otiations with these two alleged envoys across the bridge。 Continuing； Mr。 Lincoln said： 〃I had reason to believe from confidential information which I had received from a man I trusted and who had interviewed Jefferson Davis； the president of the Confederacy； that these envoys were without authority； because President Davis had said to this friend of mine and of his that he would treat on no terms whatever but on absolute recognition of the independence of the Southern Confederacy。 The attention of the whole country and of the army centred on these negotiations at Niagara Falls； and to stop the harm they were doing I recalled Mr。 Greeley and issued my proclamation 'To Whom It May Concern；' in which I stated if there was anybody or any delegation at Niagara Falls； or anywhere else； authorized to represent the Southern Confederacy and to treat for peace； they had free conduct and safety to Washington and return。 Of course； they never came； because their mission was a subterfuge。 But they made Greeley believe in them； and the result is that he is still attacking me for needlessly prolonging the war for purposes of my own。〃
At a Cabinet meeting one of the members said to Mr。 Lincoln： 〃Mr。 President； why don't you write a letter to the public stating these facts； and that will end Mr。 Greeley's attacks？〃 The president answered： 〃Mr。 Greeley owns a daily newspaper； a very widely circulated and influential one。 I have no newspaper。 The press of the country would print my letter； and so would the New York Tribune。 In a little while the public would forget all about it； and then Mr。 Greeley would begin to prove from my own letter that he was right； and I； of course； would be helpless to reply。〃 He brought the Cabinet around to unanimous agreement with him by telling one of his characteristic stories。
This affair and the delays in the prosecution of the war had created a sentiment early in 1864 that the re…election of Mr。 Lincoln was impossible。 The leaders of both the conservative and the radical elements in the Republican party； Mr。 Weed； on the one hand； and Mr。 Greeley； on the other； frankly told the president that he could not be re…elected； and his intimate friend； Congressman Elihu B。 Washburne； after a canvass of the country； gave him the same information。
Then came the spectacular victory of Farragut at Mobile and the triumphant march of Sherman through Georgia； and the sentiment of the country entirely changed。 There was an active movement on foot in the interest of the secretary of the treasury； Chase； and fostered by him； to hold an independent convention before the regular Republican convention as a protest against the renomination of Mr。 Lincoln。 It was supported by some of the most eminent and powerful members of the party； who threw into the effort their means and influence。 After these victories the effort was abandoned and Mr。 Lincoln was nominated by acclamation。 I recall as one of the excitements and pleasures of a lifetime the enthusiastic confidence of that convention when they acclaimed Lincoln their nominee。
Governor Seymour； who was the idol of his party； headed the New York delegation to the national Democratic convention to nominate the president； and his journey to that convention was a triumphal march。 There is no doubt that at the time he had with him not only the enthusiastic support of his own party but the confidence of the advocates of peace。 His own nomination and election seemed inevitable。 However； in deference to the war sentiment； General McClellan was nominated instead； and here occurred one of those littIe things which so often in our country have turned the tide。
The platform committee； and the convention afterwards； permitted to go into the platform a phrase proosed by Clement C。 Vallandigham； of Ohio； the phrase being； 〃The war is a failure。〃 Soon after the adjournment of the convention； to the victories of Farragut and Sherman was added the spectacular campaign and victory of Sheridan in the Valley of Shenandoah。 The Campaign at once took on a new phase。 It was the opportunity for the orator。
It is difficult now to recreate the scenes of that campaign。 The people had been greatly disheartened。 Every family was in bereavement； with a son lost and others still in the service。 Taxes were onerous and economic and business conditions very bad。 Then came this reaction； which seemed to promise an early victory for the Union。 The orator naturally picked up the phrase； 〃The war is a failure〃； then he pictured Farragut tied to the shrouds of his flag…ship； then he portrayed Grant's victories in the Mississippi campaign； Hooker's 〃battle above the clouds；〃 the advance of the Army of Cumberland； then he enthusiastically described Sheridan leaving the War Department hearing of the battle in Shenandoah Valley； speeding on and rallying his defeated troops； reforming and leading them to victory； and finished with reciting some of the stirring war poems。
Mr。 Lincoln's election under the conditions and circumstances was probably more due to that unfortunate phrase in the Democratic platform than to any other cause。
