Honest Opinions

Often Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln discussed the relations of Cabinet officers, and gentlemen prominent in politics, in my presence. I soon learned that the wife of the President had no love for Mr. Salmon P. Chase, at that time Secretary of the Treasury. She was well versed in human character, was somewhat suspicious of those by whom she was surrounded, and often her judgment was correct. Her intuition about the sincerity of individuals was more accurate than that of her husband. She looked beyond, and read the reflection of action in the future. Her hostility to Mr. Chase was very bitter. She claimed that he was a selfish politician instead of a true patriot, and warned Mr. Lincoln not to trust him too far. The daughter of the Secretary was quite a belle in Washington, and Mrs. Lincoln, who was jealous of the popularity of others, had no desire to build up her social position through political favor to her father. Miss Chase, now Mrs. Senator Sprague, was a lovely woman, and was worthy of all the admiration she received. Mr. Lincoln was more confiding than his wife. He never suspected the fidelity of those who claimed to be his friends. Honest to the very core himself, and frank as a child, he never dreamed of questioning the sincerity of others.

Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln often discussed Cabinet members and prominent politicians in my presence. I soon learned that the President’s wife had no love for Mr. Salmon P. Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury. She understood human character well and was somewhat suspicious of those around her. Her judgment was often correct. Her intuition about people’s sincerity was more accurate than her husband’s. She looked ahead and saw the future consequences of actions. Her hostility toward Mr. Chase was very bitter. She claimed that he was a selfish politician rather than a true patriot. She warned Mr. Lincoln not to trust him too far. The Secretary’s daughter was very popular in Washington society. Mrs. Lincoln was jealous of other people’s popularity. She had no desire to strengthen Miss Chase’s social standing by granting political favors to her father. Miss Chase, now Mrs. Senator Sprague, was a lovely woman and deserved all the admiration she received. Mr. Lincoln was more trusting than his wife. He never doubted the loyalty of those who claimed to be his friends. He was honest to the core and as frank as a child. He never dreamed of questioning the sincerity of others.

"Father, I do wish that you would inquire a little into the motives of Chase," said his wife one day.

"Father, I really wish you would look into Chase's motives," his wife said one day.

The President was lying carelessly upon a sofa, holding a newspaper in his hands. "Mother, you are too suspicious. I give you credit for sagacity, but you are disposed to magnify trifles. Chase is a patriot, and one of my best friends."

The President was reclining casually on a sofa, holding a newspaper. "Mother, you are too suspicious. I know you are perceptive, but you tend to make too much of small things. Chase is a patriot and one of my best friends."

"Yes, one of your best friends because it is his interest to be so. He is anything for Chase. If he thought he could make anything by it, he would betray you to-morrow."

"Yes, he is one of your best friends because it serves his interests. He would do anything for Chase. If he thought he could gain anything by it, he would betray you tomorrow."

"I fear that you are prejudiced against the man, mother. I know that you do him injustice."

"I'm afraid you're prejudiced against the man, Mother. I know you're being unfair to him."

"Mr. Lincoln, you are either blind or will not see. I am not the only one that has warned you against him."

"Mr. Lincoln, you are either blind or unwilling to see. I am not the only one who has warned you about him."

"True, I receive letters daily from all parts of the country, telling me not to trust Chase; but then these letters are written by the political enemies of the Secretary, and it would be unjust and foolish to pay any attention to them."

"True, I receive letters every day from all parts of the country, telling me not to trust Chase. But the letters are written by the Secretary's political enemies. It would be unfair and foolish to pay any attention to them."

"Very well, you will find out some day, if you live long enough, that I have read the man correctly. I only hope that your eyes may not be opened to the truth when it is too late." The President, as far as I could judge from his conversation with his wife, continued to confide in Mr. Chase to the time of his tragic death.

"Very well, if you live long enough, you will someday see that I judged the man correctly. I only hope you won't see the truth when it's too late." From what I could tell from the President's conversations with his wife, he continued to trust Mr. Chase until his tragic death.

