lead, it was said, of
General Doniphan, who denounced the resolutions as not satisfactory to
either side. Doniphan was a large, muscular man, who acquired some
fame in the Mexican war as the leader of a cavalry expedition to
California, of which nothing was heard for about six months.

The reconsideration was attributed to the interference of Mr. Lincoln
or of his recognized friends.

When the convention was about to adjourn, President Tyler made a speech
in which he thrice invoked the blessing of Heaven upon the doings of
the convention, and from that act he went to Richmond, and in less than
three days he was an avowed and recognized leader in secession.
Indeed, it was understood in the convention that Mr. Seddon was his
representative on the floor. The doings of the Congress were endorsed
by Maryland, but in the National Congress, and in the States North and
South they were neglected utterly. The result which Mr. Seward
anticipated was not realized by the country.

After the arrival of Mr. Lincoln the Massachusetts delegation called
upon him to recommend the selection of Mr. Chase for the Treasury
Department in preference to General Cameron, and to say that the
capitalists of the East would have more confidence in the former than
in the latter. Mr. Lincoln did not say what his purposes were, but
he made this remark:

"From what I hear, I think Mr. Chase is about one hundred and fifty to
any other man's hundred."

On the Saturday next but one, preceding the 4th of March, we called
upon Mr. Buchanan at about eleven o'clock in the morning. He said that
he should prefer to see us in the evening. In the evening we found him
alone. He at once commenced conversation, which he continued with but
slight interruptions on our part. His chief thought seemed to be to
avert bloodshed during his administration. Next, he thought he had
been wronged by both sections. Said he:

"When I rebuked the North for their personal-liberty bills, the South
applauded; but when I condemned the secession movement, then they
turned against me."

He referred to the _Charleston Mercury_ as having been very unjust, and
then putting his feet together, and with his head on one shoulder, he
said:

"I am like a man on a narrow isthmus, without a friend on either side."

Within a few days of this interview, we called upon General Cass, who
was then living in a house that is now annexed to the Arlington Hotel.
He had retired from the