rward. Then he
spent several hours at the topographical bureau, hunting for some old
maps which he insisted had been there since the Creek campaign. He was
rewarded for his industry by finding also an admirable map and survey of
the situation around New Orleans.

_Mr. Seward._ The General is a believer in Robert Bruce's spider. The
American spider's-web didn't reach Richmond in July, nor Columbus in
November, but McClellan has kept on busily spinning.

_Mr. Blair._ Can any one tell me what is the General's platform?

_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