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diff --git a/38484-h/38484-h.htm b/38484-h/38484-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d008ae8 --- /dev/null +++ b/38484-h/38484-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10422 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Abraham Lincoln, by William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 2 (of 2), by +William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Abraham Lincoln, Volume 2 (of 2) + The True Story of a Great Life + +Author: William H. Herndon + Jesse W. Weik + +Commentator: Horace White + +Release Date: January 3, 2012 [EBook #38484] +Last Updated: November 10, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VOLUME 2 (OF 2) *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + ABRAHAM LINCOLN + </h1> + <h2> + The True Story of a Great Life + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + With An Introduction By Horace White + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + In Two Volumes Vol. II + </h4> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + 1896 + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/frontipiece.jpg" alt="frontipiece (63K) " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_APPE"> <b>APPENDIX.</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> UNPUBLISHED FAMILY LETTERS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> AN INCIDENT ON THE CIRCUIT. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> LINCOLN'S FELLOW LAWYERS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE TRUCE WITH DOUGLAS.—TESTIMONY OF + IRWIN. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE BLOOMINGTON CONVENTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> AN OFFICE DISCUSSION—LINCOLN'S IDEA OF + WAR. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> LINCOLN AND THE KNOW-NOTHINGS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> LINCOLN'S VIEWS ON THE RIGHTS OF SUFFRAGE. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE BURIAL OF THE ASSASSIN BOOTH. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> A TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN BY A COLLEAGUE AT THE + BAR. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> LINCOLN AT FORT MONROE. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + List of Illustrations + </h2> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0001"> Lyman Trumbull </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0002"> Hall of Representatives, State House, + Springfield </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0003"> Letter to Campbell </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0004"> Lincoln Home in Springfield </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0005"> Letter to Kansas Delegate </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0006"> Portrait of Lincoln in 1860 </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0007"> Springfield Railway Station </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0008"> Portraits </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0009"> Ford's Theatre </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0010"> The Peterson House </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0011"> Statue </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0012"> Lincoln Monument, Springfield </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + A LAW office is a dull, dry place so far as pleasurable or interesting + incidents are concerned. If one is in search of stories of fraud, deceit, + cruelty, broken promises, blasted homes, there is no better place to learn + them than a law office. But to the majority of persons these painful + recitals are anything but attractive, and it is well perhaps that it + should be so. In the office, as in the court room, Lincoln, when + discussing any point, was never arbitrary or insinuating. He was + deferential, cool, patient, and respectful. When he reached the office, + about nine o'clock in the morning, the first thing he did was to pick up a + newspaper, spread himself out on an old sofa, one leg on a chair, and read + aloud, much to my discomfort. Singularly enough Lincoln never read any + other way but aloud. This habit used to annoy me almost beyond the point + of endurance. I once asked him why he did so. This was his explanation: + "When I read aloud two senses catch the idea: first, I see what I read; + second, I hear it, and therefore I can remember it better." He never + studied law books unless a case was on hand for consideration—never + followed up the decisions of the supreme courts, as other lawyers did. It + seemed as if he depended for his effectiveness in managing a lawsuit + entirely on the stimulus and inspiration of the final hour. He paid but + little attention to the fees and money matters of the firm—usually + leaving all such to me. He never entered an item in the account book. If + any one paid money to him which belonged to the firm, on arriving at the + office he divided it with me. If I was not there, he would wrap up my + share in a piece of paper and place it in my drawer—marking it with + a pencil, "Case of Roe vs. Doe.—Herndon's half." + </p> + <p> + On many topics he was not a good conversationalist, because he felt that + he was not learned enough. Neither was he a good listener. Putting it a + little strongly, he was often not even polite. If present with others, or + participating in a conversation, he was rather abrupt, and in his anxiety + to say something apt or to illustrate the subject under discussion, would + burst in with a story. In our office I have known him to consume the whole + forenoon relating stories. If a man came to see him for the purpose of + finding out something which he did not care to let him know and at the + same time did not want to refuse him, he was very adroit. In such cases + Lincoln would do most of the talking, swinging around what he suspected + was the vital point, but never nearing it, interlarding his answers with a + seemingly endless supply of stories and jokes. The interview being both + interesting and pleasant, the man would depart in good humor, believing he + had accomplished his mission. After he had walked away a few squares and + had cooled off, the question would come up, "Well, what did I find out?" + Blowing away the froth of Lincoln's humorous narratives he would find + nothing substantial left. + </p> + <p> + "As he entered the trial," relates one of his colleagues at the bar,* + "where most lawyers would object he would say he 'reckoned' it would be + fair to let this in, or that; and sometimes, when his adversary could not + quite prove what Lincoln knew to be the truth, he 'reckoned' it would be + fair to admit the truth to be so-and-so. When he did object to the court, + and when he heard his objections answered, he would often say, 'Well, I + reckon I must be wrong.' Now, about the time he had practised this + three-fourths through the case, if his adversary didn't understand him, he + would wake up in a few minutes learning that he had feared the Greeks too + late, and find himself beaten. He was wise as a serpent in the trial of a + cause, but I have had too many scares from his blows to certify that he + was harmless as a dove. When the whole thing was unravelled, the adversary + would begin to see that what he was so blandly giving away was simply what + he couldn't get and keep. By giving away six points and carrying the + seventh he carried his case, and the whole case hanging on the seventh, he + traded away everything which would give him the least aid in carrying + that. Any man who took Lincoln for a simple-minded man would very soon + wake up with his back in a ditch." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Leonard Swett. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Lincoln's restless ambition found its gratification only in the field of + politics. He used the law merely as a stepping-stone to what he considered + a more attractive condition in the political world. In the allurements + held out by the latter he seemed to be happy. Nothing in Lincoln's life + has provoked more discussion than the question of his ability as a lawyer. + I feel warranted in saying that he was at the same time a very great and a + very insignificant lawyer. Judge David Davis, in his eulogy on Lincoln at + Indianapolis, delivered at the meeting of the bar there in May, 1865, said + this: "In all the elements that constituted a lawyer he had few equals. He + was great at <i>nisi prius</i> and before an appellate tribunal. He seized + the strong points of a cause and presented them with clearness and great + compactness. His mind was logical and direct, and he did not indulge in + extraneous discussion. Generalities and platitudes had no charm for him. + An unfailing vein of humor never deserted him, and he was able to claim + the attention of court and jury when the cause was most uninteresting by + the appropriateness of his anecdotes. His power of comparison was large, + and he rarely failed in a legal discussion to use that mode of reasoning. + The framework of his mental and moral being was honesty, and a wrong case + was poorly defended by him. The ability which some eminent lawyers possess + of explaining away the bad points of a cause by ingenious sophistry was + denied him. In order to bring into full activity his great powers it was + necessary that he should be convinced of the right and justice of the + matter which he advocated. When so convinced, whether the cause was great + or small he was usually successful." * + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * He never took advantage of a man's low character to prejudice the + jury. Mr. Lincoln thought his duty to his client extended to what was + honorable and high-minded, just and noble—nothing further. Hence + the meanest man at the bar always paid great deference and respect to + him.—David Davis, Sept. 10, 1866, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + This statement of Judge Davis in general is correct, but in some + particulars is faulty. It was intended as a eulogy on Lincoln, and as such + would not admit of as many limitations and modifications as if spoken + under other circumstances. In 1866 Judge Davis said in a statement made to + me in his home at Bloomington, which I still have, "Mr. Lincoln had no + managing faculty nor organizing power; hence a child could conform to the + simple and technical rules, the means and the modes of getting at justice, + better than he. The law has its own rules, and a student could get at them + or keep with them better than Lincoln. Sometimes he was forced to study + these if he could not get the rubbish of a case removed. But all the way + through his lack of method and organizing ability was clearly apparent." + The idea that Mr. Lincoln was a great lawyer in the higher courts and a + good <i>nisi prius</i> lawyer, and yet that a child or student could + manage a case in court better than he, seems strangely inconsistent, but + the facts of his life as a lawyer will reconcile this and other apparent + contradictions. + </p> + <p> + I was not only associated with Mr. Lincoln in Springfield, but was + frequently on the circuit with him, but of course not so much as Judge + Davis, who held the court, and whom Lincoln followed around on the circuit + for at least six months out of the year. I easily realized that Lincoln + was strikingly deficient in the technical rules of the law. Although he + was constantly reminding young legal aspirants to study and "work, work," + yet I doubt if he ever read a single elementary law book through in his + life. In fact, I may truthfully say, I never knew him to read through a + law book of any kind. Practically, he knew nothing of the rules of + evidence, of pleading, or practice, as laid down in the text-books, and + seemed to care nothing about them. He had a keen sense of justice, and + struggled for it, throwing aside forms, methods, and rules, until it + appeared pure as a ray of light flashing through a fog-bank. He was not a + general reader in any field of knowledge, but when he had occasion to + learn or investigate any subject he was thorough and indefatigable in his + search. He not only went to the root of a question, but dug up the root, + and separated and analyzed every fibre of it. He was in every respect a + case lawyer, never cramming himself on any question till he had a case in + which the question was involved. He thought slowly and acted slowly; he + must needs have time to analyze all the facts in a case and wind them into + a connected story. I have seen him lose cases of the plainest justice, + which the most inexperienced member of the bar would have gained without + effort. Two things were essential to his success in managing a case. One + was time; the other a feeling of confidence in the justice of the cause he + represented. He used to say, "If I can free this case from technicalities + and get it properly swung to the jury, I'll win it." But if either of + these essentials were lacking, he was the weakest man at the bar. He was + greatest in my opinion as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of Illinois. There + the cases were never hurried. The attorneys generally prepared their cases + in the form of briefs, and the movements of the court and counsel were so + slow that no one need be caught by surprise. I was with Lincoln once and + listened to an oral argument by him in which he rehearsed an extended + history of the law. It was a carefully prepared and masterly discourse, + but, as I thought, entirely useless. After he was through and we were + walking home I asked him why he went so far back in the history of the + law. I presumed the court knew enough history. "That's where you're + mistaken," was his instant rejoinder. "I dared not trust the case on the + presumption that the court knows everything—in fact I argued it on + the presumption that the court didn't know anything," a statement which, + when one reviews the decision of our appellate courts, is not so + extravagant as one would at first suppose. + </p> + <p> + I used to grow restless at Lincoln's slow movements and speeches in court. + "Speak with more vim," I would frequently say, "and arouse the jury—talk + faster and keep them awake." In answer to such a suggestion he one day + made use of this illustration: "Give me your little pen-knife, with its + short blade, and hand me that old jack-knife, lying on the table." Opening + the blade of the pen-knife he said: "You see, this blade at the point + travels rapidly, but only through a small portion of space till it stops; + while the long blade of the jack-knife moves no faster but through a much + greater space than the small one. Just so with the long, labored movements + of my mind. I may not emit ideas as rapidly as others, because I am + compelled by nature to speak slowly, but when I do throw off a thought it + seems to me, though it comes with some effort, it has force enough to cut + its own way and travel a greater distance." This was said to me when we + were alone in our office simply for illustration. It was not said + boastingly. + </p> + <p> + As a specimen of Lincoln's method of reasoning I insert here the brief or + notes of an argument used by him in a lawsuit as late as 1858. I copy from + the original: + </p> + <p> + "Legislation and adjudication must follow and conform to the progress of + society. + </p> + <p> + "The progress of society now begins to produce cases of the transfer for + debts of the entire property of railroad corporations; and to enable + transferees to use and enjoy the transferred property legislation and + adjudication begin to be necessary. + </p> + <p> + "Shall this class of legislation just now beginning with us be general or + special? + </p> + <p> + "Section Ten of our Constitution requires that it should be general, if + possible, (Read the Section.) + </p> + <p> + "Special legislation always trenches upon the judicial department; and in + so far violates Section Two of the Constitution. (Read it.) + </p> + <p> + "Just reasoning—policy—is in favor of general legislation—else + the legislature will be loaded down with the investigation of smaller + cases—a work which the courts ought to perform, and can perform much + more perfectly. How can the Legislature rightly decide the facts between + P. & B. and S. C. & Co. + </p> + <p> + "It is said that under a general law, whenever a R. R. Co. gets tired of + its debts, it may transfer fraudulently to get rid of them. So they may—so + may individuals; and which—the Legislature or the courts—is + best suited to try the question of fraud in either case? + </p> + <p> + "It is said, if a purchaser have acquired legal rights, let him not be + robbed of them, but if he needs legislation let him submit to just terms + to obtain it. + </p> + <p> + "Let him, say we, have general law in advance (guarded in every possible + way against fraud), so that, when he acquires a legal right, he will have + no occasion to wait for additional legislation; and if he has practiced + fraud let the courts so decide." + </p> + <p> + David Davis said this of Lincoln: "When in a lawsuit he believed his + client was oppressed,—as in the Wright case,—he was hurtful in + denunciation. When he attacked meanness, fraud, or vice, he was powerful, + merciless in his castigation." The Wright case referred to was a suit + brought by Lincoln and myself to compel a pension agent to refund a + portion of a fee which he had withheld from the widow of a revolutionary + soldier. The entire pension was $400, of which sum the agent had retained + one-half. The pensioner, an old woman crippled and bent with age, came + hobbling into the office and told her story. It stirred Lincoln up, and he + walked over to the agent's office and made a demand for a return of the + money, but without success. Then suit was brought. The day before the + trial I hunted up for Lincoln, at his request, a history of the + Revolutionary War, of which he read a good portion. He told me to remain + during the trial until I had heard his address to the jury. "For," said + he, "I am going to skin Wright, and get that money back." The only witness + we introduced was the old lady, who through her tears told her story. In + his speech to the jury, Lincoln recounted the causes leading to the + outbreak of the Revolutionary struggle, and then drew a vivid picture of + the hardships of Valley Forge, describing with minuteness the men, + barefooted and with bleeding feet, creeping over the ice. As he reached + that point in his speech wherein he narrated the hardened action of the + defendant in fleecing the old woman of her pension his eyes flashed, and + throwing aside his handkerchief, which he held in his right hand, he + fairly launched into him. His speech for the next five or ten minutes + justified the declaration of Davis, that he was "hurtful in denunciation + and merciless in castigation." There was no rule of court to restrain him + in his argument, and I never, either on the stump or on other occasions in + court, saw him so wrought up. Before he closed, he drew an ideal picture + of the plaintiff's husband, the deceased soldier, parting with his wife at + the threshold of their home, and kissing their little babe in the cradle, + as he started for the war. "Time rolls by," he said, in conclusion; "the + heroes of '76 have passed away and are encamped on the other shore. The + soldier has gone to rest, and now, crippled, blinded, and broken, his + widow comes to you and to me, gentlemen of the jury, to right her wrongs. + She was not always thus. She was once a beautiful young woman. Her step + was as elastic, her face as fair, and her voice as sweet as any that rang + in the mountains of old Virginia. But now she is poor and defenceless. Out + here on the prairies of Illinois, many hundreds of miles away from the + scenes of her childhood, she appeals to us, who enjoy the privileges + achieved for us by the patriots of the Revolution, for our sympathetic aid + and manly protection. All I ask is, shall we befriend her?" The speech + made the desired impression on the jury. Half of them were in tears, while + the defendant sat in the court room, drawn up and writhing under the fire + of Lincoln's fierce invective. The jury returned a verdict in our favor + for every cent we demanded. Lincoln was so much interested in the old lady + that he became her surety for costs, paid her way home, and her hotel bill + while she was in Springfield. When the judgment was paid we remitted the + proceeds to her and made no charge for our services. Lincoln's notes for + the argument were unique: "No contract.—Not professional services.—Unreasonable + charge.—Money retained by Deft not given by Pl'ff.—Revolutionary + War.—Describe Valley Forge privations.—Ice—Soldier's + bleeding feet.—Pl'ffs husband.—Soldier leaving home for army.—Skin + Def t.—Close." It must not be inferred from this that Lincoln was in + the habit of slopping over. He never hunted up acts of injustice, but if + they came to him he was easily enlisted. In 1855 he was attending court at + the town of Clinton, Illinois. Fifteen ladies from a neighboring village + in the county had been indicted for trespass. Their offence consisted in + sweeping down on one Tanner, the keeper of a saloon in the village, and + knocking in the heads of his barrels. Lincoln was not employed in the + case, but sat watching the trial as it proceeded. In defending the ladies + their attorney seemed to evince a little want of tact, and this prompted + one of the former to invite Mr. Lincoln to add a few words to the jury, if + he thought he could aid their cause. He was too gallant to refuse and, + their attorney having consented, he made use of the following argument: + "In this case I would change the order of indictment and have it read The + State vs. Mr. Whiskey, instead of The State vs. The Ladies; and touching + these there are three laws: The law of self-protection; the law of the + land, or statute law; and the moral law, or law of God. First, the law of + self-protection is a law of necessity, as evinced by our forefathers in + casting the tea overboard and asserting their right to the pursuit of + life, liberty, and happiness. In this case it is the only defense the + ladies have, for Tanner neither feared God nor regarded man. Second, the + law of the land, or statute law, and Tanner is recreant to both. Third, + the moral law, or law of God, and this is probably a law for the violation + of which the jury can fix no punishment." Lincoln gave some of his own + observations on the ruinous effects of whiskey in society, and demanded + its early suppression. After he had concluded, the Court, without awaiting + the return of the jury, dismissed the ladies, saying: "Ladies, go home. I + will require no bond of you, and if any fine is ever wanted of you, we + will let you know." + </p> + <p> + After Lincoln's death a fellow-lawyer paid this tribute to him:* "He was + wonderfully kind, careful, and just. He had an immense stock of + common-sense, and he had faith enough in it to trust it in every + emergency. Mr. Lincoln's love of justice and fair-play was his + predominating trait. I have often listened to him when I thought he would + certainly state his case out of court. It was not in his nature to assume + or attempt to bolster up a false position.** He would abandon his case + first. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Joseph Gillespie, MS., Letter, Oct. 8, 1886. ** "Early in 1858 at + Danville, Ill., I met Lincoln, Swett, and others who had returned from + court in an adjoining county, and were discussing the various features + of a murder trial in which Lincoln had made a vigorous fight for the + prosecution and Swett had defended. The plea of the defense was + insanity. On inquiring the name of the defendant I was surprised to + learn that it was my old friend Isaac Wyant, formerly of Indiana. I told + them that I had been Wyant's counsel frequently and had defended him + from almost every charge in the calendar of crimes; and that he was a + weak brother and could be led into almost everything. At once Lincoln + began to manifest great interest in Wyant's history, and had to be told + all about him. The next day on the way to the court house he told me he + had been greatly troubled over what I related about Wyant; that his + sleep had been disturbed by the fear that he had been too bitter and + unrelenting in his prosecution of him. "I acted," he said, "on the + theory that he was 'possuming insanity, and now I fear I have been too + severe and that the poor fellow may be insane after all. If he cannot + realize the wrong of his crime, then I was wrong in aiding to punish + him.'"—Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, August, 1888. Statement to J. W. + W. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He did so in the case of Buckmaster for the use of Dedham vs. Beems and + Arthur, in our Supreme Court, in which I happened to be opposed to him. + Another gentleman, less fastidious, took Mr. Lincoln's place and gained + the case." + </p> + <p> + A widow who owned a piece of valuable land employed Lincoln and myself to + examine the title to the property, with the view of ascertaining whether + certain alleged tax liens were just or not. In tracing back the title we + were not satisfied with the description of the ground in one of the deeds + of conveyance. Lincoln, to settle the matter, took his surveying + instruments and surveyed the ground himself. The result proved that + Charles Matheney, a former grantor, had sold the land at so much per acre, + but that in describing it he had made an error and conveyed more land than + he received pay for. This land descended to our client, and Lincoln after + a careful survey and calculation, decided that she ought to pay to + Matheney's heirs the sum which he had shown was due them by reason of the + erroneous conveyance. To this she entered strenuous objections, but when + assured that unless she consented to this act of plain justice we would + drop the case, she finally, though with great reluctance, consented. She + paid the required amount, and this we divided up into smaller sums + proportioned to the number of heirs. Lincoln himself distributed these to + the heirs, obtaining a receipt from each one.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Dear Herndon: "One morning, not long before Lincoln's nomination—a + year perhaps—I was in your office and heard the following! Mr. + Lincoln, seated at the baize-covered table in the center of the office, + listened attentively to a man who talked earnestly and in a low tone. + After being thus engaged for some time Lincoln at length broke in, and I + shall never forget his reply. 'Yes,' he said, 'we can doubtless gain + your case for you; we can set a whole neighborhood at loggerheads; we + can distress a widowed mother and her six fatherless children and + thereby get for you six hundred dollars to which you seem to have a + legal claim, but which rightfully belongs, it appears to me, as much to + the woman and her children as it does to you. You must remember that + somethings legally right are not morally right. We shall not take your + case, but will give you a little advice for which we will charge you + nothing. You seem to be a sprightly, energetic man; we would advise you + to try your hand at making six hundred dollars in some other way.' + "Yours, "Lord." From undated MS., about 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + While Mr. Lincoln was no financier and had no propensity to acquire + property,—no avarice of the get,—yet he had the capacity of + retention, or the avarice of the keep. He never speculated in lands or + anything else. In the days of land offices and "choice lots in a growing + town" he had many opportunities to make safe ventures promising good + returns, but he never availed himself of them. His brother lawyers were + making good investments and lucky turns, some of them, Davis, for example, + were rapidly becoming wealthy; but Lincoln cared nothing for speculation; + in fact there was no ventursome spirit in him. His habits were very + simple. He was not fastidious as to food or dress. His hat was brown, + faded, and the nap usually worn or rubbed off. He wore a short cloak and + sometimes a shawl. His coat and vest hung loosely on his gaunt frame, and + his trousers were invariably too short. On the circuit he carried in one + hand a faded green umbrella, with "A. Lincoln" in large white cotton or + muslin letters sewed on the inside. The knob was gone from the handle, and + when closed a piece of cord was usually tied around it in the middle to + keep it from flying open. In the other hand he carried a literal + carpet-bag, in which were stored the few papers to be used in court, and + underclothing enough to last till his return to Springfield. He slept in a + long, coarse, yellow flannel shirt, which reached half-way between his + knees and ankles. It probably was not made to fit his bony figure as + completely as Beau Brummers shirt, and hence we can somewhat appreciate + the sensation of a young lawyer who, on seeing him thus arrayed for the + first time, observed afterwards that, "He was the ungodliest figure I ever + saw." + </p> + <p> + "He never complained of the food, bed, or lodgings. If every other fellow + grumbled at the bill-of-fare which greeted us at many of the dingy + taverns," says David Davis, "Lincoln said nothing." He was once presiding + as judge in the absence of Davis, and the case before him was an action + brought by a merchant against the father of a minor son for a suit of + clothes sold to the son without parental authority. The real question was + whether the clothes were necessary, and suited to the condition of the + son's life. The father was a wealthy farmer; the bill for the clothing was + twenty-eight dollars. I happened in court just as Lincoln was rendering + his decision. He ruled against the plea of necessity. "I have rarely in my + life," said he, "worn a suit of clothes costing twenty-eight dollars." