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New York, May 22, '60.
We would have had a politically insignificant and monotonous week if the
Republican convention at Chicago hadn't nominated [Abraham] Lincoln of Illinois, a man of
strong opinions. This, to a great extent, assures the presidential opportunities of
[Senator Stephen A.] Douglas.
People are talking much about the treatment of the Negroes. American
warships have seized several slave ships, but certain newspapers censure their vigilance,
for the American is philanthropic when it costs him nothing, and each Negro costs the
government $200 to have him sent back to his country...
It seems that the Japanese have brought magnificent presents to the
President of the United States. Since Commodore [Matthew] Perry, father-in-law of [the
banker, August] Belmont, was the first to make a treaty with Japan, the ambassadors are to
make their first visit in New York to Mrs. Belmont, who will give them a party...
New York, May 27, 1860.
They play politics here also, and they play it perhaps more bitterly than
in any other country...The same scenes that dishonored the Democratic convention at
Charlestown took place at the Republican convention in Chicago. So Seward was sacrificed
in favor of Lincoln. The latter had all sorts of jobs before he reached the [candidacy
for] President. He was in turn a sailor, a grocer, a sailmaker, a rail splitter, etc.,
etc. It was this lowly origin that got him his nomination. But Douglas, before becoming a
lawyer, was a cabinetmaker. The Democrats claim that the two candidates should be treated
in accordance with their abilities, and should each be entrusted with the work which they
understand best. [Thus they say:] "Lincoln is then to be intrusted with the care of
making rails, and Douglas with that of making cabinets"...
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