A Lincoln quote

[STS Lincolnite]

(02-06-2017 06:21 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Seward actually had told him to be aware. New York Times Editor Henry J. Raymond wrote: "Free from the faintest impulse of revenge himself, he could not appreciate its desperate intensity in the hearts of others. Mr. Seward, with his larger experience and more practical knowledge of human nature, had repeatedly told him that so great a contest could never close without passing through an era of assassination - that if it did not come as a means of aiding the rebel cause, it would follow, and seek to avenge its downfall, and that it was the duty of all who were responsibly and conspicuously connected with the Government, to be prepared for this supreme test of their courage and patriotic devotion. Mr. Seward himself, had acted upon this conviction, and had stood at his post always prepared for sudden death."

Seward also said: “assassination is not an American practice or habit, and one so vicious and so desperate cannot be grafted into our political system.” - This from a letter he wrote to John Bigelow July 15, 1862

Emerson Reck in his book (A. Lincoln: His Last 24 Hours, p.12) claims that Seward changed his mind on assassination shortly before Lincoln was killed after receiving correspondence from London warning of danger, the content of which was , "so portentous that Seward had consulted with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton." Reck goes on to state the Seward and Stanton agreed that they should lay the matter before Lincoln but before this could happen, Seward had his carriage accident and Lincoln was never apprised of the letters.

Apparently James Speed later recalled Seward telling him that after the fall of Richmond "if there were to be assassinations, now was the time." and that Seward had urged him to "warn the president of the danger". Speed was at the time on his way south to see Lincoln. (Stahr, Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man, p.434-435)

I would sure like to see what those letters from London said! Enough of a credible threat to change Seward's mind on assassination if Reck is accurate. Must have been something significant.