Mrs. Lincoln was especially severe on Mr. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State. She but rarely lost an opportunity to say an unkind word of him.

Mrs. Lincoln was especially harsh toward Mr. Wm. H. Seward, the Secretary of State. She rarely missed an opportunity to say something unkind about him.

One morning I went to the White House earlier than usual. Mr. Lincoln was sitting in a chair, reading a paper, stroking with one hand the head of little Tad. I was basting a dress for Mrs. Lincoln. A servant entered, and handed the President a letter just brought by a messenger. He broke the seal, and when he had read the contents his wife asked:

One morning I went to the White House earlier than usual. Mr. Lincoln was sitting in a chair, reading a newspaper and stroking little Tad’s head with one hand. I was basting a dress for Mrs. Lincoln. A servant entered and handed the President a letter that a messenger had just brought. He opened it, and after he read it, his wife asked:

"Who is the letter from, father?"

"Who is the letter from, father?"

"Seward; I must go over and see him today."

"Seward. I must go see him today."

"Seward! I wish you had nothing to do with that man. He cannot be trusted."

"Seward! I wish you had nothing to do with that man. You can't trust him."

"You say the same of Chase. If I listened to you, I should soon be without a Cabinet."

"You say the same thing about Chase. If I listened to you, I would soon have no Cabinet."

"Better be without it than to confide in some of the men that you do. Seward is worse than Chase. He has no principle."

"You're better off without it than trusting some of the men you trust. Seward is worse than Chase. He has no principles."

"Mother, you are mistaken; your prejudices are so violent that you do not stop to reason. Seward is an able man, and the country as well as myself can trust him."

"Mother, you are wrong. Your prejudices are so strong that you don't stop to think. Seward is a capable man, and both the country and I can trust him."

"Father, you are too honest for this world! You should have been born a saint. You will generally find it a safe rule to distrust a disappointed, ambitious politician. It makes me mad to see you sit still and let that hypocrite, Seward, twine you around his finger as if you were a skein of thread."

"Father, you are too honest for this world! You should have been born a saint. It's generally a safe rule to distrust an ambitious politician who has been disappointed. It makes me mad to see you sit still and let that hypocrite, Seward, wrap you around his finger as if you were a skein of thread."

"It is useless to argue the question, mother. You cannot change my opinion."

"There's no point in arguing about it, mother. You can't change my mind."

Mrs. Lincoln prided herself upon her ability to read character. She was shrewd and far-seeing, and had no patience with the frank, confiding nature of the President.

Mrs. Lincoln prided herself on her ability to judge character. She was shrewd and able to anticipate what lay ahead. She had no patience with the President's open and trusting nature.

When Andrew Johnson was urged for military Governor of Tennessee, Mrs. Lincoln bitterly opposed the appointment.

When Andrew Johnson was recommended as military governor of Tennessee, Mrs. Lincoln bitterly opposed his appointment.

"He is a demagogue," she said, almost fiercely, "and if you place him in power, Mr. Lincoln, mark my words, you will rue it some day."

"He is a demagogue," she said, almost fiercely. "If you put him in power, Mr. Lincoln, mark my words, you will regret it someday."

General McClellan, when made Commander-in-Chief, was the idol of the soldiers, and never was a general more universally popular. "He is a humbug," remarked Mrs. Lincoln one day in my presence.

When General McClellan became Commander-in-Chief, the soldiers adored him. No general had ever been more universally popular. "He is a fraud," Mrs. Lincoln remarked one day in my presence.

"What makes you think so, mother?" good-naturedly inquired the President.

"What makes you think so, mother?" the President asked good-naturedly.

"Because he talks so much and does so little. If I had the power I would very soon take off his head, and put some energetic man in his place."

"Because he talks so much and does so little. If I had the power, I would soon cut off his head and put an energetic man in his place."

"But I regard McClellan as a patriot and an able soldier. He has been much embarrassed. The troops are raw, and the subordinate officers inclined to be rebellious. There are too many politicians in the army with shoulder-straps. McClellan is young and popular, and they are jealous of him. They will kill him off if they can."

