d give him a power greater than the power of the President； but he had not the genius which would enable him to hold it。 He made foolish prophecies about the war； and talked of the triumphs which he would win。 He wrote state…papers on matters which he did not understand； and gave himself the airs of diplomatic learning while he showed himself to be sadly ignorant of the very rudiments of diplomacy。 He tried to joke as Lord Palmerston jokes； and nobody liked his joking。 He was greedy after the little appanages of power； taking from others who loved them as well as he did privileges with which he might have dispensed。 And then； lastly； he was successful in nothing。 He had given himself out as the commander of the commander…in…chief； but then under his command nothing got itself done。 For a month or two some men had really believed in Mr。 Seward。 The policemen of the country had come to have an absolute trust in him； and the underlings of the public offices were beginning to think that he might be a great man。 But then； as is ever the case with such men； there came suddenly a downfall。 Mr。 Cameron went from the cabinet； and everybody knew that Mr。 Seward would be no longer commander of the commander…in…chief。 His prime ministership was gone from him； and he sank down into the comparatively humble position of Minister for Foreign Affairs。 His lettres de cachet no longer ran。 His passport system was repealed。 His prisoners were released。 And though it is too much to say that writs of habeas corpus were no longer suspended； the effect and very meaning of the suspension were at once altered。 When I first left Washington； Mr。 Seward was the only minister of the cabinet whose name was ever mentioned with reference to any great political measure。 When I returned to Washington； Mr。 Stanton was Mr。 Lincoln's leading minister； and； as Secretary of War； had practically the management of the army and of the internal police。 I have spoken here of Mr。 Seward by name； and in my preceding paragraphs I have alluded with some asperity to the dishonesty of certain men who had obtained political power under Mr。 Lincoln； and used it for their own dishonest purposes。 I trust that I may not be understood as bringing any such charges against Mr。 Seward。 That such dishonesty has been frightfully prevalent all men know who knew anything of Washington during the year 1861。 In a former chapter I have alluded to this more at length； stating circumstances； and in some cases giving the names of the persons charged with offenses。 Whenever I have done so； I have based my statements on the Van Wyck report； and the evidence therein given。 This is the published report of a committee appointed by the house of Representatives； and as it has been before the world for some months without refutation； I think that I have a right to presume it to be true。* On no less authority than this would I consider myself justified in bringing any such charge。 Of Mr。 Seward's incompetency I have heard very much among American politicians； much also of his ambition。 With worse offenses than these I have not heard him charged。
* I ought perhaps to state that General Fremont has published an answer to the charges preferred against him。 That answer refers chiefly to matters of military capacity or incapacity； as to which I have expressed no opinion。 General Fremont does allude to the accusations made against him regarding the building of the forts； but in doing so he seem to me rather to admit than to deny the acts as stated by the committee。
At the period of which I am writing； February； 1862； the long list of military successes which attended the Northern army through the late winter and early spring had commenced。 Fort henry； on the Tennessee River； had first been taken； and after that； Fort Donelson； on the Cumberland River； also in the State； Tennessee。 Price had been driven out of Missouri into Arkansas by General Curtis； acting under General Halleck's orders。 The chief body of the Confederate army in the West had abandoned the fortified position which they had long held at Bowling Green； in the southwestern district of Kentucky。 Roanoke Island； on the coast of North Carolina； had been taken by General Burnside's expedition； and a belief had begun to manifest itself in Washington that the army of the Potomac was really about to advance。 It is impossible to explain in what way the renewed confidence of the Northern party showed itself； or how one learned that the hopes of the secessionists were waxing dim； but it was so； and even a stranger became aware of the general feeling as clearly as though it were a defined and established fact。 In the early part of the winter； when I reached Washington； the feeling ran all the other way。 Northern men did not say that they were despondent； they did not with spoken words express diffidence as to their success； but their looks betrayed diffidence； and the moderation of their self…assurance almost amounted to despondency。 In the capital the parties were very much divided。 