner to Lincoln, Mar. 28, 1861, ALP, LOC. I have inserted the two dashes in the Koerner quote for readability. See also
ALAL
, v. 2, pp. 91–92; Schurz,
Reminiscences
, v. 2, pp. 221, 223;
New York Herald
, Mar. 19, 1861, quoted in Donner, “Carl Schurz as Office Seeker,” p. 129; Schurz to his wife, Mar. 28, 1861, in Schafer, ed.,
Intimate Letters
, p. 253; Brauer, “Appointment of Carl Schurz,” p. 77. An exhibit in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., makes the point that foreign policy is uniquely important for American presidents because of the diverse composition of its citizenry.

115
. For Mary Lincoln’s relationship with Seward, see George B. Lincoln to Gideon Welles, Apr. 25, 1874, in “New Light on the Seward-Welles-Lincoln Controversy?”
Lincoln Lore
, No. 1718, Apr. 1981, p. 3 (“Never!”); Keckley,
Behind the Scenes
, p. 131 (“skein of thread” and “can trust him”); Rice, ed.,
Reminiscences
, p. 481 (“abolition sneak”). For a thorough discussion of Mary Lincoln’s interference in
appointments, see
ALAL
, v. 2, pp. 262–73, especially pp. 264 and 266. See also Burlingame,
Inner World
, pp. 283–85; RW, pp. 68–69 (“disgrace”); Randall,
Mary Lincoln
, p. 193 (“very reluctantly”); Monaghan, p. 15; Holzer,
Lincoln President-Elect
, pp. 198, 332 (hard to control); Donald, “
We Are Lincoln Men,”
p. 155.

116
. Mary Lincoln to Seward, Mar. 22, [1861,] in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln
, p. 81 (Honolulu); Grimsley, “Six Months in the White House,” p. 64; Herndon, “Lincoln’s Religion,”
Illinois State Journal
, Dec. 13, 1873, cited in Randall,
Mary Lincoln
, p. 426; Post, “Lincoln and the Reverend Dr. James Smith,” pp. 397–99. Smith was ultimately appointed consul on Feb. 18, 1863, and remained in office for the next eight years.

117
. Clay,
Memoirs
, pp. 284, 321; Richmond
Southern Opinion
quoted in Randall,
Mary Lincoln
, p. 412;
The Independent
, Aug. 10, 1882 (“blundering outspokenness”), and the
Illinois State Journal
, Sept. 1, 1883 (“distant concerns”), both clippings in Ruth Randall Papers, LOC. See also Burlingame,
Inner World
, pp. 315, 325;
ALAL-DC
, v. 1, p. 629; and Shenk,
Lincoln’s Melancholy
, p. 96.

118
. Elizabeth Todd Edwards interview with Herndon, [1865–66,] in HI, p. 445; Baker, pp. 198–99; Keckley,
Behind the Scenes
, p. 97 (“stupid state dinners”).

119
. Russell,
My Diary North and South
, p. 41, entry for Mar. 28, 1861; Baker, p. 199.

120
. Lord Lyons to Lord John Russell, Mar. 26, 1861, Russell Papers, BNA, cited in Jones,
Blue and Gray Diplomacy
, pp. 26–27, and Jones,
Union in Peril
, pp. 12–13. But see also Ferris,
Desperate Diplomacy
, pp. 213–14, for an account of the dinner that is more sympathetic to Seward.

121
. Montgomery Blair to Lincoln, Mar. 15, 1861, ALP, LOC; McPherson,
Tried by War
, pp. 13, 16; Foote,
Civil War
, v. 1, locs. 943–1017.

122
. Lincoln, “Message to Congress in Special Session,” July 4, 1861,
CWL
, v. 4, p. 424; McPherson,
Tried by War
, p. 18.

123
. Foote,
Civil War
, v. 1, locs. 1127–52; McPherson,
Tried by War
, p. 9 (seizing arsenals); Samuel James to Seward, Mar. 20, 1861, Seward Papers, University of Rochester (“do something”).

124
. Nicolay, “Memorandum,” July 3, 1861, in Burlingame, ed.,
With Lincoln in the White House
, pp. 46–47.

125
. Seward to his wife, Mar. 29, 1861, in Seward,
Seward at Washington, 1846–1861
, p. 534 (“before us”); Donald, “
We Are Lincoln Men,”
p. 152 (firing offense); Nicolay and Hay,
Abraham Lincoln: A History
, v. 3, p. 449 (“dismissed the incident”).

126
. Schurz to Lincoln, Apr. 5, 1861, ALP, LOC; Schurz, “Abraham Lincoln,” p. 739.

127
. Brauer, “Gabriel García y Tassara,” pp. 9, 12–13. For a smart analysis of the colonization issue, see Eric Foner’s essay, “Lincoln and Colonization,” in Foner, ed.,
Our Lincoln
(New York, 2008). The quote about colonization as a “middle ground” is on p. 145. See also Foner’s recent Pulizer Prize–winning history,
The Fiery Trial
(New York, 2010).

