Had some talk with Senator Lot Morrill, who is a good deal
excited, not to say alarmed. The slow progress of our armies, the mismanagement
of military affairs exemplified in the recent raids, the factious and
discontented spirit manifested by Wade, Winter Davis, and others, have
generated a feeling of despondency in which he participates. Others express to
me similar feelings.
There is no doubt a wide discouragement prevails, from the
causes adverted to, and others which have contributed. A want of homogeneity
exists among the old Whigs, who are distrustful and complaining. It is much
more natural for them to denounce than to approve, — to pull down than to build
up. Their leaders and their followers, to a considerable extent, have little
confidence in themselves or their cause, and hence it is a ceaseless labor with
them to assail the Administration of which they are professed supporters.
The worst specimens of these wretched politicians are in New
York City and State, though they are to be found everywhere. There is not an
honest, fair-dealing Administration journal in New York City. A majority of
them profess to be Administration, and yet it is without sincerity. The New
York Herald with a deservedly bad name, gives tone and direction to the New
York press, particularly those of Whig antecedents and which profess to support
the Administration. It is not, of course, acknowledged by them, nor are they
conscious of the leadership, but it is nevertheless obvious and clear. When the
Herald has in view to defame or put a mark upon a man, it commences and
persists in its course against him. He may be the friend of the Tribune and
Times. Of course, they do not at first assent to what is said by the Herald.
Sometimes they will make a defense, — perhaps an earnest and strong one, but
the Herald does not regard it and goes on attacking, ridiculing,
abusing, and defaming. Gradually one of the journals gives way, echoes slightly
the slanders of the Herald, and having once commenced, it follows up the
work. The other journals, when things have proceeded to that length, also
acquiesce. This is a truthful statement of the standing and course and conduct
of the papers I have named.
The Times is a stipendiary sheet; its principal
editor, Raymond, mercenary, possessing talent but a subservient follower of
Weed and Seward. At present, the paper being in the hands of Thurlow Weed and sic,
it will not for the campaign openly attack the President, who is the candidate.
But it will, under the lead of the Herald, attack any and every member
of the Cabinet but Seward, unless Seward through Weed restrains him.
The Tribune is owned by a company which really desired
to give a fair support to the Administration, but Greeley, the editor, is
erratic, unreliable, without stability, an enemy of the Administration because
he hates Seward, a creature of sentiment or impulse, not of reason nor
professed principle. Having gone to extremes in the measures that fermented and
brought on this war, he would now go to extremes to quell it. I am prepared to
see him acquiesce in a division of the Union, or the continuance of slavery, to
accomplish his personal party schemes. There are no men or measures to which he
will adhere faithfully. He is ambitious, talented, but not considerate,
persistent, or profound.
The Evening Post is a journal of a different
description and still retains some of its former character for ability and sense.
Bryant, I am inclined to believe, means well, and of himself would do well. But
he is getting on in years, and his son-in-law Godwin attempts to wield the
political bludgeon. In him the mercenary and unscrupulous partisan is apparent.
I was compelled to expose Henderson, the publisher, for malfeasance, and the
commission before whom he was arraigned held him to bail for embezzlement. The Post
blackguarded the witness, and Godwin said that if the Navy Department could
afford to do without the Evening Post, the Evening Post could
afford to do without the Navy Department. This Colonel Olcott tells me Godwin
said to Wilson, the attorney for the Department.
These are the Administration journals in the city of New York.
Thurlow Weed has control of the Evening Journal of Albany and to a
considerable extent of the press of the State of Whig antecedents. He is
sagacious, unscrupulous, has ability and great courage, with little honest
principle, is fertile in resources, a keen party tactician, but cannot win
respect and confidence, for he does not deserve them. For some time past he has
been ingratiating himself with the Copperhead journals and leaders, and by his
skill has made fools of their editors, but I apprehend has not fooled their
leading managers. He evidently believes, not without reason, he is using them;
they know they are using him; to some extent each may deceive the other. There
is a feigned difference between him and Seward, or there has been, but no one
is misled by it. Weed is indispensable to Seward and the master mind of the
two. This is as well known to the Copperhead leaders as to any persons. Re
cently Weed has been here and has had interviews with the President, to what
purpose, whether of his own volition or by invitation, I have never inquired. I
have noticed that Seward endeavors to impress on the President the value of
Weed's opinion, especially in party matters.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the
Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866,
p. 102-5
