A Military Genius Part 17

Mrs. Wade joins me in wis.h.i.+ng you all success.

Truly yours,

B. F. WADE.

Governor Corwin writes her:

WAs.h.i.+NGTON, _Jan. 13, 1878_.

Dear Friend:

I thank you for the address of your good Governor of the third instant. I believe you will succeed in saving Maryland, but there is nothing to be done with this Congress, and your counsel to your friends is wise. Art, finesse, and trick are in this age worth the wisdom of Solomon, the faith of Abraham, and the fidelity of Moses.

Truly yours,

TOM CORWIN.[32]

[Footnote 32: Thomas Corwin was Secretary of the Treasury under Fillmore, U. S. Senator, a noted lawyer and wit, and a man of letters.]

Soon after the close of the war Miss Carroll inquires of Mr. Stanton if he could not furnish what was termed "a transportation and subsistence" for a southern tour. Many people were present. He remarks he had rather pay her millions of dollars than to say no to any request she could make of him. "You," he says, "who have done such incomparable services for the country with so much modesty and so little pretension," etc.

Miss Carroll does not like so much in the line of compliment and says to General Hardie as she pa.s.ses out, "Mr. Stanton said too much and attracted the attention of all in the room."

Hardie says, "Don't take it in that light. Mr. Stanton is not the man to say what he don't mean, and, I venture to say, never said so much to any one besides during the war."

Miss Carroll relates this to Judge Wade. "Why," says he, "Stanton has said the same of you to me, and often in the same vein; he said your course was the most remarkable in the war; that you found yourself, got no pay, and did the great work that made others famous."

For these reports and conversations see--

45th Congress,} House of Representatives.} Miss. Doc.

2nd Session, } Pp. 30, 31, 32, 33. } No. 58.

Vol. 6, Miscellaneous Doc.u.ments, Doc.u.ment Room of the Senate.

CHAPTER VII.

MISS CARROLL'S PAMPHLETS IN AID OF THE ADMINISTRATION. THE PRESENTATION OF THE BILL.

In July of 1862 Miss Carroll presented her very modest bill for the pamphlets that had been accepted at the War Department, which included the expenses paid by herself of printing and circulating.

Of the Breckenridge pamphlet she printed and circulated 50,000, which went off, as Hon. James Tilghman (president of the Union a.s.sociation in Baltimore in 1860) testifies, "like hot cakes."

In the library of the State Department specimens of two large editions of the War Powers may be seen side by side in the volumes of bound ma.n.u.scripts. It is over 23 closely printed pages in length, and was circulated east and west with admirable results, all expenses borne by Miss Carroll personally.

The Power of the President to Suspend the Writ of _Habeas Corpus_, The Relation of the Revolted Citizens to the United States, and other able papers followed.

The Secretary of War suggested the presentation of Miss Carroll's bill, advising her to obtain the opinion of one or more competent judges as to the reasonableness of her charges and a statement of the understanding upon which they were written.

The bill is as follows, and the testimonials are as reported in the Miss. Doc. 58 (House), 45th Congress, 2d session:

_Secret-Service Fund of the War Department to Anna Ella Carroll, Dr., as per Agreement with Hon. Thomas A. Scott, a.s.sistant Secretary of War._

1861.

Sept. 25. To circulating the Breckenridge reply $1,250 Dec. 24. To writing, publis.h.i.+ng, and circulating the "War Powers," etc. 3,000

1862.

May ----. Writing, publis.h.i.+ng, and circulating the relations of the National Government to the rebelled citizens 2,000 ------ $6,250

Credit, October 2, 1861: By cash 1,250 ------ $5,000

PHILADELPHIA, _January 2, 1863_.

I believe Miss Carroll has earned fairly, and should be paid, the compensation she has charged above.

THOS. A. SCOTT.

PHILADELPHIA, _January 28, 1863_.

All my interviews with Miss Carroll were in my official capacity as a.s.sistant Secretary of War, and in that capacity I would have allowed, and believed she should be paid, the amount of her bill within, which is certified as being reasonable by many of the leading men of the country.

THOS. A. SCOTT.

PHILADELPHIA, _January 28, 1863_.

The pamphlets published by Miss Carroll were published upon a general understanding made by me with her as a.s.sistant Secretary of War, under no special authority in the premises, but under a general authority then exercised by me in the discharge of public duties as a.s.sistant Secretary of War. I then thought them of value to the service, and still believe they were of great value to the Government. I brought the matter generally to the knowledge of General Cameron, then Secretary of War, without his having special knowledge of the whole matter; he made no objections thereto. No price was fixed, but it was understood that the Government would treat her with sufficient liberality to compensate her for any service she might render, and I believe she acted upon the expectation that she would be paid by the Government.

THOMAS A. SCOTT.

NEW YORK, _October 10, 1862_.