"But I see McClellan as a patriot and a capable soldier. He has faced many difficulties. The troops are inexperienced, and the junior officers are inclined to defy him. There are too many politicians serving as officers in the army. McClellan is young and popular, and they are jealous of him. They will destroy him if they can."

"McClellan can make plenty of excuse for himself, therefore he needs no advocate in you. If he would only do something, and not promise so much, I might learn to have a little faith in him. I tell you he is a humbug, and you will have to find some man to take his place, that is, if you wish to conquer the South."

"McClellan can make plenty of excuses for himself, so he doesn't need you to defend him. If he would only do something instead of making so many promises, I might learn to have some faith in him. I tell you he is a fraud. You will have to find someone to take his place if you want to conquer the South."

Mrs. Lincoln could not tolerate General Grant. "He is a butcher," she would often say, "and is not fit to be at the head of an army."

Mrs. Lincoln could not stand General Grant. "He is a butcher," she often said, "and is not fit to lead an army."

"But he has been very successful in the field," argued the President.

“But he has been very successful in the field,” the President argued.

"Yes, he generally manages to claim a victory, but such a victory! He loses two men to the enemy's one. He has no management, no regard for life. If the war should continue four years longer, and he should remain in power, he would depopulate the North. I could fight an army as well myself. According to his tactics, there is nothing under the heavens to do but to march a new line of men up in front of the rebel breastworks to be shot down as fast as they take their position, and keep marching until the enemy grows tired of the slaughter. Grant, I repeat, is an obstinate fool and a butcher."

"Yes, he usually manages to claim a victory, but what a victory! He loses two men for every one the enemy loses. He can't manage an army and has no regard for life. If the war continued for four more years and he remained in power, he would depopulate the North. I could command an army as well as he does. According to his tactics, there is nothing else under heaven to do but march fresh lines of men up to the rebel breastworks. They are shot down as fast as they take their positions. He keeps marching men forward until the enemy grows tired of the slaughter. Grant, I repeat, is a stubborn fool and a butcher."

"Well, mother, supposing that we give you command of the army. No doubt you would do much better than any general that has been tried." There was a twinkle in the eyes, and a ring of irony in the voice.

"Well, mother, what if we put you in command of the army? No doubt you would do much better than any general we've tried." There was a twinkle in the speaker's eyes and irony in the voice.

I have often heard Mrs. Lincoln say that if Grant should ever be elected President of the United States she would desire to leave the country, and remain absent during his term of office.

I often heard Mrs. Lincoln say that if Grant were ever elected President of the United States, she would want to leave the country for his entire term.

It was well known that Mrs. Lincoln's brothers were in the Confederate army, and for this reason it was often charged that her sympathies were with the South. Those who made the hasty charge were never more widely mistaken.

It was well known that Mrs. Lincoln's brothers were in the Confederate army. For this reason, people often accused her of supporting the South. Those who made this hasty accusation could not have been more mistaken.

One morning, on my way to the White House, I heard that Captain Alexander Todd, one of her brothers, had been killed. I did not like to inform Mrs. Lincoln of his death, judging that it would be painful news to her. I had been in her room but a few minutes when she said, with apparent unconcern, "Lizzie, I have just heard that one of my brothers has been killed in the war."

One morning, on my way to the White House, I heard that Captain Alexander Todd, one of Mrs. Lincoln's brothers, had been killed. I did not want to tell her because I thought the news would be painful. I had been in her room for only a few minutes when she said, seemingly unconcerned, "Lizzie, I just heard that one of my brothers has been killed in the war."

"I also heard the same, Mrs. Lincoln, but hesitated to speak of it, for fear the subject would be a painful one to you."

"I heard the same thing, Mrs. Lincoln, but I hesitated to mention it. I was afraid the subject would be painful for you."

"You need not hesitate. Of course, it is but natural that I should feel for one so nearly related to me, but not to the extent that you suppose. He made his choice long ago. He decided against my husband, and through him against me. He has been fighting against us; and since he chose to be our deadly enemy, I see no special reason why I should bitterly mourn his death."

