Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography; Leland, Charles Godfrey, 1824-1903
The _Continental Magazine_ was, as I may say, a something more than semi-
official organ. Mr. Seward contributed to it two anonymous articles, or
rather their substance, which were written out and forwarded to me by
Oakey Hall, Esq., of New York. We received from the Cabinet at
Washington continual suggestions, for it was well understood that the
_Continental_ was read by all influential Republicans. A contributor had
sent us a very important article indeed, pointing out that there was all
through the South, from the Mississippi to the sea, a line of mountainous
country in which there were few or no slaves, and very little attachment
to the Confederacy. This article, which was extensively republished,
attracted great attention. It gave great strength and encouragement to
the grand plan of the campaign, afterwards realised by Sherman. By
_official request_, to me directed, the author contributed a second
article on the subject. These articles were extensively circulated in
pamphlet form or widely copied by the press, and created a great
sensation, forming, in fact, one of the great points made in influencing
public opinion. Another of the same kind, but not ours, was the famous
pamphlet by Charles Stille, of Philadelphia, "How a Free People Conduct a
Long War," in which it was demonstrated that the man who can hold out
longest in a fight has the best chance, which simple truth made, however,
an incredible popular impression. Gilmore and our friends succeeded, in
fact, in making the _Continental Magazine_ "respected at court." But I
kept my independence and principles, and thundered away so fiercely for
_immediate_ emancipation that I was confidentially informed that Mr.
Seward once exclaimed in a rage, "Damn Leland and his magazine!" But as
he damned me only officially and in confidence, I took it in the
Pickwickian sense. And at this time I realised that, though I was not
personally very much before the public, I was doing great and good work,
and, as I have said, a great many very distinguished persons expressed to
me by letter or in conversation their appreciation of it; and some on the
other side wrote letters giving it to me _per contra_, and one of these
was Caleb Cushing. Cushing in Chinese means "ancient glory," but Caleb's
renown was extinguished in those days.
I may add that not only did H. W. Longfellow express to me his sympathy
for and admiration of my efforts to aid the Union cause, but at one time
or another all of my literary friends in Boston, who perfectly understood
and showed deep interest in what I was doing. Which can be well believed
of a city in which, above all others in the world, everybody sincerely
aims at culture and knowledge, the first principle of which--inspired by
praiseworthy local patriotism--is to know and take pride in what is done
in Boston by its natives.
V. LIFE DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND ITS SEQUENCE. 1862-1866.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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