hubert howe bancroft - Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History ...

THE CLERGY 285
placed in command, whose conscientious discharge of
duty in his whole department was of the greatest
value to the government and the state. Nothing escaped
his observation, and at every turn the disaffected
were met with stern reproof.
To keep public sentiment up to the point of ardent
patriotism during the reverses of the first eighteen
months of the war was the care of loyal men of influence,
of the pulpit, the press, the military, and of all
good men—for it was not admitted that a good man
could be a sympathizer with rebellion. The patience
tions, or from displaying a revolting degree of sycophancy in his dealings
with a foreign aristocracy, his own narrative is evidence, before proceeding
to the closing chapter of his public career, I cannot refrain from giving his
statement concerning his influence in the conduct of national affairs. Seward,
he says, was made sec. of state through his, Gwin's, representations to Lincoln
that it would be agreeable to the south; and that he had immediately
written to Jefferson Davis that Seward was to be secretary, and there would
be peace. But the south was opposed to Chase as sec. of the treasury, and
when his appointment was officially announced, he was forced to telegraph
the news to Davis to expect war, or bear the opprobrium of having misled
the south. The despatch was shown to Seward, who altered it to read that
Chase's selection would be favorable to peace. It was taken to the telegraph
office by a mutual friend, who, he believes, copied it, and used it to obtain
a perilous influence over Seward, who, he says, continued to use him, Gwin,
as an intermediary between himself and the southern commissioners. But
when they demanded something more than polite verbal messages, Seward
fell ill of lumbago, and could see no one. Gwin accepted his dismissal, and
left Washington, having discovered that two could engage in the game of
dissimulation when necessary. Memoirs, MS., 186-200. After his arrest, as
related above, he went to Paris, where his family resided for several years,
while he labored for the recognition of the confederate states, the emperor
being in favor of it, but the French people against it. Had Slidell and Mason
consented to address a note to tne emperor's minister of foreign affairs,
stating that in the event of achieving indepenence the confederacy would
paw laws looking to the emancipation of slaves in 10, 20, or any number of
years, the confederacy would have been recognized. Instead of entertaining
this proposition, Slidell was so violent in his language as to affront the Marquis
de Montholon, who offered it. Ouin, Mem,, MS., 202-3.
Success no longer attended his best laid schemes, and the latter part of
his life was spent in retirement in Cal. The subject of his disloyalty is
carefully avoided in his memoirs. That he dreamed at one time of establishing
an aristocratic government, in which he was to figure prominently,
there can be no doubt. He died in New York in the autumn of 1885, and
was buried at San Francisco. Of his private life little has been said, and
that little not interesting. In public affairs he was avaricious, heartless, and
devoted to his own aggrandizement, N. T. Trffwne, of Oct. 1885; Mary«vilU
Herald, Sept 26, 1854; Crop's Statement, MS., 66-7; N. O. Republican, March
18, 1871; Torres Perm,, 76; S. F. Alia, July 3, 1851, and Nov. 12, 1863; 17.
8. Fortypi Affairs, Mess, and Doc. p 111, p. 417, 519-21; 39 cong; 1 seas;
Soule, Hun. 8. F., 790-3; Contemp. Bhg., i. 234; 8. F. Bulletin, Dec. 20, 23,
1856, and Jan 4, 1857; Choin, Congress. Record, 16 pp; Sonora Periodido Offi*
cud, Nov. 3, 1865, p 3; Diario del Imperio; Pinart ColL, MS. passim.