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * H. C. Whitney, MS., letter, Nov. 13, 1865. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "Several of us lawyers," remarked one of his colleagues, "in the eastern + end of the circuit annoyed Lincoln once while he was holding court for + Davis by attempting to defend against a note to which there were many + makers. We had no legal, but a good moral defense, but what we wanted most + of all was to stave it off till the next term of court by one expedient or + another. We bothered "the court" about it till late on Saturday, the day + of adjournment. He adjourned for supper with nothing left but this case to + dispose of. After supper he heard our twaddle for nearly an hour, and then + made this odd entry: 'L. D. Chaddon <i>vs</i>. J. D. Beasley <i>et al.</i> + April Term, 1856. Champaign County Court. Plea in abatement by B. Z. + Green, a defendant not served, filed Saturday at 11 o'clock A. M., April + 24, 1856, stricken from the files by order of court. Demurrer to + declaration, if there ever was one, overruled. Defendants who are served + now, at 8 o'clock, P. M., of the last day of the term, ask to plead to the + merits, which is denied by the court on the ground that the offer comes + too late, and therefore, as by <i>nil dicet</i>, judgment is rendered for + Pl'ff. Clerk assess damages. A. Lincoln, Judge <i>pro tem</i>."' The + lawyer who reads this singular entry will appreciate its oddity if no one + else does. After making it one of the lawyers, on recovering his + astonishment, ventured to enquire, "Well, Lincoln, how can we get this + case up again?" Lincoln eyed him quizzically a moment, and then answered, + "You have all been so 'mighty smart about this case you can find out how + to take it up again yourselves."* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "During my first attendance at court in Menard County," relates a + lawyer who travelled the circuit with Lincoln, "some thirty young men + had been indicted for playing cards, and Lincoln and I were employed in + their defense. The prosecuting attorney, in framing the indictments, + alternately charged the defendants with playing a certain game of cards + called 'seven-up,' and in the next bill charged them with playing cards + at a certain game called 'old sledge.' Four defendants were indicted in + each bill. The prosecutor, being entirely unacquainted with games at + cards, did not know the fact that both 'seven-up' and 'old sledge' were + one and the same. Upon the trial on the bills describing the game as + 'seven-up' our witnesses would swear that the game played was 'old + sledge,' and vice versa on the bills alleging the latter. The result was + an acquittal in every case under the instructions of the Court. The + prosecutor never found out the dodge until the trials were over, and + immense fun and rejoicing were indulged in at the result." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The same gentleman who furnishes this last incident, and who was afterward + a trusted friend of Mr. Lincoln, Henry C. Whitney, has described most + happily the delights of a life on the circuit. A bit of it, referring to + Lincoln, I apprehend, cannot be deemed out of place here. "In October, + 1854, Abraham Lincoln," he relates, "drove into our town (Urbana) to + attend court. He had the appearance of a rough, intelligent farmer, and + his rude, homemade buggy and raw-boned horse enforced this belief. I had + met him for the first time in June of the same year. David Davis and + Leonard Swett had just preceded him. The next morning he started North, on + the Illinois Central Railroad, and as he went in an old omnibus he played + on a boy's harp all the way to the depot. I used to attend the Danville + court, and while there, usually roomed with Lincoln and Davis. We stopped + at McCormick's hotel, an old-fashioned frame country tavern. Jurors, + counsel, prisoners, everybody ate at a long table. The judge, Lincoln, and + I had the ladies' parlor fitted up with two beds. Lincoln, Swett, + McWilliams, of Bloomington, Voorhees, of Covington, Ind., O. L. Davis, + Drake, Ward Lamon, Lawrence, Beckwith, and O. F. Harmon, of Danville, + Whiteman, of Iroquois County, and Chandler, of Williamsport, Ind., + constituted the bar. Lincoln, Davis, Swett, I, and others who came from + the western part of the state would drive from Urbana. The distance was + thirty-six miles. We sang and exchanged stories all the way. We had no + hesitation in stopping at a farm-house and ordering them to kill and cook + a chicken for dinner. By dark we reached Danville. Lamon would have + whiskey in his office for the drinking ones, and those who indulged in + petty gambling would get by themselves and play till late in the night. + Lincoln, Davis, and a few local wits would spend the evening in Davis's + room, talking politics, wisdom, and fun. Lincoln and Swett were the great + lawyers, and Lincoln always wanted Swett in jury cases. We who stopped at + the hotel would all breakfast together and frequently go out into the + woods and hold court. We were of more consequence than a court and bar is + now. The feelings were those of great fraternity in the bar, and if we + desired to restrict our circle it was no trouble for Davis to freeze out + any disagreeable persons. Lincoln was fond of going all by himself to any + little show or concert. I have known him to slip away and spend the entire + evening at a little magic lantern show intended for children. A travelling + concert company, calling themselves the 'Newhall Family,' were sure of + drawing Lincoln. One of their number, Mrs. Hillis, a good singer, he used + to tell us was the only woman who ever seemed to exhibit any liking for + him. I attended a negro-minstrel show in Chicago, where we heard Dixie + sung. It was entirely new, and pleased him greatly. In court he was + irrepressible and apparently inexhaustible in his fund of stories. Where + in the world a man who had travelled so little and struggled amid the + restrictions of such limited surroundings could gather up such apt and + unique yarns we never could guess. Davis appreciated Lincoln's talent in + this direction, and was always ready to stop business to hear one of his + stories. Lincoln was very bashful when in the presence of ladies. I + remember once we were invited to take tea at a friend's house, and while + in the parlor I was called to the front gate to see a client. When I + returned, Lincoln, who had undertaken to entertain the ladies, was + twisting and squirming in his chair, and as bashful as a schoolboy. + Everywhere, though we met a hard crowd at every court, and though things + were free and easy, we were treated with great respect." Probably the most + important lawsuit Lincoln and I conducted was one in which we defended the + Illinois Central Railroad in an action brought by McLean County, Illinois, + in August, 1853, to recover taxes alleged to be due the county from the + road. The Legislature had granted the road immunity from taxation, and + this was a case intended to test the constitutionality of the law. The + road sent a retainer fee of $250. In the lower court the case was decided + in favor of the railroad. An appeal to the Supreme Court followed, and + there it was argued twice, and finally decided in our favor. This last + decision was rendered some time in 1855. Mr. Lincoln soon went to Chicago + and presented our bill for legal services. We only asked for $2000 more. + The official to whom he was referred,—supposed to have been the + superintendent George B. McClellan who afterwards became the eminent + general,—looking at the bill expressed great surprise. "Why, sir," + he exclaimed, "this is as much as Daniel Webster himself would have + charged. We cannot allow such a claim." Stung by the rebuff, Lincoln + withdrew the bill, and started for home. On the way he stopped at + Bloomington. There he met Grant Goodrich, Archibald Williams, Norman B. + Judd, O. H. Browning, and other attorneys, who, on learning of his modest + charge for such valuable services rendered the railroad, induced him to + increase the demand to $5000, and to bring suit for that sum. This was + done at once. On the trial six lawyers certified that the bill was + reasonable, and judgment for that sum went by default. The judgment was + promptly paid. + </p> + <p> + Lincoln gave me my half, and much as we deprecated the avarice of great + corporations, we both thanked the Lord for letting the Illinois Central + Railroad fall into our hands. + </p> + <p> + In the summer of 1857 Lincoln was employed by Mr. Manny, of Rockford, + Ill., to defend him in an action brought by McCormick,* who was one of the + inventors of the reaping machine, for infringement of patent. Lincoln had + been recommended to Manny by E. B. Washburne, then a member of Congress + from northern Illinois. The case was to be tried before Judge McLean at + Cincinnati, in the Circuit Court of the United States. The counsel for + McCormick was Reverdy Johnson. Edwin M. Stanton and George Harding, of + Philadelphia, were associated on the other side with Lincoln. The latter + came to Cincinnati a few days before the argument took place, and stopped + at the house of a friend. "The case was one of great importance + pecuniarily," relates a lawyer** in Cincinnati, who was a member of the + bar at the time, "and in the law questions involved. Reverdy Johnson + represented the plaintiff. Mr. Lincoln had prepared himself with the + greatest care; his ambition was up to speak in the case and to measure + swords with the renowned lawyer from Baltimore. It was understood between + his client and himself before his coming that Mr. Harding, of + Philadelphia, was to be associated with him in the case, and was to make + the 'mechanical argument.' + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * The case, McCormick vs. Manny, is reported in 6 McLean's Rep., P. 539. + ** W. M. Dickson. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + After reaching Cincinnati, Mr. Lincoln was a little surprised and annoyed + to learn that his client had also associated with him Mr. Edwin M. + Stanton, of Pittsburg, and a lawyer of our own bar, the reason assigned + being that the importance of the case required a man of the experience and + power of Mr. Stanton to meet Mr. Johnson. The Cincinnati lawyer was + appointed for his 'local influence.' These reasons did not remove the + slight conveyed in the employment without consultation with him of this + additional counsel. He keenly felt it, but acquiesced. The trial of the + case came on; the counsel for defense met each morning for consultation. + On one of these occasions one of the counsel moved that only two of them + should speak in the case. This matter was also acquiesced in. It had + always been understood that Mr. Harding was to speak to explain the + mechanism of the reapers. So this motion excluded either Mr. Lincoln or + Mr. Stanton,—which? By the custom of the bar, as between counsel of + equal standing, and in the absence of any action of the client, the + original counsel speaks. By this rule Mr. Lincoln had precedence. Mr. + Stanton suggested to Mr. Lincoln to make the speech. Mr. Lincoln answered, + 'No, you speak.' Mr. Stanton replied, 'I will,' and taking up his hat, + said he would go and make preparation. Mr. Lincoln acquiesced in this, but + was greatly grieved and mortified; he took but little more interest in the + case, though remaining until the conclusion of the trial. He seemed to be + greatly depressed, and gave evidence of that tendency to melancholy which + so marked his character. His parting on leaving the city cannot be + forgotten. Cordially' shaking the hand of his hostess he said: 'You have + made my stay here most agreeable, and I am a thousand times obliged to + you; but in reply to your request for me to come again, I must say to you + I never expect to be in Cincinnati again. I have nothing against the city, + but things have so happened here as to make it undesirable for me ever to + return.' Lincoln felt that Stanton had not only been very discourteous to + him, but had purposely ignored him in the case, and that he had received + rather rude, if not unkind, treatment from all hands. Stanton, in his + brusque and abrupt way, it is said, described him as a 'long, lank + creature from Illinois, wearing a dirty linen duster for a coat, on the + back of which the perspiration had splotched wide stains that resembled a + map of the continent. Mr. Lincoln," adds Mr. Dickson, "remained in + Cincinnati about a week, moving freely around, yet not twenty men knew him + personally or knew he was here; not a hundred would have known who he was + had his name been given to them. He came with the fond hope of making fame + in a forensic contest with Reverdy Johnson. He was pushed aside, + humiliated and mortified. He attached to the innocent city the displeasure + that filled his bosom, and shook its dust from his feet." On his return to + Springfield he was somewhat reticent regarding the trial, and, contrary to + his custom, communicated to his associates at the bar but few of its + incidents. He told me that he had been "roughly handled by that man + Stanton"; that he overheard the latter from an adjoining room, while the + door was slightly ajar, referring to Lincoln, inquire of another, "Where + did that long-armed creature come from, and what can he expect to do in + this case?" During the trial Lincoln formed a poor opinion of Judge + McLean. He characterized him as an "old granny," with considerable vigor + of mind, but no perception at all. "If you were to point your finger at + him," he put it, "and a darning needle at the same time he never would + know which was the sharpest." + </p> + <p> + As Lincoln grew into public favor and achieved such marked success in the + profession, half the bar of Springfield began to be envious of his growing + popularity. I believe there is less jealousy and bitter feeling among + lawyers than professional men of any other class; but it should be borne + in mind that in that early day a portion of the bar in every county seat, + if not a majority of the lawyers everywhere, were politicians. Stuart + frequently differed from Lincoln on political questions, and was full of + envy. Likewise those who coincided with Lincoln in his political views + were disturbed in the same way. Even Logan was not wholly free from the + degrading passion. But in this respect Lincoln suffered no more than other + great characters who preceded him in the world's history. + </p> + <p> + That which Lincoln's adversaries in a lawsuit feared most of all was his + apparent disregard of custom or professional propriety in managing a case + before a jury. He brushed aside all rules, and very often resorted to some + strange and strategic performance which invariably broke his opponent down + or exercised some peculiar influence over the jury. Hence the other side + in a case were in constant fear of one of his dramatic strokes, or + trembled lest he should "ring in" some ingeniously planned interruption + not on the programme. In a case where Judge Logan—always earnest and + grave—opposed him, Lincoln created no little merriment by his + reference to Logan's style of dress. He carried the surprise in store for + the latter, till he reached his turn before the jury. Addressing them, he + said: "Gentlemen, you must be careful and not permit yourselves to be + overcome by the eloquence of counsel for the defense. Judge Logan, I know, + is an effective lawyer. I have met him too often to doubt that; but shrewd + and careful though he be, still he is sometimes wrong. Since this trial + has begun I have discovered that, with all his caution and fastidiousness, + he hasn't knowledge enough to put his shirt on right." Logan turned red as + crimson, but sure enough, Lincoln was correct, for the former had donned a + new shirt, and by mistake had drawn it over his head with the pleated + bosom behind. The general laugh which followed destroyed the effect of + Logan's eloquence over the jury—the very point at which Lincoln + aimed. + </p> + <p> + The trial of William Armstrong* for the murder of James P. Metzger, in + May, 1858, at Beardstown, Illinois, in which Lincoln secured the acquittal + of the defendant, was one of the gratifying triumphs in his career as a + lawyer. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * This incident in Lincoln's career has been most happily utilized by + Dr. Edward Eggleston in his story "The Graysons," recently published in + the Century Magazine. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Lincoln's defense, wherein he floored the principal prosecuting witness, + who had testified positively to seeing the fatal blow struck in the + moonlight, by showing from an almanac that the moon had set, was not more + convincing than his eloquent and irresistible appeal in his client's + favor. The latter's mother, old Hannah Armstrong, the friend of his youth, + had solicited him to defend her son. "He told the jury," relates the + prosecuting attorney, "of his once being a poor, friendless boy; that + Armstrong's parents took him into their house, fed and clothed him, and + gave him a home. There were tears in his eyes as he spoke. The sight of + his tall, quivering frame, and the particulars of the story he so + pathetically told, moved the jury to tears also, and they forgot the guilt + of the defendant in their admiration of his advocate. It was the most + touching scene I ever witnessed."* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * J. Henry Shaw, letter, Aug. 22, 1866, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Before passing it may be well to listen to the humble tribute of old + Hannah Armstrong, the defendant's mother: "Lincoln had said to me, + 'Hannah, your son will be cleared before sundown.' I left the court-room, + and they came and told me that my son was cleared and a free man. I went + up to the court-house. The jury shook hands with me; so did the judge and + Lincoln; tears streamed down Lincoln's eyes.... After the trial I asked + him what his fee would be; told him I was poor. 'Why, Hannah,' he said, 'I + sha'n't charge you a cent, and anything else I can do for you, will do it + willingly and without charge.' He afterwards wrote to me about a piece of + land which certain men were trying to get from me, and said: 'Hannah, they + can't get your land. Let them try it in the Circuit Court, and then you + appeal it; bring it to the Supreme Court and I and Herndon will attend to + it for nothing.'" * + </p> + <p> + The last suit of any importance in which Lincoln was personally engaged, + was known as the Johnson sand-bar case. It involved the title to certain + lands, the accretion on the shores of Lake Michigan, in or near Chicago. + It was tried in the United States Circuit Court at Chicago in April and + May, 1860. During the trial, the Court—Judge Drummond—and all + the counsel on both sides dined at the residence of Isaac N. Arnold, + afterwards a member of Congress. "Douglas and Lincoln," relates Mr. + Arnold, "were at the time both candidates for the nomination for + President. There were active and ardent political friends of each at the + table, and when the sentiment was proposed, 'May Illinois furnish the next + President,' it was drank with enthusiasm by the friends of both Lincoln + and Douglas."** + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * From statement, Nov. 24, 1865. ** Arnold's "Lincoln," p. 90. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + I could fill this volume with reminiscences of Lincoln's career as a + lawyer, but lest the reader should tire of what must savor in many cases + of monotony it is best to move on. I have made this portion of the book + rather full; but as Lincoln's individuality and peculiarities were more + marked in the law office and court-room than anywhere else it will play + its part in making up the picture of the man. Enough has been told to show + how, in the face of adverse fortune and the lack of early training, and by + force of his indomitable will and self-confidence, he gained such + ascendency among the lawyers of Illinois. The reader is enabled thereby to + understand the philosophy of his growth. + </p> + <p> + But now another field is preparing to claim him. There will soon be great + need for his clear reason, masterly mind and heroic devotion to principle. + The distant mutterings of an approaching contest are driving scattered + factions into a union of sentiment and action. As the phalanxes of + warriors are preparing for action, amid the rattle of forensic musketry, + Lincoln, their courageous leader, equipped for battle, springs into view. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + WHILE Lincoln in a certain sense was buried in the law from the time his + career in Congress closed till, to use his own words, "the repeal of the + Missouri Compromise aroused him again," yet he was a careful student of + his times and kept abreast of the many and varied movements in politics. + He was generally on the Whig electoral tickets, and made himself heard + during each successive canvas,* but he seemed to have lost that zealous + interest in politics which characterized his earlier days. He plodded on + unaware of, and seemingly without ambition for, the great distinction that + lay in store for him. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * In the campaign of 1852, when Pierce was the Democratic candidate for + President, Douglas made speeches for him in almost every State in the + Union. His "key-note" was sounded at Richmond, Va. Lincoln, whose + reputation was limited by the boundaries of Illinois, was invited by the + Scott Club of Springfield to answer it, but his soul and heart were not + in the undertaking. He had not yet been awakened, and, considering it + entire, the speech was a poor effort. Another has truthfully said of it, + "If it was distinguished by one quality above another it was by its + attempts at humor, and all those attempts were strained and affected, as + well as very coarse. He displayed a jealous and petulant temper from the + first to the last, wholly beneath the dignity of the occasion and the + importance of the topic. Considered as a whole it may be said that none + of his public performances was more unworthy of its really noble author + than this one. The closing paragraph will serve as a fair sample of the + entire speech: "Let us stand by our candidate [Gen. Scott] as faithfully + as he has always stood by our country, and I much doubt if we do not + perceive a slight abatement of Judge Douglas's confidence in Providence + as well as the people. I suspect that confidence is not more firmly + fixed with the Judge than it was with the old woman whose horse ran away + with her in a buggy. She said she trusted in Providence till the + 'britchen' broke, and then she didn't know what on 'airth' to do. The + chance is the Judge will see the 'britchen' broke, and then he can at + his leisure bewail the fate of Locofocoism as the victim of misplaced + confidence." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + John T. Stuart relates* that, as he and Lincoln were returning from the + court in Tazewell county in 1850, and were nearing the little town of + Dillon, they engaged in a discussion of the political situation. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Statement, J. T. S., MS., July 21, 1865. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "As we were coming down the hill," are Stuart's words, "I said, 'Lincoln, + the time is coming when we shall have to be all either Abolitionists or + Democrats.' He thought a moment and then answered, ruefully and + emphatically, 'When that time comes my mind is made up, for I believe the + slavery question can never be successfully compromised.' I responded with + equal emphasis, 'My mind is made up too.'" Thus it was with Lincoln. But + he was too slow to suit the impetuous demand of the few pronounced + Abolitionists whom he met in his daily walks. The sentiment of the + majority in Springfield tended in the other direction, and, thus + environed, Lincoln lay down like the sleeping lion. The future would yet + arouse him. At that time I was an ardent Abolitionist in sentiment. I used + to warn Lincoln against his apparent conservatism when the needs of the + hour were so great; but his only answer would be, 'Billy, you're too + rampant and spontaneous.' I was in correspondence with Sumner, Greeley, + Phillips, and Garrison, and was thus thoroughly imbued with all the rancor + drawn from such strong anti-slavery sources. I adhered to Lincoln, relying + on the final outcome of his sense of justice and right. Every time a good + speech on the great issue was made I sent for it. Hence you could find on + my table the latest utterances of Giddings, Phillips, Sumner, Seward, and + one whom I considered grander than all the others—Theodore Parker. + Lincoln and I took such papers as the <i>Chicago Tribune, New York + Tribune, Anti-Slavery Standard, Emancipator, and National Era</i>. On the + other side of the question we took the <i>Charleston Mercury and the + Richmond Enquirer</i>. I also bought a book called "Sociology," written by + one Fitzhugh, which defended and justified slavery in every conceivable + way. In addition I purchased all the leading histories of the slavery + movement, and other works which treated on that subject. Lincoln himself + never bought many books, but he and I both read those I have named. After + reading them we would discuss the questions they touched upon and the + ideas they suggested, from our different points of view. I was never + conscious of having made much of an impression on Mr. Lincoln, nor do I + believe I ever changed his views. I will go further and say, that, from + the profound nature of his conclusions and the labored method by which he + arrived at them, no man is entitled to the credit of having either changed + or greatly modified them. I remember once, after having read one of + Theodore Parker's sermons on slavery, saying to Mr. Lincoln substantially + this: "I have always noticed that ill-gotten wealth does no man any good. + This is as true of nations as individuals. I believe that all the + ill-gotten gain wrenched by us from the negro through his enslavement will + eventually be taken from us, and we will be set back where we began." + Lincoln thought my prophecy rather direful. He doubted seriously if either + of us would live to see the righting of so great a wrong; but years after, + when writing his second Inaugural address, he endorsed the idea. Clothing + it in the most beautiful language, he says: "Yet if God wills that it [ + the war ] continue till all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred + and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of + blood drawn by the lash shall be paid by another drawn by the sword, as + was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, 'The + judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'" The passage in + May, 1854, of the Kansas-Nebraska bill swept out of sight the Missouri + Compromise and the Compromise measures of 1850. This bill, designed and + carried through by Douglas, was regarded by him as the masterpiece of all + his varied achievements in legislation. It served to prove more clearly + than anything he had ever before done his flexibility and want of + political conscience. Although in years gone before he had invoked the + vengeance of Heaven on the ruthless hand that should dare to disturb the + sanctity of the compact of 1821, yet now he was the arrogant and audacious + leader in the very work he had so heartily condemned. When we consider the + bill and the unfortunate results which followed it in the border States we + are irresistibly led to conclude that it was, all things considered, a + great public wrong and a most lamentable piece of political jugglery. The + stump speech which Thomas H. Benton charged that Douglas had "injected + into the belly of the bill" contains all there was of Popular Sovereignty—"It + being the true intent and meaning of this act not to legislate slavery + into any Territory or State nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the + people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic + institutions in their own way, subject only to the Constitution of the + United States," an argument which, using Lincoln's words, "amounts to + this: That if any one man chooses to enslave another no third man shall be + allowed to object." The widespread feeling the passage of this law aroused + everywhere over the Union is a matter of general history. It stirred up in + New England the latent hostility to the aggression of slavery; it + stimulated to extraordinary endeavors the derided Abolitionists, arming + them with new weapons; it sounded the death-knell of the gallant old Whig + party; it drove together strange, discordant elements in readiness to + fight a common enemy; it brought to the forefront a leader in the person + of Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + The revolt of Cook, Judd, and Palmer, all young and progressive, from the + Democratic majority in the Legislature was the first sign of discontent in + Illinois. The rude and partly hostile reception of Douglas, on his arrival + in Chicago, did not in any degree tend to allay the feeling of disapproval + so general in its manifestation. The warriors, young and old, removed + their armor from the walls, and began preparations for the impending + conflict. Lincoln had made a few speeches in aid of Scott during the + campaign of 1852, but they were efforts entirely unworthy of the man. Now, + however, a live issue was presented to him. No one realized this sooner + than he. In the office discussions he grew bolder in his utterances. He + insisted that the social and political difference between slavery and + freedom was becoming more marked; that one must overcome the other; and + that postponing the struggle between them would only make it the more + deadly in the end. "The day of compromise," he still contended, "has + passed. These two great ideas have been kept apart only by the most artful + means. They are like two wild beasts in sight of each other, but chained + and held apart. Some day these deadly antagonists will one or the other + break their bonds, and then the question will be settled." In a + conversation with a fellow-lawyer* he said of slavery: "It is the most + glittering, ostentatious, and displaying property in the world, and now, + if a young man goes courting, the only inquiry is how many negroes he or + his lady-love owns. The love for slave property is swallowing up every + other mercenary possession. Slavery is a great and crying injustice—an + enormous national crime." At another time he made the observation that it + was "singular that the courts would hold that a man never lost his right + to his property that had been stolen from him, but that he instantly lost + his right to himself if he was stolen." It is useless to add more evidence—for + it could be piled mountain high—showing that at the very outset Mr. + Lincoln was sound to the core on the injustice and crime of human slavery. