Mr. Bates. I suppose you passed not a few interesting hours in this room at the twilight of Mr. Buchanan's day, whilst holding my portfolio?
Mr. Stanton. Too momentous to be called by me interesting. Posterity, reading, will say that. And those twilight hours, as you felicitously term them, were followed by anxious vigils. But these belong to confidences.
Mr. Lincoln (abruptly and familiarly). Talking of confidences, what do you think of the news about Zollicoffer?
Mr. Stanton. It appears reliable, and is a most providential success. Eastern Tennessee was tending to the position which Lucknow sustained towards the Indian rebellion. It is now relieved, and a fortnight or so will bring intelligence that the whole of it has practically joined forces to Western Virginia. I regard it as of the highest importance to prove, by industrious acts, that we recognize and reward the sufferings of these American Albigenses in their Cumberland fastnesses. How grandly would swell the old Miltonian hymn, properly paraphrased, when a brigade of the loyal Tennessians may sing
'Avenge, Columbia, thy slaughtered hosts, whose bones
Lie scattered on the Western mountains cold,'
and so forth!
Mr. Lincoln. Now, you are stepping into Seward's province. He is the poet of my cabinet!
Mr. Seward. Granted for the argument: but there is more truth than poetry in what our new brother has just said. Throughout how many weary months have those brave thousands who voted against secession awaited the crack of our rifles and our cannon-smoke—true music and sacred incense to them.
Mr. Blair (practically). Next to the border States we must take care of the newspapers.