Chapter VIII: Cabinet-Making--The Death of Douglas

Trumbull's interview with William Cullen Bryant, and others, who
oppose William H. Seward as a member of Lincoln's Cabinet--They
consider Seward's coterie in New York corrupt and
dangerous--Trumbull communicates the objections to
Lincoln--Lincoln thinks that the forces which backed Seward at
the Chicago Convention must not be snubbed--He has already
offered a place to Seward--The question of Cameron more
difficult--David Davis's bargain with friends of Cameron and of
Caleb Smith--Cameron tries to procure an invitation to
Springfield, but Lincoln refuses--Leonard Swett gives invitation
without Lincoln's authority--Cameron visits Springfield and
secures promise of Cabinet position from Lincoln--A. K. McClure
protests against Cameron's appointment and Lincoln requests
Cameron to decline--Cameron does not decline--Trumbull advises
Lincoln not to appoint Cameron--Lincoln's Illinois friends
protest against Cameron--Trumbull urges appointment of
Judd--Seward and Weed support Cameron, who is finally appointed
Secretary of War--Trumbull, reelected as Senator, becomes
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary--The last great
service of Senator Douglas to his country--His death and
Trumbull's tribute to his memory 139

CHAPTER IX

FORT SUMTER

The Senate appoints a committee to ask the President to recall
the appointment of Harvey as Minister to Portugal--He had
notified Governor Pickens of the Government's intention to
relieve Fort Sumter--Trumbull a member of the committee--Seward
says that he did not know of Harvey's action till after the
appointment was made--In fact, Seward gave the information to
Harvey intending that he should send it to Pickens--John Hay's
Diary says that Lincoln, before his inauguration, offered to
evacuate Fort Sumter--Also that he repeated the offer after
inauguration--This confirms a narrative of John Minor Botts--The
controversy between Botts and J. B. Baldwin concerning the
latter's interview with Lincoln on April 5, 1861--Reasons for
believing that Botts's story is true--Remarkable interview
between Douglas and Seward as to Fort Sumter 155