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Joseph Gillespie, MS. letter, June 9,'66. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + After a brief rest at his home in Chicago Mr. Douglas betook himself to + the country, and in October, during the week of the State Fair, we find + him in Springfield. On Tuesday he made a speech in the State House which, + in view of the hostile attitude of some of his own party friends, was a + labored defense of his position. It was full of ingenious sophistry and + skilful argument. An unprecedented concourse of people had gathered from + all parts of the State, and Douglas, fresh from the halls of Congress, was + the lion of the hour. On the following day Mr. Lincoln, as the champion of + the opponents of Popular Sovereignty, was selected to represent those who + disagreed with the new legislation, and to answer Douglas. His speech + encouraged his friends no less than it startled his enemies. At this time + I was zealously interested in the new movement, and not less so in + Lincoln. I frequently wrote the editorials in the Springfield <i>Journal</i> + the editor, Simeon Francis, giving to Lincoln and to me the utmost liberty + in that direction. Occasionally Lincoln would write out matter for + publication, but I believe I availed myself of the privilege oftener than + he. The editorial in the issue containing the speeches of Lincoln and + Douglas on this occasion was my own, and while in description it may seem + rather strongly imbued with youthful enthusiasm, yet on reading it in + maturer years I am still inclined to believe it reasonably faithful to the + facts and the situation. "The anti-Nebraska speech of Mr. Lincoln," says + the article, "was the profoundest in our opinion that he has made in his + whole life. He felt upon his soul the truths burn which he uttered, and + all present felt that he was true to his own soul. His feelings once or + twice swelled within, and came near stifling utterance. He quivered with + emotion. The whole house was as still as death. He attacked the Nebraska + bill with unusual warmth and energy; and all felt that a man of strength + was its enemy, and that he intended to blast it if he could by strong and + manly efforts. He was most successful, and the house approved the glorious + triumph of truth by loud and continued huzzas. Women waved their white + handkerchiefs in token of woman's silent but heartfelt assent. Douglas + felt the sting; the animal within him was roused because he frequently + interrupted Mr. Lincoln. His friends felt that he was crushed by Lincoln's + powerful argument, manly logic, and illustrations from nature around us. + The Nebraska bill was shivered, and like a tree of the forest was torn and + rent asunder by the hot bolts of truth. Mr. Lincoln exhibited Douglas in + all the attitudes he could be placed, in a friendly debate. He exhibited + the bill in all its aspects to show its humbuggery and falsehood, and, + when thus torn to rags, cut into slips, held up to the gaze of the vast + crowd, a kind of scorn and mockery was visible upon the face of the crowd + and upon the lips of their most eloquent speaker. At the conclusion of + this speech every man and child felt that it was unanswerable. He took the + heart captive and broke like a sun over the understanding." + </p> + <p> + Anent the subject of editorial writing it may not be inappropriate to + relate that Lincoln and I both kept on furnishing political matter of many + varieties for the Springfield <i>Journal</i> until 1860. Many of the + editorials that I wrote were intended directly or indirectly to promote + the interest of Lincoln. I wrote one on the advisability of annexing Cuba + to the United States, taking the rather advanced ground that slavery would + be abolished in Cuba before it would in this country—a position + which aroused no little controversy with other papers. One little incident + occurs to me in this connection which may not be without interest to + newspaper men. A newspaper had been started in Springfield called the <i>Conservative</i>, + which, it was believed, was being run in the interest of the Democratic + party. While pretending to support Fillmore it was kept alive by Buchanan + men and other kindred spirits, who were somewhat pro-slavery in their + views. The thing was damaging Lincoln and the friends of freedom more than + an avowed Democratic paper could. The editor, an easy, good-natured + fellow, simply placed in charge to execute the will of those who gave the + paper its financial backing, was a good friend of mine, and by means of + this friendship I was always well informed of matters in the <i>Conservative</i> + editorial room. One day I read in the Richmond <i>Enquirer</i> an article + endorsing slavery, and arguing that from principle the enslavement of + either whites or blacks was justifiable and right. I showed it to Lincoln, + who remarked that it was "rather rank doctrine for Northern Democrats to + endorse. I should like to see," he said, with emphasis, "some of these + Illinois newspapers champion that." I told him if he would only wait and + keep his own counsel I would have a pro-slavery organ in Springfield + publish that very article. He doubted it, but when I told him how it was + to be done he laughed and said, "Go in." I cut the slip out and succeeded + in getting it in the paper named. Of course it was a trick, but it acted + admirably. Its appearance in the new organ, although without comment, + almost ruined that valuable journal, and my good-natured friend the editor + was nearly overcome by the denunciation of those who were responsible for + the organ's existence. My connection, and Lincoln's too,—for he + endorsed the trick,—with the publication of the condemned article + was eventually discovered, and we were thereafter effectually prevented + from getting another line in the paper. The anti-slavery people quoted the + article as having been endorsed by a Democratic newspaper in Springfield, + and Lincoln himself used it with telling effect. He joined in the popular + denunciation, expressing great astonishment that such a sentiment could + find lodgment in any paper in Illinois, although he knew full well how the + whole thing had been carried through. + </p> + <p> + During the remainder of the State-Fair week, speeches were made by Lyman + Trumbull, Sidney Breese, E. D. Taylor, and John Calhoun, none of which + unfortunately have been preserved. Among those who mingled in the crowd + and listened to them was Owen Lovejoy, a radical, fiery, brave, fanatical + man, it may be, but one full of the virus of Abolitionism. I had been + thoroughly inoculated with the latter myself, and so had many others, who + helped to swell the throng. The Nebraska movement had kindled anew the old + zeal, and inspired us with renewed confidence to begin the crusade. As + many of us as could, assembled together to organize for the campaign + before us. As soon therefore as Lincoln finished his speech in the hall of + the House of Representatives, Lovejoy, moving forward from the crowd, + announced a meeting in the same place that evening of all the friends of + Freedom. That of course meant the Abolitionists with whom I had been in + conference all the day. Their plan had been to induce Mr. Lincoln to speak + for them at their meeting. Strong as I was in the faith, yet I doubted the + propriety of Lincoln's taking any stand yet. As I viewed it, he was + ambitious to climb to the United States Senate, and on grounds of policy + it would not do for him to occupy at that time such advanced ground as we + were taking. On the other hand, it was equally as dangerous to refuse a + speech for the Abolitionists. I did not know how he felt on the subject, + but on learning that Lovejoy intended to approach him with an invitation, + I hunted up Lincoln and urged him to avoid meeting the enthusiastic + champion of Abolitionism. "Go home at once," I said. "Take Bob with you + and drive somewhere into the country and stay till this thing is over." + Whether my admonition and reasoning moved him or not I do not know, but it + only remains to state that under pretence of having business in Tazewell + county he drove out of town in his buggy, and did not return till the + apostles of Abolitionism had separated and gone to their homes.* I have + always believed this little arrangement—it would dignify it too much + to call it a plan—saved Lincoln. If he had endorsed the resolutions + passed at the meeting, or spoken simply in favor of freedom that night, he + would have been identified with all the rancor and extremes of + Abolitionism. If, on the contrary, he had been invited to join them, and + then had refused to take a position as advanced as theirs, he would have + lost their support. In either event he was in great danger; and so he who + was aspiring to succeed his old rival, James Shields, in the United States + Senate was forced to avoid the issue by driving hastily in his one horse + buggy to the court in Tazewell county. A singular coincidence suggests + itself in the fact that, twelve years before, James Shields and a friend + drove hastily in the same direction, and destined for the same point, to + force Lincoln to take issue in another and entirely different matter. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * See Lincoln's Speech, Joint Debate, Ottawa, Ills., Aug. 20, 1858. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + By request of party friends Lincoln was induced to follow after Douglas + and, at the various places where the latter had appointments to speak, + reply to him. On the 16th of October they met at Peoria, where Douglas + enjoyed the advantages of an "open and close." Lincoln made an effective + speech, which he wrote out and furnished to the Sangamon <i>Journal</i> + for publication, and which can be found among his public utterances. His + party friends in Springfield and elsewhere, who had urged him to push + after Douglas till he cried, "enough," were surprised a few days after the + Peoria debate to find him at home, with the information that by an + agreement with the latter they were both to return home and speak no more + during the campaign. Judge of his astonishment a few days later to find + that his rival, instead of going direct to his home in Chicago, had + stopped at Princeton and violated his express agreement by making a speech + there! Lincoln was much displeased at this action of Douglas, which tended + to convince him that the latter was really a man devoid of fixed political + morals. I remember his explanation in our office made to me, William + Butler, William Jayne, Ben. F. Irwin, and other friends, to account for + his early withdrawal from the stump. After the Peoria debate Douglas + approached him and flattered him by saying that he was giving him more + trouble on the territorial and slavery questions than all the United + States Senate, and he therefore proposed to him that both should abandon + the field and return to their homes. Now Lincoln could never refuse a + polite request—one in which no principle was involved. I have heard + him say, "It's a fortunate thing I wasn't born a woman, for I cannot + refuse anything, it seems." He therefore consented to the cessation of + debate proposed by Douglas, and the next day both went to the town of + Lacon, where they had been billed for speeches. Their agreement was kept + from their friends, and both declined to speak—Douglas, on the + ground of hoarseness, and Lincoln gallantly refusing to take advantage of + "Judge Douglas's indisposition." Here they separated, Lincoln going + directly home, and Douglas, as before related, stopping at Princeton and + colliding in debate with Owen Lovejoy. Upon being charged afterwards with + his breach of agreement Douglas responded that Lovejoy "bantered and + badgered" him so persistently he could not gracefully resist the + encounter. The whole thing thoroughly displeased Lincoln.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * In a letter from Princeton, Ill., March 15, 1866, John H. Bryant, + brother of the poet William Cullen Bryant, writes: "I have succeeded in + finding an old file of our Princeton papers, from which I learn that Mr. + Douglas spoke here on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 1854. This fixes the date. I + recollect that he staid at Tiskilwa, six miles south of this, the night + before, and a number of our Democrats went down the next morning and + escorted him to this place. Douglas spoke first one half-hour and was + answered by Lovejoy one half- hour, when Douglas talked till dark, + giving no opportunity for reply. "Yours truly, "John H. Bryant." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + During this campaign Lincoln was nominated and elected to the Legislature. + This was done in the face of his unwillingness and over his protest. On + the ticket with him was Judge Logan. Both were elected by a majority of + about 600 votes. Lincoln, being ambitious to reach the United States + Senate, and warmly encouraged in his aspirations by his wife, resigned his + seat in the Legislature in order that he might the more easily be elected + to succeed his old rival James Shields, who was then one of the senators + from Illinois. His canvass for that exalted office was marked by his + characteristic activity and vigilance. During the anxious moments that + intervened between the general election and the assembling of the + Legislature he slept, like Napoleon, with one eye open. While attending + court at Clinton on the 11th of November, a few days after the election, + he wrote to a party friend in the town of Paris: "I have a suspicion that + a Whig has been elected to the Legislature from Edgar. If this is not so, + why then, '<i>nix cum arous</i>; but if it is so, then could you not make + a mark with him for me for U. S. Senator? I really have some chance. + Please write me at Springfield giving me the names, post-offices, and + political positions of your Representative and Senator, whoever they may + be. Let this be confidential.'" + </p> + <p> + That man who thinks Lincoln calmly sat down and gathered his robes about + him, waiting for the people to call him, has a very erroneous knowledge of + Lincoln. He was always calculating, and always planning ahead. His + ambition was a little engine that knew no rest. The vicissitudes of a + political campaign brought into play all his tact and management and + developed to its fullest extent his latent industry. In common with other + politicians he never overlooked a newspaper man who had it in his power to + say a good or bad thing of him. The press of that day was not so powerful + an institution as now, but ambitious politicians courted the favor of a + newspaper man with as much zeal as the same class of men have done in + later days. I remember a letter Lincoln once wrote to the editor of an + obscure little country newspaper in southern Illinois in which he warms up + to him in the following style.* "Friend Harding: I have been reading your + paper for three or four years and have paid you nothing for it." He then + encloses ten dollars and admonishes the editor with innocent complacency: + "Put it into your pocket, saying nothing further about it." Very soon + thereafter, he prepared an article on political matters and sent it to the + rural journalist, requesting its publication in the editorial columns of + his "valued paper," but the latter, having followed Lincoln's directions + and stowed the ten dollars away in his pocket, and alive to the importance + of his journal's influence, declined, "because," he said, "I long ago made + it a rule to publish nothing as editorial matter not written by myself." + Lincoln read the editor's answer to me. Although the laugh was on Lincoln + he enjoyed the joke heartily. "That editor," he said, "has a rather lofty + but proper conception of true journalism." + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the Legislature had convened and the Senatorial question came on + for solution. The history of this contest is generally understood, and the + world has repeatedly been told how Lincoln was led to expect the place and + would have won but for the apostasy of the five anti-Nebraska men of + Democratic antecedents who clung to and finally forced the election of + Lyman Trumbull. The student of history in after years will be taught to + revere the name of Lincoln for his exceeding magnanimity in inducing his + friends to abandon him at the critical period and save Trumbull, while he + himself disappeared beneath the waves of defeat.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "After a number of ballots—Judd of Cook, Cook of La Salle, + Palmer of Macoupin, and Allen and Baker of Madison voting for Trumbull—I + asked Mr. Lincoln what he would advise us to do. He answered, 'Go for + Trumbull by all means.' We understood the case to be that Shields was to + be run by the Democrats at first and then to be dropped, and Joel A. + Matteson put up; and it was calculated that certain of our men who had + been elected on the 'Free Soil' issue would vote for him after they had + acted with us long enough to satisfy their consciences and constituents. + Our object was to force an election before they got through with their + programme. We were savagely opposed to Matteson, and so was Mr. Lincoln, + who said that if we did not drop in and unite upon Trumbull the five men + above-named would go for Matteson and elect him, which would be an + everlasting disgrace to the State. We reluctantly complied; went to + Trumbull and elected him. I remember that Judge S. T. Logan gave up + Lincoln with great reluctance. He begged hard to try him on one or two + ballots more, but Mr. Lincoln urged us not to risk it longer. I never + saw the latter more earnest and decided. He congratulated Trumbull + warmly, although of course greatly disappointed and mortified at his own + want of success."— Joseph Gillespie, letter, September 19, 1866, + MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/066.jpg" alt="Lyman Trumbull 066 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + This frustration of Lincoln's ambition had a marked effect on his + political views. It was plain to him now that the "irrepressible conflict" + was not far ahead. With the strengthening of his faith in a just cause so + long held in abeyance he became more defiant each day. But in the very + nature of things he dared not be as bold and outspoken as I. With him + every word and sentence had to be weighed and its effects calculated, + before being uttered: but with me that operation had to be reversed if + done at all. An incident that occurred about this time will show how his + views were broadening. Some time after the election of Trumbull a young + negro, the son of a colored woman in Springfield known as Polly, went from + his home to St. Louis and there hired as a hand on a lower Mississippi + boat,—for what special service, I do not recollect,—arriving + in New Orleans without what were known as free papers. Though born free he + was subjected to the tyranny of the "black code," all the more stringent + because of the recent utterances of the Abolitionists in the North, and + was kept in prison until his boat had left. Then, as no one was especially + interested in him, he was forgotten. After a certain length of time + established by law, he would inevitably have been sold into slavery to + defray prison expenses had not Lincoln and I interposed our aid. The + mother came to us with the story of the wrong done her son and induced us + to interfere in her behalf. We went first to see the Governor of Illinois, + who, after patient and thorough examination of the law, responded that he + had no right or power to interfere. Recourse was then had to the Governor + of Louisiana, who responded in like manner. We were sorely perplexed. A + second interview with the Governor of Illinois resulting in nothing + favorable Lincoln rose from his chair, hat in hand, and exclaimed with + some emphasis: "By God, Governor, I'll make the ground in this country too + hot for the foot of a slave, whether you have the legal power to secure + the release of this boy or not." Having exhausted all legal means to + recover the negro we dropped our relation as lawyers to the case. Lincoln + drew up a subscription-list, which I circulated, collecting funds enough + to purchase the young man's liberty. The money we sent to Col. A. P. + Fields, a friend of ours in New Orleans, who applied it as directed, and + it restored the prisoner to his overjoyed mother. + </p> + <p> + The political history of the country, commencing in 1854 and continuing + till the outbreak of the Rebellion, furnishes the student a constant + succession of stirring and sometimes bloody scenes. No sooner had Lincoln + emerged from the Senatorial contest in February, 1855, and absorbed + himself in the law, than the outrages on the borders of Missouri and + Kansas began to arrest public attention. The stories of raids, election + frauds, murders, and other crimes were moving eastward with marked + rapidity. These outbursts of frontier lawlessness, led and sanctioned by + the avowed pro-slavery element, were not only stirring up the + Abolitionists to fever heat, but touching the hearts of humanity in + general. In Illinois an association was formed to aid the cause of + "Free-Soil" men in Kansas. In the meetings of these bands the + Abolitionists of course took the most prominent part. At Springfield we + were energetic, vigilant, almost revolutionary. We recommended the + employment of any means, however desperate, to promote and defend the + cause of freedom. At one of these meetings Lincoln was called on for a + speech. He responded to the request, counselling moderation and less + bitterness in dealing with the situation before us. We were belligerent in + tone, and clearly out of patience with the Government. Lincoln opposed the + notion of coercive measures with the possibility of resulting bloodshed, + advising us to eschew resort to the bullet. "You can better succeed," he + declared, "with the ballot. You can peaceably then redeem the Government + and preserve the liberties of mankind through your votes and voice and + moral influence.... Let there be peace. Revolutionize through the ballot + box, and restore the Government once more to the affections and hearts of + men by making it express, as it was intended to do, the highest spirit of + justice and liberty. Your attempt, if there be such, to resist the laws of + Kansas by force is criminal and wicked; and all your feeble attempts will + be follies and end in bringing sorrow on your heads and ruin the cause you + would freely die to preserve!" These judicious words of counsel, while + they reduced somewhat our ardor and our desperation, only placed before us + in their real colors the grave features of the situation. We raised a neat + sum of money, Lincoln showing his sincerity by joining in the + subscription, and forwarded it to our friends in Kansas. + </p> + <p> + The Whig party, having accomplished its mission in the political world, + was now on the eve of a great break-up. Lincoln realized this and, though + proverbially slow in his movements, prepared to find a firm footing when + the great rush of waters should come and the maddening freshet sweep + former landmarks out of sight. Of the strongest significance in this + connection is a letter written by him at this juncture to an old friend in + Kentucky, who called to his attention their differences of views on the + wrong of slavery. Speaking of his observation of the treatment of the + slaves, he says: "I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down + and caught and carried back to their unrequited toils; but I bite my lips + and keep quiet. In 1841 you and I had rather a tedious low-water trip on a + steamboat from Louisville to St. Louis. You may remember, as I well do, + that from Louisville to the mouth of the Ohio, there were on board ten or + a dozen slaves shackled together with irons. That sight was a continued + torment to me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio or + any slave border. It is not fair for you to assume that I have no interest + in a thing which has, and continually exercises, the power of making me + miserable. You ought rather to appreciate how much the great body of the + Northern people do crucify their feelings in order to maintain their + loyalty to the Constitution and the Union. I do oppose the extension of + slavery because my judgment and feeling so prompt me; and I am under no + obligations to the contrary. If for this you and I must differ, differ we + must." + </p> + <p> + Finding himself drifting about with the disorganized elements that floated + together after the angry political waters had subsided, it became apparent + to Lincoln that if he expected to figure as a leader he must take a stand + himself. Mere hatred of slavery and opposition to the injustice of the + Kansas-Nebraska legislation were not all that were required of him. He + must be a Democrat, Know-Nothing, Abolitionist, or Republican, or forever + float about in the great