ssue until you can
give it to the country supported by military success, instead of
issuing it, as would be the case now, upon the greatest disasters of
the war."[829] Seward's view was adopted, and in place of the
proclamation appeared the Executive Order of July 22, the
unenforcement of which Greeley had so fiercely criticised in his
"Prayer of Twenty Millions." Thurlow Weed, who, in June, had returned
from London heavily freighted with good results for the Union
accomplished by his influence with leading Englishmen, held the
opinion of Seward. Raymond had also made the _Times_ an able defender
of the President's policy, and although not violent in its opposition
to the attitude of the Radicals, it never ceased its efforts to
suppress agitation of the slavery question.

[Footnote 829: Frank B. Carpenter, _Six Months at the White House_, pp.
22, 23.]

In its purpose to nominate Dix the New York _Herald_ likewise bore a
conspicuous part. It had urged his selection upon the Democrats,
declaring him stronger than Seymour. It now urged him upon the
Republicans, insisting that he was stronger than Wadsworth.[830] This
was also the belief of Weed, whose sagacity as to the strength of
political leaders was rarely at fault.[831] On the contrary, Governor
Morgan expressed the opinion that "Wadsworth will be far more
available than any one yet mentioned as my successor."[832] Wadsworth's
service at the battle of Bull Run had been distinguished. "Gen.
McDowell told us on Monday," wrote Thurlow Weed, "that Major Wadsworth
rendered him the most important service before, during, and after
battle. From others we have learned that after resisting the stampede,
earnestly but ineffectually, he remained to the last moment aiding the
wounded and encouraging surgeons to remain on the field as many of
them did."[833] Wadsworth's subsequent insistence that the Army of the
Potomac, then commanded by McClellan, could easily crush the
Confederates, who, in his opinion, did not number over 50,000[834], had
again brought his name conspicuously before the country. Moreover,
since the 8th of March he had commanded the forces in and about
Washington, and had acted as Stanton's adviser in the conduct of the
war.

[Footnote 830: New York _Herald_, September 19 and October 15, 1862.]

[Footnote 831: Albany _Evening Journal_, November 6, 1862.]

[Footnote 832: T.W. Barnes, _Life of Thurlow Weed_, Vol. 2, p. 413.]

[Footnote 833: Albany _Evening