128
. Foner, “Lincoln and Colonization,” in Foner, ed.,
Our Lincoln
, p. 148. See also, pp. 150–51 (meeting with
Thompson, Crosby in Guatemala), 158 (just as racist); and
ALAL
, v. 2, p. 394.

129
. Anderson, “1861: Blockade vs. Closing the Confederate Ports,” pp. 190–93. The quote is on p. 190. On the blockade debate, see also
ALAL-DC
, v. 2, ch. 23, pp. 2459–60; and Jones,
Blue and Gray Diplomacy
, pp. 56–57.

130
.
New York Herald
, July 8, 1867, in
RW
, p. 423 (“we can”). Fehrenbacher grades this reminiscence a D, but he doesn’t seem to take into account the fact that Honest Abe may simply have been dissembling.

131
. Corwin,
The President
, p. 264 (blockade during recess); Lincoln, “Inscription in Album of Mary Rebecca Darby Smith,” Apr. 19, 1861,
CWL
, v. 4, p. 339.

132
. My thanks to Howard Jones for walking me through the nuances of the neutrality decision. See also Edward Everett diary, Aug. 23, 1861, Everett Papers (“give them hell!” and “suggestions of Mr. Seward”); Donald,
Charles Sumner and the Rights of Man
, p. 21;
ALAL
, v. 2, pp. 160–62 (could buy weapons etc.); Carwardine,
Lincoln
, p. 181 (“caged tiger”); Conway,
Autobiography
, v. 1, p. 350 (“corvine”); Seward,
Seward at Washington
,
1846–1861
, p. 584 (“degree”); Lincoln, “Revision of William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams,” May. 21, 1861,
CWL
, v. 4, pp. 376–80 (Seward dispatch); Adams quoted in Ferris,
Desperate Diplomacy
, p. 51 (“shallow madness”).

133
. Lincoln, “Revision of William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams,” May 21, 1861,
CWL
, v. 4, pp. 376–80; Donald, “We
Are Lincoln Men
,” p. 154.

134
. Goodwin,
passim
; Donald, “
We Are Lincoln Men,”
p. 160.

135
. Carpenter,
Inner Life
, pp. 128–29 (signed without reading); O. J. Hollister,
Life of Schuyler Colfax
(New York, 1886), p. 200 (“Uncle Abe’s nose”); Nicolay and Hay,
Abraham Lincoln: A History
, v. 6, p. 265 (“unperceived”); Eaton,
Grant
,
Lincoln and the Freedmen
, p. 178 (“I am his master”);
ALAL
, v. 2, p. 456.

136
. Bancroft, v. 2, pp. 173–74.

137
. D. P. Crook notes that both Lincoln and Seward shared “the mediating approach of the old Whig party” on slavery. The same is largely true of their foreign policy strategies, with the exceptions outlined above. (Crook,
Diplomacy During the American Civil War
, p. 18.) Howard Jones notes that “even though their styles were as different as night and day, they worked in close harmony” after April 1, 1861. (Jones,
Blue and Gray Diplomacy
, p. 38.)

138
. Seward dispatch cited in Ferris,
Desperate Diplomacy
, p. 14.

139
. Donald,
Charles Sumner and the Rights of Man
, p. 25 (“mild and gentle”); Seward to his wife, June 5, 1861,
Seward at Washington
,
1846–1861
, p. 590 (“cooperation”).

140
. Cortada, “A Case of International Rivalry,” pp. 66–76, esp. 66, 68 (annexation date), 73 (revolts), 76 (Lincoln’s response); Welles,
Lincoln and Seward
, pp. 183–84. See also Mahin, p. 204. In practice, it should be noted, European powers often challenged the principles of the Monroe Doctrine during the mid-nineteenth century, and it was not until long after the Civil War that the doctrine achieved its modern-day stature. My thanks to George C. Herring for emphasizing this point.

141
. Nicolay and Hay,
Abraham Lincoln: A History
, v. 3, p. 379 (“virtue of patience”).

142
. Grimsley, “Six Months in the White House,” pp. 61–63; Charles Sumner to James A. Hamilton, June 8, 1861, in Hamilton,
Reminiscences
, p. 483;
RW
, p. 433 (“all things right”).

143
. Lincoln to Albert G. Hodges, Apr. 4, 1864, CWL, v. 7, p. 281.

144
. On Lincoln and presidential “war power,” see McPherson,
Tried by War
, pp. 23–25, 30 (incl. quote to Hodges); Rossiter,
American Presidency
, pp. 98–99; Schlesinger, Jr.,
Imperial Presidency
, pp. 58–64; and Corwin,
The President
, pp. 264–267 (expanding the navy and “significant precedents”).

