the medicines, clothing, food and exchange of our prisoners?

_Mr. Seward._ That may only be conceded by accepting commissioners for a
similar purpose from the rebel government.

_Mr. Chase._ Our plans are now so perfectly matured that even the danger
of spies recedes. I am in favor of Mr. Stanton's proposition.

_Mr. Lincoln._ I think you can try it. There are so many prisoners, from
all parts of the country, that public sentiment must uphold the measure.

_Mr. Smith._ Mr. Secretary of State, you were taking notes whilst Mr.
Stanton was giving his views upon the restoration question. Were they on
that subject?

_Mr. Seward._ Yes. Some fleeting thoughts occurred to me which I was
desirous of preserving for to-morrow. _I_ have a great deal of faith in
establishing Southern 'doughfacery.'

_Mr. Welles._ Doughfacery?

_Mr. Seward._ Yes: that supremacy of pocket over pride which so long
afflicted the North. Above and beyond the slave-owners must rise the
great class of manufacturers and merchants,--almost every third man of
Northern origin, too,--whose pocket is the great sufferer, and without
whose property, hereafter, plantations can not prosper. Given a decent
pretext for adjustment, when pride will go to the wall. Once allow the
masses to grasp the reins, and the slave-owners will be driven to the
wall-side of the political highway also. This I call Southern
doughfacery for the sake of a phrase well understood.

_Mr. Blair._ Then your old plan of the great national convention comes
in vogue?

_Mr. Lincoln._ _My_ plan! (_Good humoredly._) You must not _all_ steal
my thunder. By the way, Seward, your pleasant friend Judge D----, who
came from New York about Col. Corcoran, told me the meaning of that
phrase. It seems a Dublin stage manager got up a scenic play with
thunder in it perfectly imitated by a diapason of bass drums. A rival
got up another scenic play, to which, out of jealous _pique_, the
inventor repaired as a spectator. To his surprise he heard his own
invention from behind the scenes. He instantly exclaimed aloud, 'The
rascal, he's stolen my thunder!'

_Mr. Seward (jocularly)._ The President finds a parallel between a
national convention and thunder. Well, well, the clearest atmosphere is
breathed after the clouds culminate in thunder and lightning. I accept
the application.

_Mr. Chase._ But if the South is to surrender pride, what are _we_ to
surrender?

_Mr. Seward (quickly)._ _Political_ pri