political sea without compass, rudder, or sail. + At length he declared himself. Believing the times were ripe for more + advanced movements, in the spring of 1856 I drew up a paper for the + friends of freedom to sign, calling a county convention in Springfield to + select delegates for the forthcoming Republican State convention in + Bloomington. The paper was freely circulated and generously signed. + Lincoln was absent at the time and, believing I knew what his "feeling and + judgment" on the vital questions of the hour were, I took the liberty to + sign his name to the call. The whole was then published in the Springfield + <i>Journal</i>. No sooner had it appeared than John T. Stuart, who, with + others, was endeavoring to retard Lincoln in his advanced movements, + rushed into the office and excitedly asked if "Lincoln had signed that + Abolition call in the Journal?" I answered in the negative, adding that I + had signed his name myself. To the question, "Did Lincoln authorize you to + sign it?" I returned an emphatic "No." "Then," exclaimed the startled and + indignant Stuart, "you have ruined him." But I was by no means alarmed at + what others deemed inconsiderate and hasty action. I thought I understood + Lincoln thoroughly, but in order to vindicate myself if assailed I + immediately sat down, after Stuart had rushed out of the office, and wrote + Lincoln, who was then in Tazewell County attending court, a brief account + of what I had done and how much stir it was creating in the ranks of his + conservative friends. If he approved or disapproved my course I asked him + to write or telegraph me at once. In a brief time came his answer: "All + right; go ahead. Will meet you—radicals and all." Stuart subsided, + and the conservative spirits who hovered around Springfield no longer held + control of the political fortunes of Abraham Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party came into existence in Illinois as a party at + Bloomington, May 29, 1856. The State convention of all opponents of + anti-Nebraska legislation, referred to in a foregoing paragraph, had been + set for that day. Judd, Yates, Trumbull, Swett, and Davis were there; so + also was Lovejoy, who, like Otis of colonial fame, was a flame of fire. + The firm of Lincoln and Herndon was represented by both members in person. + The gallant William H. Bissell, who had ridden at the head of the Second + Illinois Regiment at the battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican war, was + nominated as governor. The convention adopted a platform ringing with + strong anti-Nebraska sentiments, and then and there gave the Republican + party its official christening. The business of the convention being over, + Mr. Lincoln, in response to repeated calls, came forward and delivered a + speech of such earnestness and power that no one who heard it will ever + forget the effect it produced. In referring to this speech some years ago + I used the following rather graphic language: "I have heard or read all of + Mr. Lincoln's great speeches, and I give it as my opinion that the + Bloomington speech was the grand effort of his life. Heretofore he had + simply argued the slavery question on grounds of policy,—the + statesman's grounds,—never reaching the question of the radical and + the eternal right. Now he was newly baptized and freshly born; he had the + fervor of a new convert; the smothered flame broke out; enthusiasm unusual + to him blazed up; his eyes were aglow with an inspiration; he felt + justice; his heart was alive to the right; his sympathies, remarkably deep + for him, burst forth, and he stood before the throne of the eternal Right. + His speech was full of fire and energy and force; it was logic; it was + pathos; it was enthusiasm; it was justice, equity, truth, and right set + ablaze by the divine fires of a soul maddened by the wrong; it was hard, + heavy, knotty, gnarly, backed with wrath. I attempted for about fifteen + minutes as was usual with me then to take notes, but at the end of that + time I threw pen and paper away and lived only in the inspiration of the + hour. If Mr. Lincoln was six feet, four inches high usually, at + Bloomington that day he was seven feet, and inspired at that. From that + day to the day of his death he stood firm in the right. He felt his great + cross, had his great idea, nursed it, kept it, taught it to others, in his + fidelity bore witness of it to his death, and finally sealed it with his + precious blood." The foregoing paragraph, used by me in a lecture in 1866, + may to the average reader seem somewhat vivid in description, besides + inclining to extravagance in imagery, yet although more than twenty years + have passed since it was written I have never seen the need of altering a + single sentence. I still adhere to the substantial truthfulness of the + scene as described. Unfortunately Lincoln's speech was never written out + nor printed, and we are obliged to depend for its reproduction upon + personal recollection. + </p> + <p> + The Bloomington convention and the part Lincoln took in it met no such + hearty response in Springfield as we hoped would follow. It fell flat, and + in Lincoln's case drove from him many persons who had heretofore been his + warm political friends. A few days after our return we announced a meeting + at the court-house to ratify the action of the Bloomington convention. + After the usual efforts to draw a crowd, however, only three persons had + temerity enough to attend. They were Lincoln, the writer, and a courageous + man named John Pain. Lincoln, in answer to the "deafening calls" for a + speech, responded that the meeting was larger than he <i>knew</i> it would + be, and that while he knew that he himself and his partner would attend he + was not sure anyone else would, and yet another man had been found brave + enough to come out. "While all seems dead," he exhorted, "the age itself + is not. It liveth as sure as our Maker liveth. Under all this seeming want + of life and motion, the world does move nevertheless. Be hopeful, and now + let us adjourn and appeal to the people." + </p> + <p> + Not only in Springfield but everywhere else the founders of the Republican + party—the apostles of freedom—went out to battle for the + righteousness of their cause. Lincoln, having as usual been named as one + of the Presidential electors, canvassed the State, making in all about + fifty speeches. He was in demand everywhere. I have before me a package of + letters addressed to him, inviting him to speak at almost every county + seat in the State. Yates wanted him to go to one section of the State, + Washburne to another, and Trumbull still another; while every cross-roads + politician and legislative aspirant wanted him "down in our country, where + we need your help." Joshua R. Giddings wrote him words of encouragement. + "You may start," said the valiant old Abolitionist in a letter from + Peoria,* "on the one great issue of restoring Kansas and Nebraska to + freedom, or rather of restoring the Missouri Compromise, and in this State + no power on earth can withstand you on that issue." The demand for Lincoln + was not confined to his own State. Indiana sent for him, Wisconsin also, + while Norman B. Judd and Ebenezer Peck, who were stumping Iowa, sent for + him to come there. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * J. R. Giddings, MS. letter, Sept. 18, 1855. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + A town committee invited him to come during "our Equestrian Fair on the + 9th, 10th, and 11th," evidently anticipating a three days' siege. An + enthusiastic officer in a neighboring town urges him: "Come to our place, + because in you do our people place more confidence than in any other man. + Men who do not read want the story told as you only can tell it. Others + may make fine speeches, but it would not be 'Lincoln said so in his + speech.'" A jubilant friend in Chicago writes: "Push on the column of + freedom. Give the Buck Africans plenty to do in Egypt. The hour of our + redemption draweth nigh. We are coming to Springfield with 20,000 + majority!" A postmaster, acting under the courage of his convictions, + implores him to visit his neighborhood. "The Democrats here," he insists, + "are dyed in the wool. Thunder and lightning would not change their + political complexion. I am postmaster here," he adds, confidentially, "for + which reason I must ask you to keep this private, for if old Frank + [President Pierce] were to hear of my support of Frémont I would get my + walking papers sure enough." A settlement of Germans in southern Indiana + asked to hear him; and the president of a college, in an invitation to + address the students under his charge, characterizes him as "one + providentially raised up for a time like this, and even should defeat come + in the contest, it would be some consolation to remember we had Hector for + a leader." + </p> + <p> + And thus it was everywhere. Lincoln's importance in the conduct of the + campaign was apparent to all, and his canvass was characterized by his + usual vigor and effectiveness. He was especially noted for his attempt to + break down the strength of Fillmore, who was nominated as a third party + candidate and was expected to divide the Republican vote. He tried to wean + away Fillmore's adherents by an adroit and ingenious letter* sent to those + suspected of the latter's support, and marked confidential, in which he + strove to show that in clinging to their candidate they were really aiding + the election of Buchanan. But the effort proved unavailing, for in spite + of all his arguments and appeals a large number of the Fillmore men clung + tenaciously to their leader, resulting in Buchanan's election. The vote in + Illinois stood, Buchanan 105,344, Frémont 96,180, and Fillmore 37,451. At + the same time Bissell was elected governor by a majority of 4729 over W. + A. Richardson, Democrat. After the heat and burden of the day Lincoln + returned home, bearing with him more and greater laurels than ever. The + signs of the times indicated, and the result of the canvass demonstrated, + that he and he alone was powerful enough to meet the redoubtable Little + Giant in a greater conflict yet to follow. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * One of these letters which Lincoln wrote to counteract the Fillmore + movement is still in my possession. As it is more or less characteristic + I copy it entire: "Springfield, September 8,1856. "Harrison Maltby, Esq. + "Dear Sir: "I understand you are a Fillmore man. Let me prove to you + that every vote withheld from Frémont and given to Fillmore in this + State actually lessens Fillmore's chance of being President. "Suppose + Buchanan gets all the slave States and Pennsylvania and any other one + State besides; then he is elected, no matter who gets all the rest. But + suppose Fillmore gets the two slave States of Maryland and Kentucky, + then Buchanan is not elected; Fillmore goes into the House of + Representatives and may be made President by a compromise. But suppose + again Fillmore's friends throw away a few thousand votes on him in + Indiana and Illinois; it will inevitably give these States to Buchanan, + which will more than compensate him for the loss of Maryland and + Kentucky; it will elect him, and leave Fillmore no chance in the House + of Representatives or out of it. "This is as plain as adding up the + weight of three small hogs. As Mr. Fillmore has no possible chance to + carry Illinois for himself it is plainly to his interest to let Frémont + take it and thus keep it out of the hands of Buchanan. Be not deceived. + Buchanan is the hard horse to beat in this race. Let him have Illinois, + and nothing can beat him; and he will get Illinois if men persist in + throwing away votes upon Mr. Fillmore. Does some one persuade you that + Mr. Fillmore can carry Illinois? Nonsense! There are over seventy + newspapers in Illinois opposing Buchanan, only three or four of which + support Mr. Fillmore, all the rest going for Frémont. Are not these + newspapers a fair index of the proportion of the votes? If not, tell me + why. "Again, of these three or four Fillmore newspapers, two at least + are supported in part by the Buchanan men, as I understand. Do not they + know where the shoe pinches? They know the Fillmore movement helps them, + and therefore they help it. "Do think these things over and then act + according to your judgment. "Yours very truly, "A. LINCOLN." + [Confidential.] + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + I SHALL be forced to omit much that happened during the interval between + the election of Buchanan and the campaign of 1858, for the reason that it + would not only swell this work to undue proportions, but be a mere + repetition of what has been better told by other writers. It is proper to + note in passing, however, that Mr. Lincoln's reputation as a political + speaker was no longer bounded by the border lines of Illinois. It had + passed beyond the Wabash, the Ohio, and the Mississippi rivers, and while + his pronounced stand on the slavery question had increased the circle of + his admirers in the North it provoked a proportionate amount of execration + in the South. He could not help the feeling that he was now the leading + Republican in his State, and he was therefore more or less jealous of his + prerogative. Formidable in debate, plain in speech, without pretence of + literary acquirements, he was none the less self-reliant. He already + envied the ascendancy and domination Douglas exercised over his followers, + and felt keenly the slight given him by others of his own faith whom he + conceived were disposed to prevent his attaining the leadership of his + party. I remember early in 1858 of his coming into the office one morning + and speaking in very dejected terms of the treatment he was receiving at + the hands of Horace Greeley. "I think Greeley," he complained, "is not + doing me right. His conduct, I believe, savors a little of injustice. I am + a true Republican and have been tried already in the hottest part of the + anti-slavery fight, and yet I find him taking up Douglas, a veritable + dodger,—once a tool of the South, now its enemy,—and pushing + him to the front. He forgets that when he does that he pulls me down at + the same time. I fear Greeley's attitude will damage me with Sumner, + Seward, Wilson, Phillips, and other friends in the East." This was said + with so much of mingled sadness and earnestness that I was deeply + impressed. Lincoln was gloomy and restless the entire day. Greeley's + letters were driving the enthusiasm out of him.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Greeley's letters were very pointed and sometimes savage. Here is one; + "I have not proposed to instruct the Republicans of Illinois in their + political duties, and I doubt very much that even so much as is implied + in your letter can be fairly deduced from anything I have written. Now + let me make one prediction. If you run a candidate [for Congress] + against Harris and he is able to canvass he will beat you badly. He is + more of a man at heart and morally than Douglas, and has gone into this + fight with more earnestness and less calculation. Of the whole Douglas + party he is the truest and best. I never spoke a dozen words with him in + my life, having met him but once, but if I lived in his district I + should vote for him. As I have never spoken of him in my paper, and + suppose I never shall, I take the liberty to say this much to you. Now + paddle your own dug- out! "Yours, "Horace Greeley." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He seemed unwilling to attend to any business, and finally, just before + noon, left the office, going over to the United States Court room to play + a game of chess with Judge Treat, and did not return again that day. I + pondered a good deal over Lincoln's dejection, and that night, after + weighing the matter well in mind, resolved to go to the eastern States + myself and endeavor to sound some of the great men there. The next day, on + apprising Lincoln of my determination, he questioned its propriety. Our + relations, he insisted, were so intimate that a wrong construction might + be put upon the movement. I listened carefully to him, but as I had never + been beyond the Alleghanies I packed my valise and went, notwithstanding + his objections. I had been in correspondence on my own account with + Greeley, Seward, Sumner, Phillips, and others for several years, had kept + them informed of the feelings of our people and the political campaigns in + their various stages, but had never met any of them save Greeley. I + enjoyed heartily the journey and the varied sights and scenes that + attended it. Aside from my mission, the trip was a great success. The + magnificent buildings, the display of wealth in the large cities and + prosperous manufacturing towns, broadened the views of one whose vision + had never extended beyond the limits of the Illinois prairies. In + Washington I saw and dined with Trumbull, who went over the situation with + me. Trumbull had written to Lincoln shortly before* that he thought it + "useless to speculate upon the further course of Douglas or the effect it + is to have in Illinois or other States. He himself does not know where he + is going or where he will come out." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Letter, December 25, 1857, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + At my interview with Trumbull, however, he directed me to assure Mr. + Lincoln that Douglas did not mean to join the Republican party, however + great the breach between himself and the administration might be. "We + Republicans here," he said exultingly in another letter to Lincoln, "are + in good spirits, and are standing back to let the fight go on between + Douglas and his former associates. Lincoln will lose nothing by this if he + can keep the attention of our Illinois people from being diverted from the + great and vital question of the day to the minor and temporary issues + which are now being discussed."* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Letter, December 27,1857, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In Washington I saw also Seward, Wilson, and others of equal prominence. + Douglas was confined to his house by illness, but on receiving my card he + directed me to be shown up to his room. We had a pleasant and interesting + interview. Of course the conversation soon turned on Lincoln. In answer to + an inquiry regarding the latter I remarked that Lincoln was pursuing the + even tenor of his way. "He is not in anybody's way," I contended, "not + even in yours, Judge Douglas." He was sitting up in a chair smoking a + cigar. Between puffs he responded that neither was he in the way of + Lincoln or any one else, and did not intend to invite conflict. He + conceived that he had achieved what he had set out to do, and hence did + not feel that his course need put him in opposition to Mr. Lincoln or his + party. "Give Mr. Lincoln my regards," he said, rather warmly, "when you + return, and tell him I have crossed the river and burned my boat." Leaving + Washington, my next point was New York, where I met the editor of the <i>Anti-Slavery + Standard</i>, Horace Greeley, Henry Ward Beecher, and others. I had a long + talk with Greeley, who, I noticed, leaned towards Douglas. I found, + however, he was not at all hostile to Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + I presented the latter's case in the best phase I knew how, but while I + drew but little from him, I left feeling that he hadn't been entirely won + over. He introduced me to Beecher, who, as everybody else did, inquired + after Lincoln and through me sent him words of encouragement and praise.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Lincoln's greatest fear was that Douglas might be taken up by the + Republicans. Senator Seward, when I met him in Washington, assured me + there was no danger of it, insisting that the Republicans nor any one + else could place any reliance on a man so slippery as Douglas. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + From New York I went to Boston, and from the latter place I wrote Lincoln + a letter which happily I found not long since in a bundle of Lincoln's + letters, and which I insert here, believing it affords a better reflex of + the situation at the time than anything I might see fit to say now. Here + it is: + </p> + <p> + "Revere House, + </p> + <p> + "Boston, Mass., March 24, 1858. + </p> + <p> + "Friend Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + "I am in this city of notions, and am well—very well indeed. I wrote + you a hasty letter from Washington some days ago, since which time I have + been in Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and now here. I saw Greeley, + and so far as any of our conversation is interesting to you I will relate. + And we talked, say twenty minutes. He evidently wants Douglas sustained + and sent back to the Senate. He did not say so in so many words, yet his + feelings are with Douglas. I know it from the spirit and drift of his + conversation. He talked bitterly—somewhat so—against the + papers in Illinois, and said they were fools. I asked him this question, + 'Greeley, do you want to see a third party organized, or do you want + Douglas to ride to power through the North, which he has so much abused + and betrayed? and to which he replied, 'Let the future alone; it will all + come right. Douglas is a brave man. Forget the past and sustain the <i>righteous</i>' + Good God, <i>righteous</i>, eh! + </p> + <p> + "Since I have landed in Boston I have seen much that was entertaining and + interesting. This morning I was introduced to Governor Banks. He and I had + a conversation about Republicanism and especially about Douglas. He asked + me this question, 'You will sustain Douglas in Illinois, wont you?' and to + which I said 'No, never!' He affected to be much surprised, and so the + matter dropped and turned on Republicanism, or in general—Lincoln. + Greeley's and other sheets that laud Douglas, Harris, et al., want them + sustained, and will try to do it. Several persons have asked me the same + question which Banks asked, and evidently they get their cue, ideas, or + what not from Greeley, Seward, et al. By-the-bye, Greeley remarked to me + this, 'The Republican standard is too high; we want something practical.' + </p> + <p> + "This may not be interesting to you, but, however it may be, it is my duty + to state what is going on, so that you may head it off—counteract it + in some way. I hope it can be done. The Northern men are cold to me—somewhat + repellent. + </p> + <p> + "Your friend, + </p> + <p> + "W. H. Herndon." + </p> + <p> + On my return home I had encouraging news to relate. I told Lincoln of the + favorable mention I had heard of him by Phillips, Sumner, Seward, + Garrison, Beecher, and Greeley. I brought with me additional sermons and + lectures by Theodore Parker, who was warm in his commendation of Lincoln. + One of these was a lecture on "The Effect of Slavery on the American + People," which was delivered in the Music Hall in Boston, and which I gave + to Lincoln, who read and returned it. He liked especially the following + expression, which he marked with a pencil, and which he in substance + afterwards used in his Gettysburg address: "Democracy is direct + self-government, over all the people, for all the people, by all the + people." + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, passing by other events which have become interwoven in the + history of the land, we reach April, 1858, at which time the Democratic + State convention met and, besides nominating candidates for State offices, + endorsed Mr. Douglas' services in the Senate, thereby virtually + renominating him for that exalted office. In the very nature of things + Lincoln was the man already chosen in the hearts of the Republicans of + Illinois for the same office, and therefore with singular appropriateness + they passed, with great unanimity, at their convention in Springfield on + the 16th of June, the characteristic resolution: "That Hon. Abraham + Lincoln is our first and only choice for United States Senator to fill the + vacancy about to be created by the expiration of Mr. Douglas' term of + office." There was of course no surprise in this for Mr. Lincoln. He had + been all along led to expect it, and with that in view had been earnestly + and quietly at work preparing a speech in acknowledgment of the honor + about to be conferred on him. This speech he wrote on stray envelopes and + scraps of paper, as ideas suggested themselves, putting them into that + miscellaneous and convenient receptacle, his hat. As the convention drew + near he copied the whole on connected sheets, carefully revising every + line and sentence, and fastened them together, for reference during the + delivery of the speech, and for publication. The former precaution, + however, was unnecessary, for he had studied and read over what he had + written so long and carefully that he was able to deliver it without the + least hesitation or difficulty. A few days before the convention, when he + was at work on the speech, I remember that Jesse K. Dubois,* who was + Auditor of State, came into the office and, seeing Lincoln busily writing, + inquired what he was doing or what he was writing. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "After the convention Lincoln met me on the street and said, 'Dubois, + I can tell you now what I was doing the other day when you came into my + office. I was writing that speech, and I knew if I read the passage + about the "house divided against itself" to you, you would ask me to + change or modify it, and that I was determined not to do. I had willed + it so, and was willing if necessary to perish with it."—Statement + of Jesse K. Dubois, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Lincoln answered gruffly, "It's something you may see or hear some time, + but I'll not let you see it now." I myself knew what he was writing, but + having asked neither my opinion nor that of anyone else, I did not venture + to offer any suggestions. After he had finished the final draft of the + speech, he locked the office door, drew the curtain across the glass panel + in the door, and read it to me. At the end of each paragraph he would halt + and wait for my comments. I remember what I said after hearing the first + paragraph, wherein occurs the celebrated figure of the house divided + against itself: "It is true, but is it wise or politic to say so?" He + responded: "That expression is a truth of all human experience, 'a house + divided against itself cannot stand,' and 'he that runs may read.' The + proposition also is true, and has been for six thousand years. I want to + use some universally known figure expressed in simple language as + universally well-known, that may strike home to the minds of men in order + to raise them up to the peril of the times. I do not believe I would be + right in changing or omitting it. I would rather be defeated with this + expression in the speech, and uphold and discuss it before the people, + than be victorious without it." This was not the first time Lincoln had + endorsed the dogma that our Government could not long endure part slave + and part free. He had incorporated it in a speech at Bloomington in 1856, + but in obedience to the emphatic protest of Judge T. Lyle Dickey and + others, who conceived the idea that its "delivery would make Abolitionists + of all the North and slavery propagandists of all the South, and thereby + precipitate a struggle which might end in disunion," he consented to + suspend its repetition, but only for that campaign.* Now, however, the + situation had changed somewhat. There had been a shifting of scenes, so to + speak. The Republican party had gained some in strength and more in moral + effectiveness and force. Nothing could keep back in Lincoln any longer, + sentiments of right and truth, and he prepared to give the fullest + expression to both in all future contests. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "After the meeting was over Mr. Lincoln and I returned to the Pike + House, where we occupied the same room. Immediately on reaching the room + I said to him, 'What in God's name could induce you to promulgate such + an opinion?' He replied familiarly, 'Upon my soul, Dickey, I think it is + true.' I reasoned to show it was not a correct opinion. He argued + strenuously that the opinion was a sound one. At length I said, 'Suppose + you are right, that our Government cannot last part free and part slave, + what good is to be accomplished by inculcating that opinion (or truth, + if you please) in the minds of the people?' After some minutes + reflection he rose and approached me, extending his right hand to take + mine, and said, 'From respect for your judgment, Dickey, I'll promise + you I won't teach the doctrine again during this campaign.'"