Mr. Stanton. I can.  Long before I dreamed of being here, he told me.  It is in three words.

Mr. Lincoln. That’s the shortest I ever heard of next to that of the English parson—­’What I say is orthodox, what I don’t believe is heterodox.’

Mr. Smith. But the three words?

Mr. Seward. Caesar’s was in these words:  Veni, vidi, vici.

Mr. Stanton. It is to be fervently hoped they will become the Latin translation of his own platform.  McClellan’s is, ‘TO RETRIEVE BULL RUN!’

Mr. Lincoln (laughing). Then, if the General told you that, he is a plagiarist:  for that is my platform.  When he was made commander here, he asked me what I wanted done.  Said I, ‘Retrieve Bull Run.’  He said he would, and turned to go.  I jocularly added, ’But can’t you tell us how you are going to do it?’ He mused a moment, and then said, ’I must work it out algebraically, and from unknown quantities produce the certain result.  “Drill” shall be my “x” and “Transportation” my “y” and “Patience” my “z.”  Then x + y + z = success.’  And now that Mr. Stanton is here, I doubt not the slate is ready for the figuring.

Mr. Stanton. Thank you, Mr. President, for the compliment.  May it prove a simple equation.

Mr. Chase (with energy). Now we call for your platform, Mr. Secretary of War.

Mr. Stanton (gracefully bowing). The President’s—­yours—­ours (looking all around).

Mr. Seward. But the allusion is a proper personal one, nevertheless.  Remember court-martial law—­the youngest always speaks first!

(Omnes compose themselves in a listening attitude.)

Mr. Stanton. First and foremost, I believe slavery to be the casus belli.  To treat the casus belli above and beyond all other considerations I hold to be the duty of the true commander-in-chief:  as the surgeon disregards secondary symptoms and probes the wound.  I would treat this casus belli as the Constitution allows us to treat it—­not one hair’s breadth from the grand old safeguard would I step.  Under the Constitution I believe slavery to be a purely local institution.  In Louisiana and Texas, a slave is an immovable by statute, and is annexed to the realty as hop-poles are in the law of New York.  In Alabama and Mississippi, the slave is a chattel.  In the first-named States he passes by deed of national act and registration; in the other, by simple receipt or delivery.  Thus even among slave States there is no uniform system respecting the slave property.  To the Northern States the slave is a person in his ballot relation to congressional quota and constituency, and also an apprentice to labor, to be delivered up on demand.  The slave escaping from Maryland to Pennsylvania is not to be delivered up, nor cared about, nor thought