Secretary of State Seward was bothered considerably regarding the
complication into which Spain had involved the United States government
in connection with San Domingo, and related his troubles to the
President. Negotiations were not proceeding satisfactorily, and things
were mixed generally. We wished to conciliate Spain, while the negroes
had appealed against Spanish oppression.
The President did not, to all appearances, look at the matter seriously,
but, instead of treating the situation as a grave one, remarked that
Seward’s dilemma reminded him of an interview between two negroes in
Tennessee.
One was a preacher, who, with the crude and strange notions of his
ignorant race, was endeavoring to admonish and enlighten his brother
African of the importance of religion and the danger of the future.
“Dar are,” said Josh, the preacher, “two roads befo’ you, Joe; be
ca’ful which ob dese you take. Narrow am de way dat leads straight to
destruction; but broad am de way dat leads right to damnation.”
Joe opened his eyes with affright, and under the spell of the awful
danger before him, exclaimed, “Josh, take which road you please; I shall
go troo de woods.”
“I am not willing,” concluded the President, “to assume any new troubles
or responsibilities at this time, and shall therefore avoid going to the
one place with Spain, or with the negro to the other, but shall ‘take to
the woods.’ We will maintain an honest and strict neutrality.”