The tragedy of the assassination of Mr。 Lincoln was followed by the most pathetic incident of American lifehis funeral。 After the ceremony at Washington the funeral train stopped at Philadelphia； New York； and Albany。 In each of these cities was an opportunity for the people to view the remains。
I had charge in my official capacity as secretary of state of the train after it left Albany。 It was late in the evening when we started； and the train was running all night through central and western New York。 Its schedule was well known along the route。 Wherever the highway crossed the railway track the whole population of the neighborhood was assembled on the highway and in the fields。 Huge bonfires lighted up the scene。 Pastors of the local churches of all denominations had united in leading their congregations for greeting and farewell for their beloved president。 As we would reach a crossing there sometimes would be hundreds and at others thousands of men； women； and children on their knees； praying and singing hymns。
This continuous service of prayer and song and supplication lasted over the three hundred miles between Albany and Buffalo； from midnight until dawn。
IV。 GENERAL GRANT
The fairies who distribute the prizes are practical jokers。 I have known thousands who sought office； some for its distinction； some for its emoluments； and some for both； thousands who wanted promotion from places they held； and other thousands who wanted to regain positions they had lost； all of whom failed in their search。
I probably would have been in one of those classes if I had been seeking an office。 I was determined； however； upon a career in railroad work until； if possible； I had reached its highest rewards。 During that period I was offered about a dozen political appointments； most of them of great moment and very tempting； all of which I declined。
Near the close of President Grant's administration George Jones； at that time the proprietor and publisher of the New York Times； asked me to come and see him。 Mr。 Jones； in his association with the brilliant editor； Henry J。 Raymond； had been a progressive and staying power of the financial side of this great journal。 He was of Welsh descent； a very hardheaded； practical； and wise business man。 He also had very definite views on politics and parties； and several times nearly wrecked his paper by obstinately pursuing a course which was temporarily unpopular with its readers and subscribers。 I was on excellent terms with Mr。 Jones and admired him。 The New York Times became under his management one of the severest critics of General Grant's administration and of the president himself。
I went to his house and during the conversation Jones said to me： 〃I was very much surprised to receive a letter from the president asking me to come and see him at the White House。 Of course I went； anticipating a disagreeable interview； but it turned out absolutely the reverse。 The president was most cordial； and his frankness most attractive。 After a long and full discussion； the president said the Times had been his most unsparing critic； but he was forced to agree with much the Times said； that he had sent for me to make a request； that he had come to the presidency without any preparation whatever for its duties or for civic responsibilities； that he was compelled to take the best advice he could find and surround himself with men； many of whom he had never met before； and they were his guides and teachers； that he； however； assumed the entire responsibility for everything he had done。 He knew perfectly well； in the retrospect and with the larger experience he had gained； that he had made many mistakes。 'And now； Mr。 Jones；' he continued； 'I have sent for you as the most powerful as well as； I think； the fairest of my critics； to ask that you will say in your final summing up of my eight years that； however many my errors or mistakes； they were faults of judgment； and that I acted conscientiously and in any way I thought was right and best。'
〃I told the president I would be delighted to take that view in the Times。 Then the president said that he would like to show his appreciation in some way which would be gratifying to me。 I told him that I wanted nothing for myself； nor did any of my friends； in the line of patronage。 Then he said he wanted my assistance because he was looking for the best man for United States district attorney for the district of New York。 With my large acquaintance he thought that I should be able to tell him whom among the lawyers would be best to appoint。 After a little consideration I recommended you。
〃The president then said： 'Mr。 Depew supported Greeley； and though he is back in the party and doing good service in the campaigns； I do not like those men。 Nevertheless； you can tender him the office and ask for his immediate acceptance。'〃
I told Mr。 Jones what my determination was in regard to a career； and while appreciating most highly both his own friendship and the compliment from the president； I must decline。
General Grant's mistakes in his presidency arose fro