"You don't need to hesitate. Of course, it's natural that I should care about someone so closely related to me. But I don't care as much as you think. He made his choice long ago. He chose to oppose my husband, and in doing so, he opposed me too. He has been fighting against us. Since he chose to be our deadly enemy, I see no special reason to grieve deeply over his death."

I felt relieved, and in subsequent conversations learned that Mrs. Lincoln had no sympathy for the South. "Why should I sympathize with the rebels," she would say; "are they not against me? They would hang my husband to-morrow if it was in their power, and perhaps gibbet me with him. How then can I sympathize with a people at war with me and mine?" She always objected to being thought Southern in feeling.

I felt relieved. In later conversations, I learned that Mrs. Lincoln had no sympathy for the South. "Why should I sympathize with the rebels?" she would say. "Aren't they against me? They would hang my husband tomorrow if they could, and perhaps hang me beside him. How, then, can I sympathize with people who are at war with me and my family?" She always objected when people thought she had Southern sympathies.

Mr. Lincoln was generous by nature, and though his whole heart was in the war, he could not but respect the valor of those opposed to him. His soul was too great for the narrow, selfish views of partisanship. Brave by nature himself, he honored bravery in others, even his foes. Time and again I have heard him speak in the highest terms of the soldierly qualities of such brave Confederate generals as Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Joseph E. Johns[t]on. Jackson was his ideal soldier. "He is a brave, honest Presbyterian soldier," were his words; "what a pity that we should have to fight such a gallant fellow! If we only had such a man to lead the armies of the North, the country would not be appalled with so many disasters."

Mr. Lincoln was generous by nature. Though he was wholeheartedly committed to the war, he could not help respecting the courage of those who opposed him. He was too great a man for the narrow, selfish views of partisan politics. Brave himself, he honored bravery in others, even his enemies. I heard him praise the military qualities of brave Confederate generals many times. Among them were Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Joseph E. Johnston. Jackson was his ideal soldier. “He is a brave, honest Presbyterian soldier,” he said. “What a pity that we have to fight such a gallant fellow! If only we had such a man to lead the armies of the North, the country would not be appalled by so many disasters.”

As this is a rambling chapter, I will here record an incident showing his feeling toward Robert E. Lee. The very morning of the day on which he was assassinated, his son, Capt. Robert Lincoln, came into the room with a portrait of General Lee in his hand. The President took the picture, laid it on a table before him, scanned the face thoughtfully, and said: "It is a good face; it is the face of a noble, noble, brave man. I am glad that the war is over at last." Looking up at Robert, he continued: "Well, my son, you have returned safely from the front. The war is now closed, and we soon will live in peace with the brave men that have been fighting against us. I trust that the era of good feeling has returned with the war, and that henceforth we shall live in peace. Now listen to me, Robert: you must lay aside your uniform, and return to college. I wish you to read law for three years, and at the end of that time I hope that we will be able to tell whether you will make a lawyer or not." His face was more cheerful than I had seen it for a long while, and he seemed to be in a generous, forgiving mood.

Since this is a rambling chapter, I will record an incident that shows Lincoln's feelings toward Robert E. Lee. On the very morning of the day he was assassinated, his son, Captain Robert Lincoln, came into the room. He was holding a portrait of General Lee. The President took the picture, laid it on a table before him, and studied the face thoughtfully. He said: "It is a good face. It is the face of a noble, noble, brave man. I am glad that the war is over at last." Looking up at Robert, he continued: "Well, my son, you have returned safely from the front. The war is now over, and we will soon live in peace with the brave men who fought against us. I trust that the war's end has brought back an era of good feeling, and that we will live in peace from now on. Now listen to me, Robert: you must put aside your uniform and return to college. I want you to study law for three years. At the end of that time, I hope we can tell whether you will make a lawyer or not." His face was more cheerful than I had seen it in a long time. He seemed to be in a generous, forgiving mood.