In fact, everyone at Washington regarded it as certain that Seward would
determine the policy of the new administration. Seward's own attitude is
well summed up in a despatch to his Government, February 18, 1861, by
Rudolph Schleiden, Minister from the Republic of Bremen. He described a
conversation with Seward in regard to his relations with Lincoln:
"Seward, however, consoled himself with the clever remark,
that there is no great difference between an elected
president of the United States and an hereditary monarch. The
latter is called to the throne through the accident of birth,
the former through the chances which make his election
possible. The actual direction of public affairs belongs to
the leader of the ruling party, here as well as in any
hereditary principality.
"The future President is a self-made man and there is
therefore as little doubt of his energy as of his proverbial
honesty ('honest old Abe'). It is also acknowledged that he
does not lack common sense. But his other qualities for the
highest office are practically unknown. His election may
therefore be readily compared with a lottery. It is possible
that the United States has drawn the first prize, on the
other hand the gain may only have been a small one.
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