Diary of John Hay: Tuesday, December 24, 1863

I dined to-day with S. S. Cox. He spoke of Greeley’s foolish  Chase explosion the other night at Wendell Phillip’s Cooper Institute meeting, and said Chase was working night and day. He has gotten nearly the whole strength of the New England States. If there is any effort made in Ohio he can be beaten there.  He has little strength in his own State.

I asked him whom his party would nominate.

C. “Gen'l McClellan! We will run McClellan. He is our best ticket. He lost some prestige by his Woodward letter. But it was necessary. He never would have gotten the nomination without it.”

“You don't agree with the Herald on Grant?”

C. “Grant belongs to the Republicans. We can't take him after his letter to Washburne. But for that, we might have taken him. The Republicans won't take him either. They have got his influence, and have no further use for him.”

“If I were a soldier I should much prefer commanding the U. S. Army for life, to four years in the Executive Mansion. I think Grant would.”

“So would McClellan, I know."

I met him again to-night in the Theatre. He says he is getting tired of Washington. He wants to spend a few years in Europe. He will go, if McClellan is next President; — thinks he will anyhow. Says it is delightful to be in the minority; you are not bored by your people for office. — “Glad you like it!” quoth I. “We will try to keep you so.”

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 143-4; for the entire diary entry see Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and Letter of John Hay, p. 143-4

Diary of John Hay: December 12, 1863

I met at the Theatre S. S. Cox, who was speaking of the statesmanship and success of Gov. Seward, attributing much to the bon hommie and affability of his manners. He says Seward sent for him the other day and asked him if he wanted to retain his place on the Committee of Foreign Relations, and if he wished to designate what gentlemen on the Democratic side should be associated with him, promising to speak to Colfax for him. This frank kindliness seemed to have won Cox over very much personally. Seward is unquestionably gaining in popularity very fast. Mercier said of him the other day: — “II est très sage.” The diplomatic body have all apparently stopped abusing him, and those who do not like, have been forced to respect.

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 138-9; For the whole diary entry see Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and letters of John Hay, p. 137.

A Raft in Mid-Ocean

Correspondence of the N. Y. Evening post:

H. B. M. Steamer Swordship
Inside Sandy Hook Nov. 12

This vessel cast anchor here two hours since, after a passage of twenty-two days from the Cape of Good Hope. On Friday morning, 10th inst., latitude 35 degrees North longitude 66 degrees West. The lookout in the foretop descried a strange looking object on the lee bow, which, in nearing, proved to be a raft with a number of people on it.

So singular a circumstance threw the ship into great excitement. The Captain ordered a boat launched immediately, supposing the people to have escaped from a foundered vessel, and of course desiring to be picked up. By this time we were within hailing distance, and the steamer was nearly stationary. A jury mast was rigged on the raft, and they ran up a flag and cheered lustily. Our Captain never swears in English, but is addicted to a sort of Persian oath. By the great ox, he cried, what does this mean?

There were about twenty-five men on the raft, and they were in a very jolly humor. – Seeing the boat lowered, one of the party shouted, Send us some whisky. We don’t want to be picked up. The Captain couldn’t stand that. Where are you going, and where are you from? he shouted. None of your business; send us some whisky, and we’ll give you a despatch to take into port. The raft was now close under the lee of the ship, and a rope was thrown out to it, which they held on to while a barrel of whisky was slung off. As soon as they got it safe, they let go the rope, to which they had tied their dispatch. On opening it there appeared a list of passengers, which the clerk read aloud. The first name on it was Games Guthrie. By thunder, cried the Captain, that’s the Chicago platform! A cheer and a yell went up from the raft as the sail was spread again to the wind. The clerk went on reading the names, the list was as follows: James Guthrie, Geo. H. Pendleton, Horatio Seymour, Fernando Wood, C. L. Vallandigham, S. S. Cox and nineteen others.

When last seen the raft was making south-east, apparently on a bee-line for the cost of Africa.

Respectfully,
BULLJACK

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Friday, December 30, 1864