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the fall elections, and opposed it on that ground only.”
“I have understood,” said I, “that Secretary Smith was not in favor of your action.
Mr. Blair told me that, when the meeting closed, he and the Secretary of the Interior went away together, and that the latter said to him, if the President carried out that policy, he might count on losing Indiana, sure!”
“He never said anything of the kind to me,” returned the President.
“And what is Mr. Blair's opinion now?”
I asked.
“Oh,” was the prompt reply, “he proved right in regard to the fall elections, but he is satisfied that we have since gained more than we lost.”
“I have been told,” I added, “that Judge Bates doubted the constitutionality of the proclamation.”
“He never expressed such an opinion in my hearing,” replied Mr. Lincoln. “No member of the Cabinet ever dissented from the policy, in any conversation with me.”
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