The old inhabitants were either secessionists or influenced by 〃secession proclivities；〃 as the word went； but the men of the government and of the two Houses of Congress were； with a few exceptions； of course Northern。 It should be understood that these parties were at variance with each other on almost every point as to which men can disagree。 In our civil war it may be presumed that all Englishmen were at any rate anxious for England。 They desired and fought for different modes of government； but each party was equally English in its ambition。 In the States there is the hatred of a different nationality added to the rancor of different politics。 The Southerners desire to be a people of themselvesto divide themselves by every possible mark of division from New England； to be as little akin to New York as they are to London； or； if possible； less so。 Their habits； they say； are different； their education； their beliefs； their propensities； their very virtues and vices are not the education； or the beliefs； or the propensities； or the virtues and vices of the North。 The bond that ties them to the North is to them a Mezentian marriage； and they hate their Northern spouses with a Mezentian hatred。 They would be anything sooner than citizens of the United States。 They see to what Mexico has come； and the republics of Central America； but the prospect of even that degradation is less bitter to them than a share in the glory of the stars and stripes。 Better； with them； to reign in hell than serve in heaven！ It is not only in politics that they will be beaten； if they be beaten； as one party with us may be beaten by another； but they will be beaten as we should be beaten if France annexed us； and directed that we should live under French rule。 Let an Englishman digest and realize that idea； and he will comprehend the feelings of a Southern gentleman as he contemplates the probability that his State will be brought back into the Union。 And the Northern feeling is as strong。 The Northern man has founded his national ambition on the territorial greatness of his nation。 He has panted for new lands； and for still extended boundaries。 The Western World has opened her arms to him； and has seemed to welcome him as her only lord。 British America has tempted him toward the north； and Mexico has been as a prey to him on the south。 He has made maps of his empire； including all the continent； and has preached the Monroe doctrine as though it had been decreed by the gods。 He has told the world of his increasing millions； and has never yet known his store to diminish。 He has pawed in the valley； and rejoiced in his strength。 He has said among the trumpets； ha！ ha！ He has boasted aloud in his pride； and called on all men to look at his glory。 And now shall he be divided and shorn？ Shall he be hemmed in from his ocean； and shut off from his rivers？ Shall he have a hook run into his nostrils； and a thorn driven into his jaw？ Shall men say that his day is over； when he has hardly yet tasted the full cup of his success？ Has his young life been a dream； and not a truth？ Shall he never reach that giant manhood which the growth of his boyish years has promised him？ If the South goes from him； he will be divided； shorn； and hemmed in。 The hook will have pierced his nose； and the thorn will fester in his jaw。 Men will taunt him with his former boastings； and he will awake to find himself but a mortal among mortals。 Such is the light in which the struggle is regarded by the two parties； and such the hopes and feelings which have been engendered。 It may therefore be surmised with what amount of neighborly love secessionists and Northern neighbors regarded each other in such towns as Baltimore and Washington。 Of course there was hatred of the deepest dye； of course there were muttered curses； or curses which sometimes were not simply muttered。 Of course there was wretchedness； heart…burnings； and fearful divisions in families。 That； perhaps； was the worst of all。 The daughter's husband would be in the Northern ranks； while the son was fighting in the South； or two sons would hold equal rank in the two armies； sometimes sending to each other frightful threats of personal vengeance。 Old friends would meet each other in the street； passing without speaking； or； worse still； would utter words of insult for which payment is to be demanded when a Southern gentleman may again be allowed to quarrel in his own defense。 And yet society went on。 Women still smiled； and men were happy to whom such smiles were given。 Cakes and ale were going； and ginger was still hot in the mouth。 When many were together no words of unhappiness were heard。 It was at those small meetings of two or three that women would weep instead of smiling； and that men would run their hands through their hair and sit in silence； thinking of their ruined hopes and divided children。 I have spoken of Southern hopes and Northern fears； and have endeavored to explain the feelings of each party。 For myself I think that the Southerners have been wrong in their hopes； and that those of the North have been wrong in their fears。 It is not better to rule in hell than serve in heaven。 Of course a South