Mr. Chase. But if the South is to surrender pride, what are we to surrender?

Mr. Seward (quickly). Political pride.  The battle of freedom was fought and won when the Inaugural was pronounced.  The South can not recover from the present stagnation in a quarter-century, by which time it will again have accepted contentedly the original belief that slavery, like one of the lotteries of Georgia, or one of the red-dog banks of Arkansas, is a purely local institution.

Mr. Stanton. I heartily accept the project of a national convention.  But I am against any agitation or committal to leading ideas which are to control it.  One convention ruined France, and another saved it.  We can better obtain consent of North and South to holding a convention by forbearance from discussing its probable platform.  Let it meet.  No fear but it will elucidate some satisfactory result.

Mr. Welles. You have just discussed this question of war.  I wish something could be done to settle this affair of privateering.  To my reflection it appears to embrace a very important consideration of ‘policy’ as well as of law.  A man does not always punish his embezzling clerk because the law gives him authority to do so.  The ocean rebel who to-day captures our transports laden with soldiers, may to-morrow put off twenty boats in the Potomac, and capture our men on the river schooner.  The Attorney General’s opinion and the law of Judge Kelson in New York hang the former; but military law will exchange the latter whenever a satisfactory opportunity presents itself.

Mr. Lincoln. The policy question has become a grave one.  I have been much struck by the letter of Judge Daly, of New York, to Senator Harris—­a most opportune, learned, and temperate paper.

[Enter an attendant.]

Mr. Lincoln. Gen. McClellan is at the door.  Invite him in.

Mr. Stanton. By all means.  He is ’the very head and front of our offending.’

[Enter Gen. McClellan.]

Gen. McC. Good evening, Mr. President and Cabinet. (Speaking rapidly and brusquely.) The bridge equipages are now entirely complete.  Here is a dispatch acknowledging the receipt of the last supply.  With February is ushered in the Southern spring, which, as you all know, must end ‘this winter of our discontent.’  The Western V now is perfect from Cairo and Harper’s Ferry at the top to Cumberland Gap at the bottom.  It is the first letter in Victory.

Mr. Lincoln. When the General becomes oratorical, then indeed has he good news.

Gen. McC. I have, sir; but, with great respect to all these our friends, it must be for your own ears, to-night at least.

Mr. Lincoln (rising). We will withdraw to the library.  Gentlemen, pray come to some understanding during our absence respecting the reply to be sent to M. Thouvenel’s extraordinary secret dispatch.  I will rejoin you in—­