145
. McDougall,
Throes of Democracy
, pp. 251–52, 350–53; and Remini,
Henry Clay
, pp. 137, 643 (Whigs and navy); Henderson,
Hidden Coasts
, p. 238.

C
HAPTER
T
HREE:
L
INCOLN VS
. P
ALMERSTON

1
. Pease and Randall, eds.,
Diary of Orville Hickman Browning
, v. 1, pp. 488–89 (entry for July 28, 1861); McPherson,
Battle Cry of Freedom
, p. 347 (casualties); Russell,
My Diary North and South
, p. 467, entry for July 22, 1861 (weather); Robert L. Wilson to Herndon, Feb. 10, 1866, in
HI
, p. 207 (“
damned bad”
).

2
. Oates,
With Malice Toward None
, loc. 4959; Foote,
Civil War
, v. 1, locs. 1544–56; and
ALAL-DC
, v. 2, ch. 23, p. 2538 (“green alike”).

3
. Schurz to Lincoln, Aug. 6, 1861, and Aug. 13, 1861. Both letters in ALP, LOC.

4
. Foote,
Civil War
, v. 1, loc. 2402 (“Anaconda”).

5
. Pease and Randall, eds.,
Diary of Orville Hickman Browning
, v. 1, pp. 488–89 (entry for July 28, 1861); McPherson,
Battle Cry of Freedom
, p. 313 (naval stats). McPherson notes that fewer than a dozen of these were actually available for the blockade. See also McPherson,
Tried by War
, p. 41 (sleepless night).

6
. McPherson,
Battle Cry of Freedom
, p. 370 (Hatteras); Butler,
Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences
, p. 288 (night shirt); John Appleton to Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sept. 22, 1861, Clay Papers, Lincoln Memorial University (“pretty well over”). See also
ALAL
, v. 2, p. 212.

7
. Donald,
Lincoln
, p. 346; Boritt,
Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream
, p. 199 (pretending ignorance); Lincoln to Gideon Welles, May 14, 1861, CWL, v. 4, p. 370 (“little about ships”); Lincoln, “Application for Patent on an Improved Method of Lifting Vessels over Shoals,” Mar. 10, 1849, in ibid., v. 2, p. 32 (patent); Seward,
Seward at Washington
,
1846–1861
, p. 623 (approaching Seward); French,
Witness to the Young Republic
, p. 412; Samuel C. Bushnell to Gideon Welles, 1877, in
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War
, v. 1, p. 748 (“something in it”).

8
. Lincoln to Gideon Welles, [c. Dec. 1861?,]
CWL
, v. 5, p. 33 (frustrated); Burlingame, ed.,
Dispatches from Lincoln’s White House
, p. 32, cited in
ALAL
, v. 2, p. 200 (“pale and careworn”); Ferris,
The
Trent
Affair
, p. 18 (Wilkes’s age, mission, etc.);
Henderson,
Hidden Coasts
, p. 230 (Wilkes’s background, Welles quote, type of ship); Nevins,
War for the Union
, v. 1, p. 388 (“a superabundance”); Warren, pp. 11–12 (Fijian village and “not as obedient”); Welles,
Diary
, v. 1, p. 73, entry for Aug. 10, 1862.

9
. The following account of the capture of Mason and Slidell draws heavily on Ferris,
The
Trent
Affair
, pp. 18–28.

10
. Jenkins, v. 1, p. 197 (“one of the most important”);
New York Times
, Dec. 11, 1861 (“embodiment of dispatches”).

11
. Russell,
My Diary North and South
, p. 575, entry for Nov. 18, 1861 (“storm of exultation”);
New York Times
, Nov. 17, 1861 (“rings with applause”); Ridley,
Palmerston
, p. 553 (theater audiences); Barnum to Wilkes, Dec. 11, 1861, Wilkes Papers, LOC, cited in Jenkins, pp. 197–98 (Barnum);
Boston Daily Evening Transcript
, Nov. 18, 1861, quoted in Ferris,
The
Trent
Affair
, p. 32 (“heavy blow”); Van Deusen, p. 309 (“brave, adroit”); Warren, p. 27 (blisters). See also Bancroft, v. 2, pp. 227–28; and
ALAL
, v. 2, p. 222.

12
.
New York Herald
, Nov. 18, 1861; Welles,
Lincoln and Seward
, p. 185;
Richmond Inquirer
, copied in
New York Times
, Nov. 26, 1861; Rice, ed.,
Reminiscences
, p. 245 (“prize court”); Lossing,
Pictorial History of the Civil War
, v. 2, pp. 156–57 (“white elephants”); Gurowski,
Diary, Mar. 4, 1861–Nov. 12, 1862
, p. 135 (“giving the traitors up”). See also
ALAL
, v. 2, pp. 222–23; and Ferris,
The
Trent
Affair
, pp. 128–29, 231–32n.