President Buchanan, he aroused the North by sending his
immortal dispatch to the commander of a revenue cutter: "If any man
attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." This
bespoke the heart of the patriot, loving his country's banner, and the
arm of the hero, ready to defend it; and, clad in this armor of proof,
he has since been invulnerable. The President took kindly to the
proposition concerning General Dix, and I flattered myself that it would
come off, when suddenly the General was appointed Minister
Plenipotentiary to France. I imagine that Mr. Seward had got wind of the
project and hurried Dix out of the way. Thus, in a few days General Dix
had the offer of the Netherlands, Naval Office, and France. "Glamis, and
thane of Cawdor"; and his old age is yet so green, mayhap "the greatest
is behind."

To air his eloquence and enlighten the minds of his dear people, the
President made a tour through the North and West, in which his conduct
and declarations were so extraordinary as to defeat any hopes of success
for "my policy."

A circumstance connected with the Philadelphia Convention made an
impression on me at the time. Mr. Raymond was editor of the "New York
Times," the most powerful Republican journal in the North. Among many
who had gained large wealth by speculations during the war was Mr.
Leonard Jerome, a Republican in politics. This gentleman spent his
fortune so lavishly that his acquaintances and the public shared its
enjoyment. With other property, Mr. Jerome owned the controlling
interest in the "Times," then very valuable. Dining in New York with him
and Mr. Raymond, the latter told me it was useless to support the
President, who was daily becoming more unpopular, and that the
circulation and influence of his paper were rapidly diminishing in
consequence of his adherence to "my policy." Whereupon Mr. Jerome
replied: "I know but little about politics; but if you think it right to
stand by the President, I will pay all losses that the 'Times' may
suffer to the other proprietors." This was unselfish and patriotic; and
I record it with the more pleasure, because Mr. Jerome has lost much of
his wealth, and I fear, like many another Timon, some friends with it.

After this period I saw little of President Johnson, who fought his
fight in his own way, had his hands completely tied, and barely escaped
impeachment; the Congress, meanwhile, making a whipping-post of the
South, and inflictin