—Letter, + T. Lyle Dickey, MS., December 8, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/090.jpg" + alt="Hall of Representatives, State House, Springfield 090 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Before delivering his speech he invited a dozen or so of his friends over + to the library of the State House, where he read and submitted it to them. + After the reading he asked each man for his opinion. Some condemned and + not one endorsed it. One man, more forcible than elegant, characterized it + as a "d———d fool utterance", another said the doctrine + was "ahead of its time" and still another contended that it would drive + away a good many voters fresh from the Democratic ranks. Each man attacked + it in his criticism. I was the last to respond. Although the doctrine + announced was rather rank, yet it suited my views, and I said, "Lincoln, + deliver that speech as read and it will make you President." At the time I + hardly realized the force of my prophecy. Having patiently listened to + these various criticisms from his friends—all of which with a single + exception were adverse—he rose from his chair, and after alluding to + the careful study and intense thought he had given the question, he + answered all their objections substantially as follows: "Friends, this + thing has been retarded long enough. The time has come when these + sentiments should be uttered; and if it is decreed that I should go down + because of this speech, then let me go down linked to the truth—let + me die in the advocacy of what is just and right." The next day, the 17th, + the speech was delivered just as we had heard it read. Up to this time + Seward had held sway over the North by his "higher-law" sentiments, but + the "house-divided-against-itself" speech by Lincoln in my opinion drove + the nail into Seward's political coffin.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * If any student of oratorical history, after reading Lincoln's speech + on this occasion, will refer to Webster's reply to Hayne in the Senate, + he will be struck with the similarity in figure and thought in the + opening lines of both speeches. In fact, it may not be amiss to note + that, in this instance, Webster's effort was carefully read by Lincoln + and served in part as his model. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Lincoln had now created in reality a more profound impression than he or + his friends anticipated. Many Republicans deprecated the advanced ground + he had taken, the more so as the Democrats rejoiced that it afforded them + an issue clear and well-defined. Numbers of his friends distant from + Springfield, on reading his speech, wrote him censorious letters; and one + well-informed co-worker* predicted his defeat, charging it to the first + ten lines of the speech. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Leonard Swett. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + These complaints, coming apparently from every quarter, Lincoln bore with + great patience. To one complainant who followed him into his office he + said proudly, "If I had to draw a pen across my record, and erase my whole + life from sight, and I had one poor gift or choice left as to what I + should save from the wreck, I should choose that speech and leave it to + the world unerased." Meanwhile Douglas had returned from Washington to his + home in Chicago. Here he rested for a few days until his friends and + co-workers had arranged the details of a public reception on the 9th of + July, when he delivered from the balcony of the Tremont House a speech + intended as an answer to the one made by Lincoln in Springfield. Lincoln + was present at this reception, but took no part in it. The next day, + however, he replied. Both speeches were delivered at the same place. + Leaving Chicago, Douglas passed on down to Bloomington and Springfield, + where he spoke on the 16th and 17th of July respectively. On the evening + of the latter day Lincoln responded again in a most effective and + convincing effort. The contest now took on a different phase. Lincoln's + Republican friends urged him to draw Douglas into a joint debate, and he + accordingly sent him a challenge on the 24th of July. It is not necessary, + I suppose, to reproduce here the correspondence that passed between these + great leaders. On the 30th Douglas finally accepted the proposition to + "divide time, and address the same audiences," naming seven different + places, one in each Congressional district, outside of Chicago and + Springfield, for joint meetings.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Among the items of preparation on Lincoln's part hitherto withheld is + the following letter, which explains itself: + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/095.jpg" alt=" Letter to Campbell 095 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Springfield, June 28, 1858. "A. Campbell, Esq. "My Dear Sir:—In + 1856 you gave me authority to draw on you for any sum not exceeding five + hundred dollars. I see clearly that such a privilege would be more + available now than it was then. I am aware that times are tighter now + than they were then. Please write me at all events, and whether you can + now do anything or not I shall continue grateful for the past. "Yours + very truly, "A. Lincoln." * The following recent letter from Mr. + Campbell is not without interest: La Salle, Ill., Dec. 12th, 1888. + "Jesse W. Weik, Esq. "My Dear Sir:—I gave Mr. Lincoln some money + in the office of Lincoln & Herndon in Springfield in 1856, but I do + not remember the exact amount. It was, however, between two and three + hundred dollars. I never had Mr. Lincoln's obligation for the payment of + any money. I never kept any account of nor charged my memory with any + money I gave him. It was given to defray his personal expenses and + otherwise promote the interest of a cause which I sincerely believed to + be for the public good, and without the thought or expectation of a + dollar of it ever being returned. From what I knew and learned of his + careful habits in money matters in the campaign of 1856 I am entirely + confident that every dollar and dime I ever gave was carefully and + faithfully applied to the uses and purposes for which it was given. + "Sincerely yours, "A. Campbell." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The places and dates were, Ottawa, August 21; Freeport, August 27; + Jonesboro, September 15; Charleston, September 18; Galesburg, October 7; + Quincy, October 13; and Alton, October 15. "I agree to your suggestion," + wrote Douglas, "that we shall alternately open and close the discussion. I + will speak at Ottawa one hour, you can reply, occupying an hour and a + half, and I will then follow for half an hour. At Freeport you shall open + the discussion and speak one hour, I will follow for an hour and a half, + and you can then reply for half an hour. We will alternate in like manner + in each successive place." To this arrangement Lincoln on the 31st gave + his consent, "although," he wrote, "by the terms as you propose you take + four openings and closes to my three." + </p> + <p> + History furnishes few characters whose lives and careers were so nearly + parallel as those of Lincoln and Douglas. They met for the first time at + the Legislature in Vandalia in 1834, where Lincoln was a member of the + House of Representatives and Douglas was in the lobby. The next year + Douglas was also a member. In 1839 both were admitted to practice in the + Supreme Court of Illinois on the same day.* In 1841 both courted the same + young lady. In 1846 both represented Illinois in Congress at Washington, + the one in the upper and the other in the lower House. In 1858 they were + opposing candidates for United States Senator; and finally, to complete + the remarkable counterpart, both were candidates for the Presidency in + 1860. While it is true that their ambitions ran in parallel lines, yet + they were exceedingly unlike in all other particulars. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * December 3d. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Douglas was short,—something over five feet high,—heavy set, + with a large head, broad shoulders, deep chest, and striking features. He + was polite and affable, but fearless. He had that unique trait, magnetism, + fully developed in his nature, and that attracted a host of friends and + readily made him a popular idol. He had had extensive experience in + debate, and had been trained by contact for years with the great minds and + orators in Congress. He was full of political history, well informed on + general topics, eloquent almost to the point of brilliancy, self-confident + to the point of arrogance, and a dangerous competitor in every respect. + What he lacked in ingenuity he made up in strategy, and if in debate he + could not tear down the structure of his opponent's argument by a direct + and violent attack, he was by no means reluctant to resort to a strained + restatement of the latter's position or to the extravagance of ridicule. + Lincoln knew his man thoroughly and well.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * An erroneous impression has grown up in recent years concerning + Douglas's ability and standing as a lawyer. One of the latest + biographies of Lincoln credits him with many of the artifices of the + "shyster." This is not only unfair, but decidedly untrue. I always found + Douglas at the bar to be a broad, fair, and liberal-minded man. Although + not a thorough student of the law his large fund of good common- sense + kept him in the front rank. He was equally generous and courteous, and + he never stooped to gain a case. I know that Lincoln entertained the + same view of him. It was only in politics that Douglas demonstrated any + want of inflexibility and rectitude, and then only did Lincoln manifest + a lack of faith in his morals. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He had often met Douglas on the stump; was familiar with his tactics, and + though fully aware of his "want of fixed political morals," was not averse + to measuring swords with the elastic and flexible "Little Giant." + </p> + <p> + Lincoln himself was constructed on an entirely different foundation. His + base was plain common sense, direct statement, and the inflexibility of + logic. In physical make-up he was cold—at least not magnetic—and + made no effort to dazzle people by his bearing. He cared nothing for a + following, and though he had often before struggled for a political prize, + yet in his efforts he never had strained his well-known spirit of fairness + or open love of the truth. He analyzed everything, laid every statement + bare, and by dint of his broad reasoning powers and manliness of admission + inspired his hearers with deep conviction of his earnestness and honesty. + Douglas may have electrified the crowds with his eloquence or charmed them + with his majestic bearing and dexterity in debate, but as each man, after + the meetings were over and the applause had died away, went to his home, + his head rang with Lincoln's logic and appeal to manhood. + </p> + <p> + A brief description of Mr. Lincoln's appearance on the stump and of his + manner when speaking may not be without interest. When standing erect he + was six feet four inches high. He was lean in flesh and ungainly in + figure. Aside from the sad, pained look due to habitual melancholy, his + face had no characteristic or fixed expression. He was thin through the + chest, and hence slightly stoop-shouldered. When he arose to address + courts, juries, or crowds of people, his body inclined forward to a slight + degree. At first he was very awkward, and it seemed a real labor to adjust + himself to his surroundings. He struggled for a time under a feeling of + apparent diffidence and sensitiveness, and these only added to his + awkwardness. I have often seen and sympathized with Mr. Lincoln during + these moments. When he began speaking, his voice was shrill, piping, and + unpleasant. His manner, his attitude, his dark, yellow face, wrinkled and + dry, his oddity of pose, his diffident movements—everything seemed + to be against him, but only for a short time. After having arisen, he + generally placed his hands behind him, the back of his left hand in the + palm of his right, the thumb and fingers of his right hand clasped around + the left arm at the wrist. For a few moments he played the combination of + awkwardness, sensitiveness, and diffidence. As he proceeded he became + somewhat animated, and to keep in harmony with his growing warmth his + hands relaxed their grasp and fell to his side. Presently he clasped them + in front of him, interlocking his fingers, one thumb meanwhile chasing + another. His speech now requiring more emphatic utterance, his fingers + unlocked and his hands fell apart. His left arm was thrown behind, the + back of his hand resting against his body, his right hand seeking his + side. By this time he had gained sufficient composure, and his real speech + began. He did not gesticulate as much with his hands as with his head. He + used the latter frequently, throwing it with vim this way and that. This + movement was a significant one when he sought to enforce his statement. It + sometimes came with a quick jerk, as if throwing off electric sparks into + combustible material. He never sawed the air nor rent space into tatters + and rags as some orators do. He never acted for stage effect. He was cool, + considerate, reflective—in time self-possessed and self-reliant. His + style was clear, terse, and compact. In argument he was logical, + demonstrative, and fair. He was careless of his dress, and his clothes, + instead of fitting neatly as did the garments of Douglas on the latter's + well-rounded form, hung loosely on his giant frame. As he moved along in + his speech he became freer and less uneasy in his movements; to that + extent he was graceful. He had a perfect naturalness, a strong + individuality; and to that extent he was dignified. He despised glitter, + show, set forms, and shams. He spoke with effectiveness and to move the + judgment as well as the emotions of men. There was a world of meaning and + emphasis in the long, bony finger of his right hand as he dotted the ideas + on the minds of his hearers. Sometimes, to express joy or pleasure, he + would raise both hands at an angle of about fifty degrees, the palms + upward, as if desirous of embracing the spirit of that which he loved. If + the sentiment was one of detestation—denunciation of slavery, for + example—both arms, thrown upward and fists clenched, swept through + the air, and he expressed an execration that was truly sublime. This was + one of his most effective gestures, and signified most vividly a fixed + determination to drag down the object of his hatred and trample it in the + dust. He always stood squarely on his feet, toe even with toe; that is, he + never put one foot before the other. He neither touched nor leaned on + anything for support. He made but few changes in his positions and + attitudes. He never ranted, never walked backward and forward on the + platform. To ease his arms he frequently caught hold, with his left hand, + of the lapel of his coat, keeping his thumb upright and leaving his right + hand free to gesticulate. The designer of the monument recently erected in + Chicago has happily caught him in just this attitude. As he proceeded with + his speech the exercise of his vocal organs altered somewhat the tone of + his voice. It lost in a measure its former acute and shrilling pitch, and + mellowed into a more harmonious and pleasant sound. His form expanded, + and, notwithstanding the sunken breast, he rose up a splendid and imposing + figure. In his defence of the Declaration of Independence—his + greatest inspiration—he was tremendous in the directness of his + utterances; he rose to impassioned eloquence, unsurpassed by Patrick + Henry, Mirabeau, or Vergniaud, as his soul was inspired with the thought + of human right and Divine justice.* His little gray eyes flashed in a face + aglow with the fire of his profound thoughts; and his uneasy movements and + diffident manner sunk themselves beneath the wave of righteous indignation + that came sweeping over him. Such was Lincoln the orator. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Horace White, who was present and reported the speech for his paper, + the Chicago Tribune. Letter, June 9, 1865, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + We can somewhat appreciate the feeling with which Douglas, aggressive and + fearless though he was, welcomed a contest with such a man as Lincoln. + Four years before, in a joint debate with him, he had asked for a + cessation of forensic hostilities, conceding that his opponent of + rail-splitting fame had given him "more trouble than all the United States + Senate together." Now he was brought face to face with him again.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Douglas and I, for the first time this canvass, crossed swords here + yesterday. The fire flew some, and I am glad to know I am yet alive."—Lincoln + to J. O. Cunningham, Ottawa, Ill., August 22, 1858, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + It is unnecessary and not in keeping with the purpose of this work to + reproduce here the speeches made by either Lincoln or Douglas in their + justly renowned debate. Briefly stated, Lincoln's position was announced + in his opening speech at Springfield: "'A house divided against itself + cannot stand.' I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half + slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved, I do not + expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be + divided. It will become all the one thing or the other. Either the + opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it and place it + where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of + ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it becomes + alike lawful in all the states, old as well as new, North as well as + South." The position of Douglas on the question of slavery was one of + indifference. He advocated with all his power the doctrine of "Popular + Sovereignty," a proposition, as quaintly put by Lincoln, which meant that, + "if one man chooses to enslave another, no third man has a right to + object." At the last joint discussion in Alton, Lincoln, after reflecting + on the patriotism of any man who was so indifferent to the wrong of + slavery that he cared not whether it was voted up or down, closed his + speech with this stirring summary: "That [slavery] is the real issue. That + is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of + Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle + between these two principles—right and wrong—throughout the + world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the + beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the + common right of humanity, and the other the divine right of kings. It is + the same principle, in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same + spirit that says: 'You work and toil and earn bread, and I eat it.' No + matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks + to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their + labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, + it is the same tyrannical principle." + </p> + <p> + It is unnecessary, I presume, to insert here the seven questions which + Douglas propounded to Lincoln at their first meeting at Ottawa, nor the + historic four which Lincoln asked at Freeport. It only remains to say that + in answering Lincoln at + </p> + <p> + Freeport, Douglas accomplished his own political downfall. He was swept + entirely away from his former foundation, and even the glory of a + subsequent election to the Senate never restored him to it. + </p> + <p> + During the canvass Mr. Lincoln, in addition to the seven meetings with + Douglas, filled thirty-one appointments made by the State Central + Committee, besides speaking at many other times and places not previously + advertised. In his trips to and fro over the State, between meetings, he + would stop at Springfield sometimes, to consult with his friends or to + post himself up on questions that occurred during the canvass. He kept me + busy hunting up old speeches and gathering facts and statistics at the + State library. I made liberal clippings bearing in any way on the + questions of the hour from every newspaper I happened to see, and kept him + supplied with them; and on one or two occasions, in answer to letters and + telegrams, I sent books forward to him. He had a little leather bound + book, fastened in front with a clasp, in which he and I both kept + inserting newspaper slips and newspaper comments until the canvass opened. + In arranging for the joint meetings and managing the crowds Douglas + enjoyed one great advantage. He had been United States Senator for several + years, and had influential friends holding comfortable government offices + all over the State. These men were on hand at every meeting, losing no + opportunity to applaud lustily all the points Douglas made and to lionize + him in every conceivable way. The ingeniously contrived display of their + enthusiasm had a marked effect on certain crowds—a fact of which + Lincoln frequently complained to his friends. One who accompanied him + during the canvass* relates this: "Lincoln and I were at the Centralia + agricultural fair the day after the debate at Jonesboro. Night came on and + we were tired, having been on the fair grounds all day. We were to go + north on the Illinois Central railroad. The train was due at midnight, and + the depot was full of people. I managed to get a chair for Lincoln in the + office of the superintendent of the railroad, but small politicians would + intrude so that he could scarcely get a moment's sleep. The train came and + was filled instantly. I got a seat near the door for Lincoln and myself. + He was worn out, and had to meet Douglas the next day at Charleston. An + empty car, called a saloon car, was hitched on to the rear of the train + and locked up. I asked the conductor, who knew Lincoln and myself well,—we + were both attorneys of the road,—if Lincoln could not ride in that + car; that he was exhausted and needed rest; but the conductor refused. I + afterwards got him in by a stratagem. At the same time George B. McClellan + in person was taking Douglas around in a special car and special train; + and that was the unjust treatment Lincoln got from the Illinois Central + railroad. Every interest of that road and every employee was against + Lincoln and for Douglas." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Henry C. Whitney, MS., July 21, 1865. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The heat and dust and bonfires of the campaign at last came to an end. The + election took place on the second of November, and while Lincoln received + of the popular vote a majority of over four thousand, yet the returns from + the legislative districts foreshadowed his defeat. In fact, when the + Senatorial election took place in the Legislature, Douglas received + fifty-four and Lincoln forty-six votes—one of the results of the + lamentable apportionment law then in operation.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Horace Greeley was one of the most vigilant men during the debate. He + wrote to Lincoln and me many letters which I still retain. In a letter + to me during the campaign, October 6, he says with reference to Douglas: + "In his present position I could not of course support him, but he need + not have been in this position had the Republicans of Illinois been as + wise and far-seeing as they are earnest and true.... but seeing things + are as they are, I do not wish to be quoted as authority for making + trouble and division among our friends." Soon after hearing of the + result of November election he again writes: "I advise you privately + that Mr. Douglas would be the strongest candidate that the Democratic + party could present for President; but they will not present him. The + old leaders wouldn't endorse it. As he is doomed to be slaughtered at + Charleston it is good policy to fatten him meantime. He will cut up the + better at killing time." An inquiry for his preference as to + Presidential timber elicited this response, December 4th. "As to + President, my present judgment is Edward Bates, with John M. Read for + Vice; but I am willing to go anything that looks strong. I don't wish to + load the team heavier than it will pull through. As to Douglas, he is + like the man's boy who (he said) 'didn't weigh so much as he expected, + and he always knew he wouldn't.' I never thought him very sound coin; + but I didn't think it best to beat him on the back of his anti- + Lecompton fight, and I am still of that opinion." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The letters of Lincoln at this period are the best evidence of his + feelings now obtainable, and of how he accepted his defeat. To Henry + Asbury, a friend who had written him a cheerful letter admonishing him not + to give up the battle, he responded; + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, November 19, 1858. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Henry Asbury, + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Sir:—Yours of the 13th was received some days ago. The + fight must go on. The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at + the end of one or even one hundred defeats. Douglas had the ingenuity to + be supported in the late contest both as the best means to break down and + to uphold the slave interest. No ingenuity can keep these antagonistic + elements in harmony long. Another explosion will soon come. + </p> + <p> + "Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + To another friend* on the same day he writes: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Dr. Henry. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "I am glad I made the late race. It gave me a hearing on the great and + durable questions of the age which I could have had in no other way; and + though I now sink out of view and shall be forgotten, I believe I have + made some marks which will tell for the cause of liberty long after I am + gone." Before passing to later events in Mr. Lincoln's life it is proper + to include in this chapter, as a specimen of his oratory at this time, his + eloquent reference to the Declaration of Independence found in a speech + delivered at Beardstown, August 12, and not at Lewiston five days later, + as many biographers have it. Aside from its concise reasoning, the sublime + thought it suggests entitles it to rank beside that great masterpiece, his + Gettysburg address. After alluding to the suppression by the Fathers of + the Republic of the slave trade, he says: "These by their representatives + in old Independence Hall said to the whole race of men: 'We hold these + truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are + endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these + are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' This was their majestic + interpretation of the economy of the universe. This was their lofty, and + wise, and noble understanding of the justice of the Creator to his + creatures—yes, gentlemen, to all his creatures, to the whole great + family of man. In their enlightened belief, nothing stamped with the + divine image and likeness was sent into the world to be trodden on and + degraded and imbruted by its fellows. They grasped not only the whole race + of man then living, but they reached forward and seized upon the farthest + posterity. They erected a beacon to guide their children, and their + children's children, and the countless myriads who should inhabit the + earth in other ages. Wise statesmen as they were, they knew the tendency + of prosperity to breed tyrants, and so they established these great + self-evident truths, that when in the distant future some man, some + faction, some interest, should set up the doctrine that none but rich men, + none but white men, or none but Anglo-Saxon white men were entitled to + life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, their posterity might look up + again to the Declaration of Independence and take courage to renew the + battle which their fathers began, so that truth and justice and mercy and + all the humane and Christian virtues might not be extinguished from the + land; so that no man would hereafter dare to limit and circumscribe the + great principles on which the temple of liberty was being built. + </p> + <p> + "Now, my countrymen, if you have been taught doctrines conflicting with + the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence; if you have + listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur and + mutilate the fair symmetry of its proportions; if you have been inclined + to believe that all men are not created equal in those inalienable rights + enumerated by our chart of liberty: let me entreat you to come back. + Return to the fountain whose waters spring close by the blood of the + Revolution. Think nothing of me; take no thought for the political fate of + any man whomsoever, but come back to the truths that are in the + Declaration of Independence. You may do anything with me you choose, if + you will but heed these sacred principles. You may not only defeat me for + the Senate, but you may take me and put me to death. While pretending no + indifference to earthly honors, I do claim to be actuated in this contest + by something higher than an anxiety for office. I charge you to drop every + paltry and insignificant thought for any man's success. It is nothing; I + am nothing; Judge Douglas is nothing. But do not destroy that immortal + emblem of humanity—the Declaration of American Independence." + </p> + <p> + One of the newspaper men* who heard this majestic oration wrote me as + follows: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Horace White, MS., May 17, 1865. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "The apostrophe to the Declaration of Independence to which you refer was + written by myself from a vivid recollection of Mr. Lincoln's speech at + Beardstown, August 12, 1858. On the day following the delivery of the + speech, as Mr. Lincoln and I were proceeding by steamer from Beardstown to + Havana, I said to him that I had been greatly impressed by his concluding + remarks of the day previous, and that if he would write them out for me I + felt confident their publication would be highly beneficial to our cause + as well as honorable to his own fame. He replied that he had but a faint + recollection of any portion of the speech; that, like all his campaign + speeches, it was necessarily extemporaneous; and that its good or bad + effect depended upon the inspiration of the moment. He added that I had + probably overestimated the value of the remarks referred to. In reply to + my question whether he had any objection to my writing them out from + memory and putting them in the form of a verbatim report, he said, 'None + at all.' I accordingly did so. I felt confident then and I feel equally + assured now that I transcribed the peroration with absolute fidelity as to + ideas and commendable fidelity as to language. I certainly aimed to + reproduce his exact words, and my recollection of the passage as spoken + was very clear. After I had finished writing I read it to Mr. Lincoln. + When I had finished the reading he said, 'Well, those are my views, and if + I said anything on the subject I must have said substantially that, but + not nearly so well as that is said.' I remember this remark quite + distinctly, and if the old steamer <i>Editor</i> is still in existence I + could show the place where we were sitting. Having secured his assent to + the publication I forwarded it to our paper, but inasmuch as my report of + the Beardstown meeting had been already mailed I incorporated the remarks + on the Declaration of Independence in my letter from Lewiston two or three + days subsequently.... I do not remember ever having related these facts + before, although they have often recurred to me as I have seen the + peroration resuscitated again and again, and published (with good effect, + I trust) in the newspapers of this country and England." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + The importance of a more accurate and elaborate history of the debate + between Lincoln and Douglas has induced Mr. Weik and me to secure, for + publication in these pages, the account by Horace White, of this + world-renowned forensic contest. Mr. White's means of knowledge, as fully + set forth in the article, are exceptional, and his treatment of the + subject is not less entertaining than truthful. It is certainly a great + contribution to history and we insert it without further comment: + </p> + <p> + "It was my good fortune to accompany Mr. Lincoln during his political + campaign against Senator Douglas in 1858, not only at the joint debates + but also at most of the smaller meetings where his competitor was not + present. We traveled together many thousands of miles. I was in the employ + of the <i>Chicago Tribune</i>, then called the <i>Press and Tribune</i>. + Senator Douglas had entered upon his campaign with two short-hand + reporters, James B. Sheridan and Henry Binmore, whose duty it was to + 'write it up' in the columns of the Chicago Times. The necessity of + counteracting or matching that force became apparent very soon, and I was + chosen to write up Mr. Lincoln's campaign. + </p> + <p> + "I was not a short-hand reporter. The verbatim reporting for the Chicago + Tribune in the joint debates was done by Mr. Robert R. Hitt, late + Assistant Secretary of State, and the present Representative in Congress + from the 6th District of Illinois. Verbatim reporting was a new feature in + journalism in Chicago, and Mr. Hitt was the pioneer thereof. The + publication of Senator Douglas's opening speech in that campaign, + delivered on the evening of July 9th, by the Tribune the next morning, was + a feat hitherto unexampled in the West, and most mortifying to the + Democratic newspaper, the <i>Times</i>, and to Sheridan and Binmore, who, + after taking down the speech as carefully as Mr. Hitt had done, had gone + to bed intending to write it out next day, as was then customary. + </p> + <p> + "All of the seven joint debates were reported by Mr. Hitt for the <i>Tribune</i>, + the manuscript passing through my hands before going to the printers, but + no changes were made by me except in a few cases where confusion on the + platform; or the blowing of the wind, had caused some slight hiatus or + evident mistake in catching the speaker's words. I could not resist the + temptation to <i>italicise</i> a few passages in Mr. Lincoln's speeches, + where his manner of delivery had been especially emphatic. + </p> + <p> + "The volume containing the debates, published in 1860 by Follett, Foster + & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, presents Mr. Lincoln's speeches as they + appeared in the Chicago <i>Tribune</i>, and Mr. Douglas's as they appeared + in the Chicago <i>Times</i>. Of course, the speeches of both were + published simultaneously in both papers. The Chicago <i>Times</i>' reports + of Mr. Lincoln's speeches were not at all satisfactory to Mr. Lincoln's + friends, and this led to a charge that they were purposely mutilated in + order to give his competitor a more scholarly appearance before the public—a + charge indignantly denied by Sheridan and Binmore. There was really no + foundation for this charge. Of course, Sheridan and Binmore took more + pains with Mr. Douglas's speeches than with those of his opponent. That + was their business. It was what they were paid for, and what they were + expected to do. The debates were all held in the open air, on rude + platforms hastily put together, shaky, and overcrowded with people. The + reporters' tables were liable to be jostled and their manuscript agitated + by the wind. Some gaps were certain to occur in the reporters' notes and + these, when occurring in Mr. Douglas's speeches, would certainly be + straightened out by his own reporters, who would feel no such + responsibility for the rough places in Mr. Lincoln's. Then it must be + added that there were fewer involved sentences in Mr. Douglas's <i>extempore</i> + speeches than in Mr. Lincoln's. Douglas was the more practiced and more + polished speaker of the two, and it was easier for a reporter to follow + him. All his sentences were round and perfect in his mind before he opened + his lips. This was not always the case with Mr. Lincoln's. + </p> + <p> + "My acquaintance with Mr. Lincoln began four years before the campaign of + which I am writing, in October, 1854. I was then in the employ of the + Chicago <i>Evening Journal</i>. I had been sent to Springfield to report + the political doings of State Fair week for that newspaper. Thus it came + about that I occupied a front seat in the Representatives' Hall, in the + old State House, when Mr. Lincoln delivered the speech already described + in this volume. The impression made upon me by the orator was quite + overpowering. + </p> + <p> + "I had not heard much political speaking up to that time. I have heard a + great deal since. I have never heard anything since, either by Mr. + Lincoln, or by anybody, that I would put on a higher plane of oratory. All + the strings that play upon the human heart and understanding were touched + with masterly skill and force, while beyond and above all skill was the + overwhelming conviction pressed upon the audience that the speaker himself + was charged with an irresistible and inspiring duty to his fellow men. + This conscientious impulse drove his arguments through the heads of his + hearers down into their bosoms, where they made everlasting lodgment. I + had been nurtured in the Abolitionist faith, and was much more radical + than Mr. Lincoln himself on any point where slavery was concerned, yet it + seemed to me, when this speech was finished, as though I had had a very + feeble conception of the wickedness of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. I was + filled, as never before, with the sense of my own duty and responsibility + as a citizen toward the aggressions of the slave power. + </p> + <p> + "Having, 'since then, heard all the great public speakers of this country + subsequent to the period of Clay and Webster, I award the palm to Mr. + Lincoln as the one who, although not first in all respects, would bring + more men, of doubtful or hostile leanings, around to his way of thinking + by talking to them on a platform, than any other. + </p> + <p> + "Although I heard him many times afterward I shall longest remember him as + I then saw the tall, angular form with the long, angular arms, at times + bent nearly double with excitement, like a large flail animating two + smaller ones, the mobile face wet with perspiration which he discharged in + drops as he threw his head this way and that like a projectile—not a + graceful figure, yet not an ungraceful one. After listening to him a few + minutes, when he had got well warmed with his subject, nobody would mind + whether he was graceful or not. All thought of grace or form would be lost + in the exceeding attractiveness of what he was saying. + </p> + <p> + "Returning to the campaign of 1858—I was sent by my employers to + Springfield to attend the Republican State Convention of that year. Again + I sat at a short distance from Mr. Lincoln when he delivered the + 'house-divided-against-itself' speech, on the 17th of June. This was + delivered from manuscript, and was the only one I ever heard him deliver + in that way. When it was concluded he put the manuscript in my hands and + asked me to go to the <i>State Journal</i> office and read the proof of + it. I think it had already been set in type. Before I had finished this + task Mr. Lincoln himself came into the composing room of the <i>State + Journal</i> and looked over the revised proofs. He said to me that he had + taken a great deal of pains with this speech, and that he wanted it to go + before the people just as he had prepared it. He added that some of his + friends had scolded him a good deal about the opening paragraph and 'the + house divided against itself,' and wanted him to change it or leave it out + altogether, but that he believed he had studied this subject more deeply + than they had, and that he was going to stick to that text whatever + happened. + </p> + <p> + "On the 9th of July, Senator Douglas returned to Chicago from Washington + City. He had stopped a few days at Cleveland, Ohio, to allow his friends + to arrange a grand <i>entrée</i> for him. It was arranged that he should + arrive about eight o'clock in the evening by the Michigan Central Railway, + whose station was at the foot of Lake street, in which street the + principal hotel, the Tremont House, was situated, and that he should be + driven in a carriage drawn by six horses to the hotel, where he should + make his first speech of the campaign. To carry out this arrangement it + was necessary that he should leave the Michigan Southern Railway at + Laporte and go to Michigan City, at which place the Chicago committee of + reception took him in charge. It was noted by the Chicago <i>Times</i> + that some malicious person at Michigan City had secretly spiked the only + cannon in the town, so that the Douglas men were obliged to use an anvil + on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + "When Mr. Douglas and his train arrived at the Lake street station, the + crowd along the street to the hotel, four or five blocks distant, was + dense, and, for the Chicago of that day, tremendous. It was with great + difficulty that the six-horse team got through it at all. Banners, bands + of music, cannon and fireworks added their various inspiration to the + scene. About nine o'clock Mr. Douglas made his appearance on a balcony on + the Lake street side of the hotel and made his speech. Mr. Lincoln sat in + a chair just inside the house, very near the speaker, and was an attentive + listener. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Douglas's manner on this occasion was courtly and conciliatory. His + argument was plausible but worthless—being, for the most part, a + rehash of his 'popular sovereignty' dogma; nevertheless, he made a good + impression. He could make more out of a bad case, I think, than any other + man this country has ever produced, and I hope the country will never + produce his like again in this particular. If his fate had been cast in + the French Revolution, he would have out-demagogued the whole lot of them. + I consider the use he made of this chip called popular sovereignty, riding + upon it safely through some of the stormiest years in our history, and + having nothing else to ride upon, a feat of dexterity akin to genius. But + mere dexterity would not alone have borne him along his pathway in life. + He had dauntless courage, unwearied energy, engaging manners, boundless + ambition, unsurpassed powers of debate, and strong personal magnetism. + Among the Democrats of the North his ascendency was unquestioned and his + power almost absolute. He was exactly fitted to hew his way to the + Presidency, and he would have done so infallibly if he had not made the + mistake of coquetting with slavery. This was a mistake due to the absence + of moral principle. If he had been as true to freedom as Lincoln was he + would have distanced Lincoln in the race. It was, in fact, no easy task to + prevent the Republicans from flocking after him in 1858, when he had, for + once only, sided with them, in reference to the Lecompton Constitution. + There are some reasons for believing that Douglas would have separated + himself from the slave-holders entirely after the Lecompton fight, if he + had thought that the Republicans would join in re-electing him to the + Senate. Yet the position taken by the party in Illinois was perfectly + sound. Douglas was too slippery to make a bargain with. He afterward + redeemed himself in the eyes of his opponents by an immense service to the + Union, which no other man could have rendered; but, up to this time, there + was nothing for anti slavery men to do but to beat him if they could. + </p> + <p> + "I will add here that I had no personal acquaintance with Mr. Douglas, + although my opportunities for meeting him were frequent. I regarded him as + the most dangerous enemy of liberty, and, therefore, as my enemy. I did + not want to know him. Accordingly, one day when Mr. Sheridan courteously + offered to present me to his chief, I declined without giving any reason. + Of course, this was a mistake; but, at the age of twenty-four, I took my + politics very seriously. I thought that all the work of saving the country + had to be done then and there. I have since learned to leave something to + time and Providence. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Lincoln's individual campaign began at Beardstown, Cass county, + August 12th. Douglas had been there the previous day, and I had heard him. + His speech had consisted mainly of tedious repetitions of 'popular + sovereignty,' but he had taken occasion to notice Lincoln's conspiracy + charge, and had called it 'an infamous lie.' He had also alluded to + Senator Trumbull's charge that he (Douglas) had, two years earlier, been + engaged in a plot to force a bogus constitution on the people of Kansas + without giving them an opportunity to vote upon it. 'The miserable, + craven-hearted wretch,' said Douglas, 'he would rather have both ears cut + off than to use that language in my presence, where I could call him to + account.' Before entering upon this subject, Douglas turned to his + reporters and said 'Take this down.' They did so and it was published a + few days later in the St. Louis Republican. This incident furnished the + text of the Charleston joint debate on the 18th of September. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Douglas's meeting at Beardstown was large and enthusiastic, but was + composed of a lower social stratum than the Republican meeting of the + following day. Mr. Lincoln came up the Illinois River from the town of + Naples in the steamer <i>Sam Gaty</i>. Cass county and the surrounding + region was by no means hopeful Republican ground. Yet Mr. Lincoln's + friends mustered forty horsemen and two bands of music, beside a long + procession on foot to meet him at the landing. Schuyler county sent a + delegation of three hundred, and Morgan county was well represented. These + were mostly Old Line Whigs who had followed Lincoln in earlier days. Mr. + Lincoln's speech at Beardstown was one of the best he ever made in my + hearing, and was not a repetition of any other. In fact, he never repeated + himself except when some remark or question from the audience led him back + upon a subject that he had already discussed. Many times did I marvel to + see him get on a platform at some out-of-the-way place and begin an + entirely new speech, equal, in all respects, to any of the joint debates, + and continue for two hours in a high strain of argumentative power and + eloquence, without saying anything that I had heard before. After the + Edwardsville meeting I said to him that it was wonderful to me that he + could find new things to say everywhere, while Douglas was parroting his + popular sovereignty speech at every place. He replied that Douglas was not + lacking in versatility, but that he had a theory that the popular + sovereignty speech was the one to win on, and that the audiences whom he + addressed would hear it only once and would never know whether he made the + same speech elsewhere or not, and would never care. Most likely, if their + attention were called to the subject, they would think that was the proper + thing to do. As for himself, he said that he could not repeat to-day what + he had said yesterday. The subject kept enlarging and widening in his mind + as he went on, and it was much easier to make a new speech than to repeat + an old one. + </p> + <p> + "It was at Beardstown that Mr. Lincoln uttered the glowing words that have + come to be known as the apostrophe to the Declaration of Independence, the + circumstances attending which are narrated in another part of this book. + Probably the apostrophe, as printed, is a trifle more florid than as + delivered, and, therefore, less forcible. + </p> + <p> + "The following passage, from the Beardstown speech, was taken down by me + on the platform by long-hand notes and written out immediately afterward: + </p> + <p> + THE CONSPIRACY CHARGE. + </p> + <p> + "'I made a speech in June last in which I pointed out, briefly and + consecutively, a series of public measures leading directly to the + nationalization of slavery—the spreading of that institution over + all the Territories and all the States, old as well as new, North as well + as South. I enumerated the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, which, every + candid man must acknowledge, conferred upon emigrants to Kansas and + Nebraska the right to carry slaves there and hold them in bondage, whereas + formerly they had no such right; I alluded to the events which followed + that repeal, events in which Judge Douglas's name figures quite + prominently; I referred to the Dred Scott decision and the extraordinary + means taken to prepare the public mind for that decision; the efforts put + forth by President Pierce to make the people believe that, in the election + of James Buchanan, they had endorsed the doctrine that slavery may exist + in the free Territories of the Union—the earnest exhortation put + forth by President Buchanan to the people to stick to that decision + whatever it might be—the close-fitting niche in the Nebraska bill, + wherein the right of the people to govern themselves is made 'subject to + the constitution of the United States'—the extraordinary haste made + by Judge Douglas to give this decision an endorsement at the capitol of + Illinois. I alluded to other concurring circumstances, which I need not + repeat now, and I said that, though I could not open the bosoms of men and + find out their secret motives, yet, when I found the framework of a barn, + or a bridge, or any other structure, built by a number of carpenters—Stephen + and Franklin and Roger and James—and so built that each tenon had + its proper mortice, and the whole forming a symmetrical piece of + workmanship, I should say that those carpenters all worked on an + intelligible plan, and understood each other from the beginning. This + embraced the main argument in my speech before the Republican State + Convention in June. Judge Douglas received a copy of my speech some two + weeks before his return to Illinois. He had ample time to examine and + reply to it if he chose to do so. He did examine and he did reply to it, + but he wholly overlooked the body of my argument, and said nothing about + the 'conspiracy charge,' as he terms it. He made his speech up of + complaints against our tendencies to negro equality and amalgamation. + Well, seeing that Douglas had had the process served on him, that he had + taken notice of the process, that he had come into court and pleaded to a + part of the complaint, but had ignored the main issue, I took a default on + him. I held that he had no plea to make to the general charge. So when I + was called on to reply to him, twenty-four hours afterward, I renewed the + charge as explicitly as I could. My speech was reported and published on + the following morning, and, of course, Judge Douglas saw it. He went from + Chicago to Bloomington and there made another and longer speech, and yet + took no notice of the 'conspiracy charge.' He then went to Springfield and + made another elaborate argument, but was not prevailed upon to know + anything about the outstanding indictment. I made another speech at + Springfield, this time taking it for granted that Judge Douglas was + satisfied to take his chances in the campaign with the imputation of the + conspiracy hanging over him. It was not until he went into a small town, + Clinton, in De Witt county, where he delivered his fourth or fifth regular + speech, that he found it convenient to notice this matter at all. At that + place (I was standing in the crowd when he made his speech ), he bethought + himself that he was charged with something, and his reply was that his + 'self-respect alone prevented him from calling it a falsehood.' Well, my + friends, perhaps he so far lost his self-respect in Beardstown as to + actually call it a falsehood. + </p> + <p> + "'But now I have this reply to make: that while the Nebraska bill was pending, + Judge Douglas helped to vote down a clause giving the people of the + Territories the right to exclude slavery if they chose; that neither while + the bill was pending, nor at any other time, would he give his opinion + whether the people had the right to exclude slavery, though respectfully + asked; that he made a report, which I hold in my hand, from the Committee + on Territories, in which he said the rights of the people of the + Territories, in this regard, are 'held in abeyance,' and cannot be + immediately exercised; that the Dred Scott decision expressly denies any + such right, but declares that neither Congress nor the Territorial + Legislature can keep slavery out of Kansas and that Judge Douglas endorses + that decision. All these charges are new; that is, I did not make them in + my original speech. They are additional and cumulative testimony. I bring + them forward now and dare Judge Douglas to deny one of them. Let him do so + and I will prove them by such testimony as shall confound him forever. I + say to you, that it would be more to the purpose for Judge Douglas to say + that he did not repeal the Missouri Compromise; that he did not make + slavery possible where it was impossible before; that he did not leave a + niche in the Nebraska bill for the Dred Scott decision to rest in; that he + did not vote down a clause giving the people the right to exclude slavery + if they wanted to; that he did not refuse to give his individual opinion + whether a Territorial Legislature could exclude slavery; that he did not + make a report to the Senate, in which he said that the rights of the + people, in this regard, were held in abeyance and could not be immediately + exercised; that he did not make a hasty endorsement of the Dred Scott + decision over at Springfield;* that he does not now endorse that decision; + that that decision does not take away from the Territorial Legislature the + right to exclude slavery; and that he did not, in the original Nebraska + bill, so couple the words State and Territory together that what the + Supreme Court has done in forcing open all the Territories to slavery it + may yet do in forcing open all the States. I say it would be vastly more + to the point for Judge Douglas to say that he did not do some of these + things; that he did not forge some of these links of testimony, than to go + vociferating about the country that possibly he may hint that somebody is + a liar.' + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * This refers to Douglas's speech of June 12, 1857. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "The next morning, August 13th, we boarded the steamer <i>Editor</i> and + went to Havana, Mason county. Mr. Lincoln was in excellent spirits. + Several of his old Whig friends were on board, and the journey was filled + up with politics and story-telling. In the latter branch of human affairs, + Mr. Lincoln was most highly gifted. From the beginning to the end of our + travels the fund of anecdotes never failed, and, wherever we happened to + be, all the people within ear-shot would begin to work their way up to + this inimitable storyteller. His stories were always <i>apropos</i> of + something going on, and oftenest related to things that had happened in + his own neighborhood. He was constantly being reminded of one, and, when + he told it, his facial expression was so irresistibly comic that the + bystanders generally exploded in laughter before he reached what he called + the 'nub' of it. Although the intervals between the meetings were filled + up brimful with mirth in this way, Mr. Lincoln indulged very sparingly in + humor in his speeches. I asked him one day why he did not oftener turn the + laugh on Douglas. He replied that he was too much in earnest, and that it + was doubtful whether turning the laugh on anybody really gained any votes. + </p> + <p> + "We arrived at Havana while Douglas was still speaking. The deputation + that met Mr. Lincoln at the landing suggested that he should go up to the + grove where the Democratic meeting was going on and hear what Douglas was + saying. But he declined to do so, saying: 'The Judge was so put out by my + listening to him at Bloomington and Clinton that I promised to leave him + alone at his own meetings for the rest of the campaign. I understand that + he is calling Trumbull and myself liars, and if he should see me in the + crowd he might be so ashamed of himself as to omit the most telling part + of his argument.' I strolled up to the Douglas meeting just before its + conclusion, and there met a friend who had heard the whole. He was in a + state of high indignation. He said that Douglas must certainly have been + drinking before he came on the platform, because he had called Lincoln 'a + liar, a coward, a wretch and a sneak.' + </p> + <p> + "When Mr. Lincoln replied, on the following day, he took notice of + Douglas's hard words in this way: + </p> + <p> + "I am informed that my distinguished friend yesterday became a little + excited, nervous (?) perhaps, and that he said something about fighting, + as though looking to a personal encounter between himself and me. Did + anybody in this audience hear him use such language? (Yes, Yes.) I am + informed, further, that somebody in his audience, rather more excited or + nervous than himself, took off his coat and offered to take the job off + Judge Douglas's hands and fight Lincoln himself. Did anybody here witness + that warlike proceeding? (Laughter and cries of 'yes.') Well, I merely + desire to say that I shall fight neither Judge Douglas nor his second. I + shall not do this for two reasons, which I will explain. In the first + place a fight would prove nothing which is in issue in this election. It + might establish that Judge Douglas is a more muscular man than myself, or + it might show that I am a more muscular man than Judge Douglas. But this + subject is not referred to in the Cincinnati platform, nor in either of + the Springfield platforms. Neither result would prove him right or me + wrong. And so of the gentleman who offered to do his fighting for him. If + my fighting Judge Douglas would not prove any thing, it would certainly + prove nothing for me to fight his bottle-holder. My second reason for not + having a personal encounter with Judge Douglas is that I don't believe he + wants it himself. He and I are about the best friends in the world, and + when we get together he would no more think of fighting me than of + fighting his wife. Therefore, when the Judge talked about fighting he was + not giving vent to any ill-feeling of his own, but was merely trying to + excite—well, let us say enthusiasm against me on the part of his + audience. And, as I find he was tolerably successful in this, we will call + it quits.' + </p> + <p> + "At Havana I saw Mrs. Douglas (<i>née</i> Cutts) standing with a group of + ladies a short distance from the platform on which her husband was + speaking, and I thought I had never seen a more queenly face and figure. I + saw her frequently afterward in this campaign, but never personally met + her till many years later, when she had become the wife of General + Williams of the regular army, and the mother of children who promised to + be as beautiful as herself. There is no doubt in my mind that this + attractive presence was very helpful to Judge Douglas in the campaign. It + is certain that the Republicans considered her a dangerous element. + </p> + <p> + "From Havana we went to Lewistown and thence to Peoria, still following on + the heels of the Little Giant, but nothing of special interest happened at + either place. As we came northward Mr. Lincoln's meetings grew in size, + but at Lewistown the Douglas gathering was much the larger of the two and + was the most considerable in point of numbers I had yet seen. + </p> + <p> + "The next stage brought us to Ottawa, the first joint debate, August 21st. + Here the crowd was enormous. The weather had been very dry and the town + was shrouded in dust raised by the moving populace. Crowds were pouring + into town from sunrise till noon in all sorts of conveyances, teams, + railroad trains, canal boats, cavalcades, and processions on foot, with + banners and inscriptions, stirring up such clouds of dust that it was hard + to make out what was underneath them. The town was covered with bunting, + and bands of music were tooting around every corner, drowned now and then + by the roar of cannon. Mr. Lincoln came by railroad and Mr. Douglas by + carriage from La Salle. A train of seventeen passenger cars from Chicago + attested the interest felt in that city in the first meeting of the + champions. Two great processions escorted them to the platform in the + public square. But the eagerness to hear the speaking was so great that + the crowd had taken possession of the square and the platform, and had + climbed on the wooden awning overhead, to such an extent that the speakers + and the committees and reporters could not get to their places. Half an + hour was consumed in a rough-and-tumble skirmish to make way for them, + and, when finally this was accomplished, a section of the awning gave way + with its load of men and boys, and came down on the heads of the Douglas + committee of reception. But, fortunately, nobody was hurt. + </p> + <p> + "Here I was joined by Mr. Hitt and also by Mr. Chester P. Dewey of the New + York <i>Evening Post</i>, who remained with us until the end of the + campaign. Hither, also, came quite an army of young newspaper men, among + whom was Henry Villard, in behalf of Forney's Philadelphia Press. I have + preserved Mr. Dewey's sketch of the two orators as they appeared on the + Ottawa platform, and I introduce it here as a graphic description by a new + hand: + </p> + <p> + "'Two men presenting wider contrasts could hardly be found, as the + representatives of the two great parties. Everybody knows Douglas, a + short, thick-set, burly man, with large, round head, heavy hair, dark + complexion, and fierce, bull-dog look. Strong in his own real power, and + skilled by a thousand conflicts in all the strategy of a hand-to-hand or a + general fight; of towering ambition, restless in his determined desire for + notoriety, proud, defiant, arrogant, audacious, unscrupulous, 'Little Dug' + ascended the platform and looked out impudently and carelessly on the + immense throng which surged and struggled before him. A native of Vermont, + reared on a soil where no slave stood, he came to Illinois a teacher, and + from one post to another had risen to his present eminence. Forgetful of + the ancestral hatred of slavery to which he was the heir, he had come to + be a holder of slaves, and to owe much of his fame to continued + subservience to Southern influence. + </p> + <p> + "'The other—Lincoln—is a native of Kentucky, of poor white + parentage, and, from his cradle, has felt the blighting influence of the + dark and cruel shadow which rendered labor dishonorable and kept the poor + in poverty, while it advanced the rich in their possessions. Reared in + poverty, and to the humblest aspirations, he left his native State, + crossed the line into Illinois, and began his career of honorable toil. At + first a laborer, splitting rails for a living—deficient in + education, and applying himself even to the rudiments of knowledge—he, + too, felt the expanding power of his American manhood, and began to + achieve the greatness to which he has succeeded. With great difficulty, + struggling through the tedious formularies of legal lore, he was admitted + to the bar, and rapidly made his way to the front ranks of his profession. + Honored by the people with office, he is still the same honest and + reliable man. He volunteers in the Black Hawk war, and does the State good + service in its sorest need. In every relation of life, socially and to the + State, Mr. Lincoln has been always the pure and honest man. In physique he + is the opposite to Douglas. Built on the Kentucky type, he is very tall, + slender and angular, awkward even in gait and attitude. His face is sharp, + large-featured and unprepossessing. His eyes are deep-set under heavy + brows, his forehead is high and retreating, and his hair is dark and + heavy. In repose, I must confess that 'Long Abe's' appearance is not + comely. But stir him up and the fire of his genius plays on every feature. + His eye glows and sparkles; every lineament, now so ill-formed, grows + brilliant and expressive, and you have before you a man of rare power and + of strong magnetic influence. He <i>takes</i> the people every time, and + there is no getting away from his sturdy good sense, his unaffected + sincerity and the unceasing play of his good humor, which accompanies his + close logic and smoothes the way to conviction. Listening to him on + Saturday, calmly and unprejudiced, I was convinced that he had no superior + as a stump-speaker. He is clear, concise and logical, his language is + eloquent and at perfect command. He is altogether a more fluent speaker + than Douglas, and in all the arts of debate fully his equal. The + Republicans of Illinois have chosen a champion worthy of their heartiest + support, and fully equipped for the conflict with the great Squatter + Sovereign.' + </p> + <p> + "One trifling error of fact will be noticed by the readers of these + volumes in Mr. Dewey's sketch. It relates to Douglas, and it is proper to + correct it here. Mr. Douglas was never a slave-holder. As a trustee or + guardian, he held a plantation in Louisiana with the slaves thereon, which + had belonged to Col. Robert Martin, of North Carolina, the maternal + grandfather of his two sons by his first marriage. It is a fact that + Douglas refused to accept this plantation and its belongings as a gift to + himself from Colonel Martin in the life-time of the latter. It was + characteristic of him that he declined to be an owner of slaves, not + because he sympathized with the Abolitionists, but because, as he said + once in a debate with Senator Wade, 'being a Northern man by birth, by + education and residence, and intending always to remain such, it was + impossible for me to know, understand, and provide for the happiness of + those people.' + </p> + <p> + "At the conclusion of the Ottawa debate, a circumstance occurred which, + Mr. Lincoln said to me afterwards, was extremely mortifying to him. Half a + dozen Republicans, roused to a high pitch of enthusiasm for their leader, + seized him as he came down from the platform, hoisted him upon their + shoulders and marched off with him, singing the 'Star Spangled Banner,' or + 'Hail Columbia,' until they reached the place where he was to spend the + night. What use Douglas made of this incident, is known to the readers of + the joint debates. He said a few days later, at Joliet, that Lincoln was + so used up in the discussion that his knees trembled, and he had to be + carried from the platform, and he caused this to be printed in the + newspapers of his own party. Mr. Lincoln called him to account for this + fable at Jonesboro. + </p> + <p> + "The Ottawa debate gave great satisfaction to our side. Mr. Lincoln, we + thought, had the better of the argument, and we all came away encouraged. + But the Douglas men were encouraged also. In his concluding half hour, + Douglas spoke with great rapidity and animation, and yet with perfect + distinctness, and his supporters cheered him wildly. + </p> + <p> + "The next joint debate was to take place at Freeport, six days later. In + the interval, Mr. Lincoln addressed meetings at Henry, Marshall county; + Augusta, Hancock county, and Macomb, McDonough county. During this + interval he prepared the answers to the seven questions put to him by + Douglas at Ottawa, and wrote the four questions which he propounded to + Douglas at Freeport. The second of these, viz.: 'Can the people of a + United States Territory, in any lawful way, against the wish of any + citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the + formation of a State Constitution?' was made the subject of a conference + between Mr. Lincoln and a number of his friends from Chicago, among whom + were Norman B. Judd and Dr. C. H. Ray, the latter the chief editor of the + Tribune. This conference took place at the town of Dixon. I was not + present, but Doctor Ray told me that all who were there counseled Mr. + Lincoln not to put that question to Douglas, because he would answer it in + the affirmative and thus probably secure his re-election. It was their + opinion that Lincoln should argue strongly from the Dred Scott decision, + which Douglas endorsed, that the people of the Territories could not + lawfully exclude slavery prior to the formation of a State Constitution, + but that he should not force Douglas to say yes or no. They believed that + the latter would let that subject alone as much as possible in order not + to offend the South, unless he should be driven into a corner. Mr. Lincoln + replied that to draw an affirmative answer from Douglas on this question + was exactly what he wanted, and that his object was to make it impossible + for Douglas to get the vote of the Southern States in the next + Presidential election. He considered that fight much more important than + the present one and he would be willing to lose this in order to win + that.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Mr. Lincoln's words are given in Mr. Arnold's biography thus: "I am + after larger game; the battle of 1860 is worth a hundred of this." Mr. + Arnold's authority is not mentioned, but these are exactly the words + that Doctor Ray repeated to me. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "The result justified Mr. Lincoln's prevision. Douglas did answer in the + affirmative. If he had answered in the negative he would have lost the + Senatorial election, and that would have ended his political career. He + took the chance of being able to make satisfactory explanations to the + slaveholders, but they would have nothing to do with him afterward. + </p> + <p> + "The crowd that assembled at Freeport on the 27th of August was even + larger than that at Ottawa. Hundreds of people came from Chicago and many + from the neighboring State of Wisconsin. Douglas came from Galena the + night before the debate, and was greeted with a great torch-light + procession. Lincoln came the following morning from Dixon, and was + received at the railway station by a dense crowd, filling up all the + adjacent streets, who shouted themselves hoarse when his tall form was + seen emerging from the train. Here, again, the people had seized upon the + platform, and all the approaches to it, an hour before the speaking began, + and a hand-to-hand fight took place to secure possession. + </p> + <p> + "After the debate was finished, we Republicans did not feel very happy. We + held the same opinion that Mr. Judd and Doctor Ray had—that + Douglas's answer had probably saved him from defeat. We did not look + forward, and we did not look South, and even if we had done so, we were + too much enlisted in this campaign to swap it for another one which was + two years distant. Mr. Lincoln's wisdom was soon vindicated by his + antagonist, one of whose earliest acts, after he returned to Washington + City, was to make a speech (February 23, 1859) defending himself against + attacks upon the 'Freeport heresy,'as the Southerners called it. In that + debate Jefferson Davis was particularly aggravating, and Douglas did not + reply to him with his usual spirit. + </p> + <p> + "It would draw this chapter out to unreasonable length, if I were to give + details of all the small meetings of this campaign. After the Freeport + joint debate, we went to Carlinville, Macoupin county, where John M. + Palmer divided the time with Mr. Lincoln. From this place we went to + Clinton, De Witt county, via Springfield and Decatur. During this journey + an incident occurred which gave unbounded mirth to Mr. Lincoln at my + expense. + </p> + <p> + "We left Springfield about nine o'clock in the evening for Decatur, where + we were to change cars and take the north-bound train on the Illinois + Central Railway. I was very tired and I curled myself up as best I could + on the seat to take a nap, asking Mr. Lincoln to wake me up at Decatur, + which he promised to do. I went to sleep, and when I did awake I had the + sensation of having been asleep a long time. It was daylight and I knew + that we should have reached Decatur before midnight. Mr. Lincoln's seat + was vacant. While I was pulling myself together, the conductor opened the + door of the car and shouted, 'State Line.' This was the name of a shabby + little town on the border of Indiana. There was nothing to do but to get + out and wait for the next train going back to Decatur. About six o'clock + in the evening I found my way to Clinton. The meeting was over, of course, + and the Chicago Tribune had lost its expected report, and I was out of + pocket for railroad fares. I wended my way to the house of Mr. C. H. + Moore, where Mr. Liacoin was staying, and where I, too, had been an + expected guest. When Mr. Lincoln saw me coming up the garden path, his + lungs began to crow like a chanticleer, and I thought he would laugh, <i>sans</i> + intermission, an hour by his dial. He paused long enough to say that he + had fallen asleep, also, and did not wake up till the train was starting + <i>from</i> Decatur. He had very nearly been carried past the station + himself, and, in his haste to get out, had forgotten all about his promise + to waken me. Then he began to laugh again. The affair was so irresistibly + funny, in his view, that he told the incident several times in Washington + City when I chanced to meet him, after he became President, to any company + who might be present, and with such contagious drollery that all who heard + it would shake with laughter. + </p> + <p> + "Our course took us next to Bloomington, McLean county; Monticello, Piatt + county, and Paris, Edgar county. At the last-mentioned place (September + 8th) we were joined by Owen Lovejoy, who had never been in that part of + the State before. The fame of Lovejoy as an Abolitionist had preceded him, + however, and the people gathered around him in a curious and hesitating + way, as though he were a witch who might suddenly give them lock-jaw or + bring murrain on their cattle, if he were much provoked. Lovejoy saw this + and was greatly amused by it, and when he made a speech in the evening, + Mr. Lincoln having made his in the day-time, he invited the timid ones to + come up and feel of his horns and examine his cloven foot and his forked + tail. Lovejoy was one of the most effective orators of his time. After + putting his audience in good humor in this way, he made one of his + impassioned speeches which never failed to gain votes where human hearts + were responsive to the wrongs of slavery. Edgar county was in the + Democratic list, but this year it gave a Republican majority on the + legislative and congressional tickets, and I think Lovejoy's speech was + largely accountable for the result. + </p> + <p> + "My notes of the Paris meeting embrace the following passage from Mr. + Lincoln's speech: + </p> + <p> + WHAT IS POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY? + </p> + <p> + "'Let us inquire what Judge Douglas really invented when he introduced the + Nebraska Bill? He called it Popular Sovereignty. What does that mean? It + means the sovereignty of the people over their own affairs—in other + words, the right of the people to govern themselves. Did Judge Douglas + invent this? Not quite. The idea of Popular Sovereignty was floating about + several ages before the author of the Nebraska Bill was born—indeed, + before Columbus set foot on this continent. In the year 1776 it took form + in the noble words which you are all familiar with: 'We hold these truths + to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,' etc. Was not this the + origin of Popular Sovereignty as applied to the American people? Here we + are told that governments are instituted among men deriving their just + powers from the consent of the governed. If that is not Popular + Sovereignty, then I have no conception of the meaning of words. If Judge + Douglas did not invent this kind of Popular Sovereignty, let us pursue the + inquiry and find out what kind he did invent. Was it the right of + emigrants to Kansas and Nebraska to govern themselves, and a lot of + 'niggers,' too, if they wanted them? Clearly this was no invention of his, + because General Cass put forth the same doctrine in 1848 in his so-called + Nicholson letter, six years before Douglas thought of such a thing. Then + what was it that the 'Little Giant' invented? It never occurred to General + Cass to call his discovery by the odd name of Popular Sovereignty. He had + not the face to say that the right of the people to govern 'niggers' was + the right of the people to govern themselves. His notions of the fitness + of things were not moulded to the brazenness of calling the right to put a + hundred 'niggers' through under the lash in Nebraska a 'sacred right of + self-government.' And here, I submit to you, was Judge Douglas's + discovery, and the whole of it. He discovered that the right to breed and + flog negroes in Nebraska was Popular Sovereignty.' + </p> + <p> + "The next meetings in their order were Hillsboro, Montgomery county; + Greenville, Bond county, and Edwardsville, Madison county. At Edwardsville + (September 13th) I was greatly impressed with Mr. Lincoln's speech, so + much so, that I took down the following passages, which, as I read them + now, after the lapse of thirty-one years, bring back the whole scene with + vividness before me—the quiet autumn day in the quaint old town; the + serious people clustered around the platform; Joseph Gillespie officiating + as chairman, and the tall, gaunt, earnest man, whose high destiny and + tragic death were veiled from our eyes, appealing to his old Whig friends, + and seeking to lift them up to his own level: + </p> + <p> + "'I have been requested,' he said, 'to give a concise statement of the + difference, as I understand it, between the Democratic and the Republican + parties on the leading issues of the campaign. This question has been put + to me by a gentleman whom I do not know. I do not even know whether he is + a friend of mine or a supporter of Judge Douglas in this contest, nor does + that make any difference. His question is a proper one. Lest I should + forget it, I will give you my answer before proceeding with the line of + argument I have marked out for this discussion. + </p> + <p> + "'The difference between the Republican and the Democratic parties on the + leading issues of this contest, as I understand it, is that the former + consider slavery a moral, social and political wrong, while the latter do + not consider it either a moral, a social or a political wrong; and the + action of each, as respects the growth of the country and the expansion of + our population, is squared to meet these views. I will not affirm that the + Democratic party consider slavery morally, socially and politically right, + though their tendency to that view has, in my opinion, been constant and + unmistakable for the past five years. I prefer to take, as the accepted + maxim of the party, the idea put forth by Judge Douglas, that he 'don't + care whether slavery is voted down or voted up.' I am quite willing to + believe that many Democrats would prefer that slavery should be always + voted down, and I know that some prefer that it be always 'voted up;' but + I have a right to insist that their action, especially if it be their + constant action, shall determine their ideas and preferences on this + subject. Every measure of the Democratic party of late years, bearing + directly or indirectly on the slavery question, has corresponded with this + notion of utter indifference, whether slavery or freedom shall outrun in + the race of empire across to the Pacific—every measure, I say, up to + the Dred Scott decision, where, it seems to me, the idea is boldly + suggested that slavery is better than freedom. The Republican party, on + the contrary, hold that this government was instituted to secure the + blessings of freedom, and that slavery is an unqualified evil to the + negro, to the white man, to the soil, and to the State. Regarding it as an + evil, they will not molest it in the States where it exists, they will not + overlook the constitutional guards which our fathers placed around it; + they will do nothing that can give proper offense to those who hold slaves + by legal sanction; but they will use every constitutional method to + prevent the evil from becoming larger and involving more negroes, more + white men, more soil, and more States in its deplorable consequences. They + will, if possible, place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief + that it is in course of ultimate peaceable extinction in God's own good + time. And to this end they will, if possible, restore the government to + the policy of the fathers—the policy of preserving the new + Territories from the baneful influence of human bondage, as the + northwestern Territories were sought to be preserved by the ordinance of + 1787, and the Compromise Act of 1820. They will oppose, in all its length + and breadth, the modern Democratic idea, that slavery is as good as + freedom, and ought to have room for expansion all over the continent, if + people can be found to carry it. All, or nearly all, of Judge Douglas's + arguments are logical, if you admit that slavery is as good and as right + as freedom, and not one of them is worth a rush if you deny it. This is + the difference, as I understand it, between the Republican and Democratic + parties.... + </p> + <p> + "'My friends, I have endeavored to show you the logical consequences of + the Dred Scott decision, which holds that the people of a Territory cannot + prevent the establishment of slavery in their midst. I have stated what + cannot be gainsaid, that the grounds upon which this decision is made are + equally applicable to the free States as to the free Territories, and that + the peculiar reasons put forth by Judge Douglas for endorsing this + decision, commit him, in advance, to the next decision and to all other + decisions coming from the same source. And when, by all these means, you + have succeeded in dehumanizing the negro; when you have put him down and + made it impossible for him to be but as the beasts of the field; when you + have extinguished his soul in this world and placed him where the ray of + hope is blown out as in the darkness of the damned, are you quite sure + that the demon you have roused will not turn and rend you? What + constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our + frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, our army and our navy. + These are not our reliance against tyranny. All of those may be turned + against us without making us weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in + the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the + spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands + everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of + despotism at your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of + bondage and you prepare your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample + on the rights of others, you have lost the genius of your own independence + and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among + you. And let me tell you, that all these things are prepared for you by + the teachings of history, if the elections shall promise that the next + Dred Scott decision and all future decisions will be quietly acquiesced in + by the people.' + </p> + <p> + "From Edwardsville we went to the Jonesboro joint debate. The audience + here was small, not more than 1,000 or 1,500, and nearly all Democrats. + This was in the heart of Egypt. The country people came into the little + town with ox teams mostly, and a very stunted breed of oxen, too. Their + wagons were old-fashioned, and looked as though they were ready to fall in + pieces. A train with three or four carloads of Douglas men came up, with + Douglas himself, from Cairo. All who were present listened to the debate + with very close attention, and there was scarcely any cheering on either + side. Of course we did not expect any in that place. The reason why + Douglas did not get much, was that Union county was a stronghold of the + 'Danites,' or Buchanan Democrats. These were a pitiful minority everywhere + except in the two counties of Union and Bureau. The reason for this + peculiarity in the two counties named, must lie in the fact that Union + county was the home of the United States Marshal for the Southern + District, W. L. Dougherty; and Bureau, that of the Marshal for the + Northern District, Charles N. Pine. Evidently both these men worked their + offices for all they were worth, and the result would seem to show that + Marshalships are peculiarly well fitted to the purpose of turning voters + from their natural leanings. In Bureau county the 'Danites' polled more + votes than the Douglas Democrats. In Union, they divided the party into + two nearly equal parts. In no other county did they muster a corporal's + guard; James W. Sheahan, the editor of the Times, told me, with great + glee, after the election, that at one of the voting places in Chicago, + where the two Democratic judges of election were Irish, a few 'Danite' + votes were offered, but that the judges refused to receive them, saying + gravely, 'We don't take that kind.' They thought it was illegal voting. + </p> + <p> + "The only thing noteworthy that I recall at Jonesboro was not political + and not even terrestrial. It was the splendid appearance of Donati's comet + in the sky, the evening before the debate. Mr. Lincoln greatly admired + this strange visitor, and he and I sat for an hour or more in front of the + hotel looking at it. + </p> + <p> + "From Jonesboro we went to Centralia, where a great State Fair was + sprawling over the prairie, but there was no speaking there. It was not + good form to have political bouts at State Fairs, and I believe that the + managers had prohibited them. After one day at this place, where great + crowds clustered around both Lincoln and Douglas whenever they appeared on + the grounds, we went to Charleston, Coles county, September 18th, where + the fourth joint debate took place. + </p> + <p> + "This was a very remarkable gathering, the like of which we had not seen + elsewhere. It consisted of a great outpouring ( or rather inpouring ) of + the rural population, in their own conveyances. There was only one line of + railroad here, and only one special train on it. Yet, to my eye, the crowd + seemed larger than at either Ottawa or Freeport, in fact the largest of + the series, except the one at Galesburg, which came later. The campaign + was now at its height, the previous debates having stirred the people into + a real fever. 'It is astonishing,' said Mr. Dewey, in his letter from + Charleston to the <i>Evening Post</i>, 'how deep an interest in politics + this people take. Over long weary miles of hot, dusty prairie, the + processions of eager partisans come on foot, on horseback, in wagons drawn + by horses or mules; men, women and children, old and young; the half-sick + just out of the last 'shake,' children in arms, infants at the maternal + fount; pushing on in clouds of dust under a blazing sun, settling down at + the town where the meeting is, with hardly a chance for sitting, and even + less opportunity for eating, waiting in anxious groups for hours at the + places of speaking; talking, discussing, litigious, vociferous, while the + roar of artillery, the music of bands, the waving of banners, the huzzas + of the crowds, as delegation after delegation appears; the cry of peddlers + vending all sorts of wares, from an infallible cure for 'agur' to a + monster water-melon in slices to suit purchasers—combine to render + the occasion one scene of confusion and commotion. The hour of one + arrives, and a perfect rush is made for the grounds; a column of dust + rising to the heavens, and fairly deluging those who are hurrying on + through it. Then the speakers come, with flags and banners and music, + surrounded by cheering partisans. Their arrival at the grounds and + immediate approach to the stand, is the signal for shouts that rend the + heavens. They are introduced to the audience amid prolonged and + enthusiastic cheers, they are interrupted by frequent applause and they + sit down finally among the same uproarious demonstrations. The audience + sit or stand patiently, throughout, and, as the last word is spoken, make + a break for their homes, first hunting up lost members of their families, + gathering their scattered wagon loads together, and, as the daylight fades + away, entering again upon the broad prairies and slowly picking their way + back to the place of beginning.' + </p> + <p> + "Both Lincoln and Douglas left the train at Mattoon, distant some ten + miles from Charleston, to accept the escort of their respective partisans. + Mattoon was then a comparatively new place, a station on the Illinois + Central Railway peopled by Northern men. Nearly the whole population of + this town turned out to escort Mr. Lincoln along the dusty highway to + Charleston. In his procession was a chariot containing thirty-two young + ladies, representing the thirty-two States of the Union, and carrying + banners to designate the same. Following this, was one young lady on + horseback holding aloft a banner inscribed, 'Kansas—I will be free.' + As she was very good looking, we thought that she would not remain free + always. The muses had been wide awake also, for, on the side of the + chariot, was the stirring legend: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + 'Westward the star of empire takes its way; The girls link-on to + Lincoln, as their mothers did to Clay.' + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "The Douglas procession was likewise a formidable one. He, too, had his + chariot of young ladies, and, in addition, a mounted escort. The two + processions stretched an almost interminable distance along the road, and + were marked by a moving cloud of dust. + </p> + <p> + "Before the Charleston debate, Mr. Lincoln had received (from Senator + Trumbull, I suppose) certain official documents to prove that Douglas had + attempted, in 1856, to bring Kansas into the Union without allowing the + people to vote upon her constitution, and with these he put the Little + Giant on the defensive, and pressed him so hard that we all considered + that our side had won a substantial victory. + </p> + <p> + "The Democrats seemed to be uneasy and dissatisfied, both during the + debate and afterward. Mr. Isaac N. Arnold, in his biography of Lincoln, + page 148, relates an incident in the Charleston debate on the authority of + 'a spectator' ( not named ), to this effect: that near the end of Mr. + Lincoln's closing speech, Douglas became very much excited and walked + rapidly up and down the platform behind Lincoln, holding a watch in his + hand; that the instant the watch showed the half hour, he called out 'Sit + down! Lincoln, sit down! Your time is up.' + </p> + <p> + "This must be a pure invention. My notes show nothing of the kind. I sat + on the platform within ten feet of Douglas all the time that Lincoln was + speaking. If any such dramatic incident had occurred, I should certainly + have made a note of it, and even without notes I think I should have + remembered it. Douglas was too old a campaigner to betray himself in this + manner, whatever his feelings might have been. + </p> + <p> + "After the debate was ended and the country people had mostly dispersed, + the demand for speeches was still far from being satisfied. Two meetings + were started in the evening, with blazing bonfires in the street to mark + the places. Richard J. Oglesby, the Republican nominee for Congress + (afterward General, Governor and Senator ), addressed one of them. At the + Douglas meeting, Richard T. Merrick and U. F. Linder were the speakers. + Merrick was a young lawyer from Maryland, who had lately settled in + Chicago, and a fluent and rather captivating orator. Linder was an Old + Line Whig, of much natural ability, who had sided with the Democrats on + the break-up of his own party. Later in the campaign Douglas wrote him a + letter saying: 'For God's sake, Linder, come up here and help me.' This + letter got into the newspapers, and, as a consequence, the receiver of it + was immediately dubbed, 'For-God's-Sake Linder,' by which name he was + popularly know all the rest of his days. + </p> + <p> + "There was nothing of special interest between the Charleston debate and + that which took place at Galesburg, October 7th. Here we had the largest + audience of the whole series and the worst day, the weather being very + cold and raw, notwithstanding which, the people flocked from far and near. + One feature of the Republican procession was a division of one hundred + ladies and an equal number of gentlemen on horseback as a special escort + to the carriage containing Mr. Lincoln. The whole country seemed to be + swarming and the crowd stood three hours in the college grounds, in a + cutting wind, listening to the debate. Mr. Lincoln's speech at Galesburg + was, in my judgment, the best of the series. + </p> + <p> + "At Quincy, October 13th, we had a fine day and a very large crowd, + although not so large as at Galesburg. The usual processions and + paraphernalia were on hand. Old Whiggery was largely represented here, + and, in front of the Lincoln procession, was a live raccoon on a pole, + emblematic of a by-gone day and a by-gone party. When this touching + reminder of the past drew near the hotel where we were staying, an old + weather-beaten follower of Henry Clay, who was standing near me, was moved + to tears. After mopping his face he made his way up to Mr. Lincoln, wrung + his hand and burst into tears again. The wicked Democrats carried at the + head of their procession a dead 'coon, suspended by its tail. This was + more in accord with existing facts than the other specimen, but our + prejudices ran in favor of live 'coons in that part of Illinois. Farther + north we did not set much store by them. Here I saw Carl Schurz for the + first time. He was hotly in the fray, and was an eager listener to the + Quincy debate. Another rising star, Frank P. Blair, Jr., was battling for + Lincoln in the southern part of the State. + </p> + <p> + "The next day both Lincoln and Douglas, and their retainers, went on board + the steamer <i>City of Louisiana</i>, bound for Alton. Here the last of + the joint debates took place, October 15th. The day was pleasant but the + audience was the smallest of the series, except the one at Jonesboro. The + debate passed off quietly and without any incident worthy of note. + </p> + <p> + "The campaign was now drawing to a close. Everybody who had borne an + active part in it was pretty well fagged out, except Mr. Lincoln. He + showed no signs of fatigue. Douglas's voice was worn down to extreme + huskiness. He took great pains to save what was left of his throat, but to + listen to him moved one's pity. Nevertheless, he went on doggedly, + bravely, and with a jaunty air of confidence. Mr. Lincoln's voice was as + clear and far-reaching as it was the day he spoke at Beardstown, two + months before—a high-pitched tenor, almost a falsetto, that could be + heard at a greater distance than Douglas's heavy basso. The battle + continued till the election (November 2d), which took place in a cold, + pelting rainstorm, one of the most uncomfortable in the whole year. But + nobody minded the weather. The excitement was intense all day in all parts + of the State. The Republican State ticket was elected by a small + plurality, the vote being as follows: + </p> + <p> + FOR STATE TREASURER. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Miller (Republican),........... 125,430 Fondey (Douglas Democrat),..... + 121,609 Dougherty (Buchanan Democrat),. 5,079 + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "The Legislature consisted of twenty-five Senators and seventy-five + Representatives. Thirteen Senators held over from the preceding election. + Of these, eight were Democrats and five Republicans. Of the twelve + Senators elected this year, the Democrats elected six and the Republicans + six. So the new Senate was composed of fourteen Democrats and eleven + Republicans. + </p> + <p> + "Of the seventy-five members of the House of Representatives, the + Democrats elected forty and the Republicans thirty-five. + </p> + <p> + "On joint ballot, therefore, the Democrats had fifty-four and the + Republicans forty-six. And by this vote was Mr. Douglas re-elected + Senator. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Isaac N. Arnold, in his biography, says that Mr. Lincoln lost the + election because a number of the holding-over Senators, representing + districts that actually gave Republican majorities in this election, were + Democrats. This is an error, and an inexcusable one for a person who is + writing history. The apportionment of the State into Legislative districts + had become, by the growth and movement of population, unduly favorable to + the Democrats; that is, it required fewer votes on the average to elect a + member in a Democratic district than in a Republican district. But ideal + perfection is never attained in such matters. By the rules of the game + Douglas had fairly won. The Republicans claimed that the Lincoln members + of the Lower House of the Legislature received more votes, all told, than + the Douglas members. These figures are not, at this writing, accessible to + me, but my recollection is that, even on this basis, Douglas scored a + small majority. There were five thousand Democratic votes to be accounted + for, which had been cast for Dougherty for State Treasurer, and of these, + the Douglas candidates for the Legislature would naturally get more than + the Lincoln candidates. + </p> + <p> + "What is more to the purpose, is that the Republicans gained 29,241 votes, + as against a Democratic gain of 21,332 (counting the Douglas and Buchanan + vote together), over the presidential election of 1856. There were 37,444 + votes for Fillmore in that year, and there was also an increase of the + total vote of 13,129. These 50,573 votes, or their equivalents, were + divided between Lincoln and Douglas in the ratio of 29 to 21. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Lincoln, as he said at the Dixon Conference, had gone after 'larger + game,' and he had bagged it to a greater extent than he, or anybody, then, + imagined. But the immediate prize was taken by his great rival. + </p> + <p> + "I say great rival, with a full sense of the meaning of the words. I heard + Mr. Douglas deliver his speech to the members of the Illinois Legislature, + April 25, 1861, in the gathering tumult of arms. It was like a blast of + thunder. I do not think that it is possible for a human being to produce a + more prodigious effect with spoken words, than he produced on those who + were within the sound of his voice. He was standing in the same place + where I had first heard Mr. Lincoln. The veins of his neck and forehead + were swollen with passion, and the perspiration ran down his face in + streams. His voice had recovered its clearness from the strain of the + previous year, and was frequently broken with emotion. The amazing force + that he threw into the words: 'When hostile armies are marching under new + and odious banners against the government of our country, the shortest way + to peace is the most stupendous and unanimous preparation for war,' seemed + to shake the whole building. That speech hushed the breath of treason in + every corner of the State. Two months later he was in his grave. He was + only forty-eight years old. + </p> + <p> + "The next time I saw Mr. Lincoln, after the election, I said to him that I + hoped he was not so much disappointed as I had been. This, of course, + 'reminded him of a little story.' I have forgotten the story, but it was + about an over-grown boy who had met with some mishap, 'stumped' his toe, + perhaps, and who said that 'it hurt too much to laugh, and he was too big + to cry.' + </p> + <p> + "Mention has been made of the 'Danites' in the campaign. They were the + Buchanan office-holders and their underlings, and, generally, a + contemptible lot. The chief dispenser of patronage for Illinois was John + Slidell, Senator from Louisiana. He took so much interest in his vocation + that he came to Chicago as early as the month of July, to see how the + postmasters were doing their work. He hated Douglas intensely, and + slandered him vilely, telling stories about the cruel treatment and + dreadful condition of the negroes on the Douglas plantation in Louisiana. + These stories were told to Dr. Daniel Brainard, the surgeon of the U. S. + Marine Hospital. Brainard was a Buchanan Democrat, like all the other + federal officeholders, but was a very distinguished surgeon; in fact, at + the head of his profession, and a man of wealth and social standing. He + became convinced that Slidell's story about the Douglas negroes was true, + and he communicated it to Doctor Ray, and urged him to publish it in the + <i>Tribune</i>. Doctor Ray did so, without, however, giving any names. It + made no little commotion. Presently, the New Orleans <i>Picayune</i> + denied the truth of the statement, concerning the condition and treatment + of the negroes, and called it 'an election canard.' Then the Chicago Times + called for the authority, and the Tribune gave the names of Brainard and + Slidell. The latter at once published a card in the Washington Union, + denying that he had ever made the statements attributed to him by + Brainard. The latter was immediately in distress. He first denied that he + had made the statements imputed to him, but afterward admitted that he had + had conversations with a Republican editor about the hardships of the + Douglas negroes, but denied that he had given Slidell as authority. Nobody + doubted that the authorship of the story was correctly stated in the first + publication. It was much too circumstantial to have been invented, and + Doctor Ray was not the man to publish lies knowingly. + </p> + <p> + "The 'Danites' held a State convention at Springfield, September 8th, or, + rather, they had called one for that date, but the attendance was so small + that they organized it as a convention of the Sixth Congressional + District. John C. Breckinridge and Daniel S. Dickinson had been announced + as speakers for the occasion, but neither of them appeared. Breckinridge + took no notice of this meeting, or of his invitation to be present. A + telegram was read from Dickinson, sending 'a thousand greetings,' and + this, the Douglas men said, was liberal, being about ten to each delegate. + Ex-Gov. John Reynolds was the principal speaker. Douglas was in + Springfield the same day. He met his enemies by chance at the railway + station, and glared defiance at them. + </p> + <p> + "Mention should be made of the services of Senator Trumbull in the + campaign. Mr. Trumbull was a political debator, scarcely, if at all, + inferior to either Lincoln or Douglas. He had given Douglas more trouble + in the Senate, during the three years he had been there, than anybody else + in that body. He had known Douglas from his youth, and he knew all the + joints in his armor. He possessed a courage equal to any occasion, and he + wielded a blade of tempered steel. He was not present at any of the joint + debates, or at any of Mr. Lincoln's separate meetings, but addressed + meetings wherever the State Central Committee sent him. Mr. Lincoln often + spoke of him to me, and always in terms of admiration. That Mr. Lincoln + was sorely disappointed at losing the Senatorship in 1855, when Trumbull + was elected, is quite true, but he knew, as well as anybody, that in the + then condition of parties, such a result could not be avoided. Judd, + Palmer and Cook had been elected to the Legislature as Democrats. The + Republican party was not yet born. The political elements were in the + boiling stage. These men could not tell what kind of crystallization would + take place. The only safe course for them, looking to their + constituencies, was to vote for a Democrat who was opposed to the + extension of slavery. Such a man they found in Lyman Trumbull, and they + knew that no mistake would be made in choosing him. I say that Mr. Lincoln + knew all this as fully as anybody could. I do not remember having any talk + with him on that subject, for it was then somewhat stale. But I do + remember the hearty good feeling that he cherished toward Trumbull and the + three men here mentioned, who were chiefly instrumental in securing + Trumbull's election. + </p> + <p> + "Douglas scented danger when Trumbull took the field, and, with his usual + adroitness, sought to gain sympathy by making it appear that it was no + fair game. At Havana, in the speech already alluded to, he made a rather + moving remonstrance against this 'playing of two upon one,' as he called + it. Mr. Lincoln, in his speech at the same place, thought it worth while + to reply: + </p> + <p> + "'I understand,' he said, 'that Judge Douglas, yesterday, referred to the + fact that both Judge Trumbull and myself are making speeches throughout + the State to beat him for the Senate, and that he tried to create sympathy + by the suggestion that this was playing <i>two upon one</i> against him. + It is true that Judge Trumbull has made a speech in Chicago, and I believe + he intends to co-operate with the Republican Central Committee in their + arrangements for the campaign, to the extent of making other speeches in + different parts of the State. Judge Trumbull is a Republican like myself, + and he naturally feels a lively interest in the success of his party. Is + there anything wrong about that? But I will show you how little Judge + Douglas's appeal to your sympathies amounts to. At the next general + election, two years from now, a Legislature will be elected, which will + have to choose a successor to Judge Trumbull. Of course, there will be an + effort to fill his place with a Democrat. This person, whoever he may be, + is probably out making stump-speeches against me, just as Judge Douglas + is. He may be one of the present Democratic members of the Lower House of + Congress—but, whoever he is, I can tell you that he has got to make + some stump-speeches now, or his party will not nominate him for the seat + occupied by Judge Trumbull. Well, are not Judge Douglas and this man + playing two upon one against me, just as much as Judge Trumbull and I are + playing <i>two upon one</i> against Judge Douglas? And, if it happens that + there are two Democratic aspirants for Judge Trumbull's place, are they + not playing three upon one against me, just as we are playing two upon one + against Judge Douglas?' + </p> + <p> + "Douglas had as many helpers as Lincoln had. His complaint implied that + there was nobody on the Democratic side who was anywhere near being a + match for Trumbull, and this was the fact. + </p> + <p> + "I think that this was the most important intellectual wrestle that has + ever taken place in this country, and that it will bear comparison with + any which history mentions. Its consequences we all know. It gave Mr. + Lincoln such prominence in the public eye that his nomination to the + Presidency became possible and almost inevitable. It put an apple of + discord in the Democratic party which hopelessly divided it at Charleston, + thus making Republican success in 1860 morally certain. This was one of + Mr. Lincoln's designs, as has been already shown. Perhaps the Charleston + schism would have taken place, even if Douglas had not been driven into a + corner at Freeport, and compelled to proclaim the doctrine of 'unfriendly + legislation,' but it is more likely that the break would have been + postponed a few years longer. + </p> + <p> + "Everything stated in this chapter is taken from memoranda made at the + time of occurrence. I need not say that I conceived an ardent attachment + to Mr. Lincoln. Nobody could be much in his society without being strongly + drawn to him. + </p> + <p> + "Horace White" + </p> + <p> + New York, February 27, 1890 + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + BEFORE Mr. Lincoln surrenders himself completely to the public—for + it is apparent he is fast approaching the great crisis of his career—it + may not be entirely inappropriate to take a nearer and more personal view + of him. A knowledge of his personal views and actions, a glimpse through + the doorway of his home, and a more thorough acquaintance with his marked + and strong points as they developed, will aid us greatly in forming our + general estimate of the man. When Mr. Lincoln entered the domain of + investigation he was a severe and persistent thinker, and had wonderful + endurance; hence he was abstracted, and for that reason at times was + somewhat unsocial, reticent, and uncommunicative. After his marriage it + cannot be said that he liked the society of ladies; in fact, it was just + what he did not like, though one of his biographers says otherwise. + Lincoln had none of the tender ways that please a woman, and he could not, + it seemed, by any positive act of his own make her happy. If his wife was + happy, she was naturally happy, or made herself so in spite of countless + drawbacks. He was, however, a good husband in his own peculiar way, and in + his own way only. + </p> + <p> + If exhausted from severe and long-continued thought, he had to touch the + earth again to renew his strength. When this weariness set in he would + stop thought, and get down and play with a little dog or kitten to + recover; and when the recovery came he would push it aside to play with + its own tail. He treated men and women in much the same way. For + fashionable society he had a marked dislike, although he appreciated its + value in promoting the welfare of a man ambitious to succeed in politics. + If he was invited out to dine or to mingle in some social gathering, and + came in contact with the ladies, he treated them with becoming politeness; + but the consciousness of his shortcomings as a society man rendered him + unusually diffident, and at the very first opportunity he would have the + men separated from their ladies and crowded close around him in one corner + of the parlor, listening to one of his characteristic stories. That a lady + * as proud and as ambitious to exercise the rights of supremacy in society + as Mary Todd should repent of her marriage to the man I have just + described surely need occasion no surprise in the mind of anyone. Both she + and the man whose hand she accepted acted along the lines of human + conduct, and both reaped the bitter harvest of conjugal infelicity. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Mrs. Lincoln was decidedly pro-slavery in her views. One day she was + invited to take a ride with a neighboring family, some of whose members + still reside in Springfield. "If ever my husband dies," she ejaculated + during the ride, "his spirit will never find me living outside the + limits of a slave State." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In dealing with Mr. Lincoln's home life perhaps I am revealing an element + of his character that has heretofore been kept from the world; but in + doing so I feel sure I am treading on no person's toes, for all the actors + in this domestic drama are dead, and the world seems ready to hear the + facts. As his married life, in the opinion of all his friends, exerted a + peculiar influence over Mr. Lincoln's political career there can be no + impropriety, I apprehend, in throwing the light on it now. Mrs. Lincoln's + disposition and nature have been dwelt upon in another chapter, and enough + has been told to show that one of her greatest misfortunes was her + inability to control her temper. Admit that, and everything can be + explained. However cold and abstracted her husband may have appeared to + others, however impressive, when aroused, may have seemed his indignation + in public, he never gave vent to his feelings at home. He always meekly + accepted as final the authority of his wife in all matters of domestic + concern.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * One day a man making some improvements in Lincoln's yard suggested to + Mrs. Lincoln the propriety of cutting down one of the trees, to which + she willingly assented. Before doing so, however, the man came down to + our office and consulted Lincoln himself about it. "What did Mrs. + Lincoln say?" enquired the latter. "She consented to have it taken + away." "Then, in God's name," exclaimed Lincoln, "cut it down to the + roots!" + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + This may explain somewhat the statement of Judge Davis that, "as a general + rule, when all the lawyers of a Saturday evening would go home and see + their families and friends, Lincoln would find some excuse and refuse to + go. We said nothing, but it seemed to us all he was not domestically + happy." He exercised no government of any kind over his household. His + children did much as they pleased. Many of their antics he approved, and + he restrained them in nothing. He never reproved them or gave them a + fatherly frown. He was the most indulgent parent I have ever known. He was + in the habit, when at home on Sunday, of bringing his two boys, Willie and + Thomas—or "Tad"—down to the office to remain while his wife + attended church. He seldom accompanied her there. The boys were absolutely + unrestrained in their amusement. If they pulled down all the books from + the shelves, bent the points of all the pens, overturned inkstands, + scattered law-papers over the floor, or threw the pencils into the + spittoon, it never disturbed the serenity of their father's good-nature. + Frequently absorbed in thought, he never observed their mischievous but + destructive pranks—as his unfortunate partner did, who thought much, + but said nothing—and, even if brought to his attention, he virtually + encouraged their repetition by declining to show any substantial evidence + of parental disapproval. After church was over the boys and their father, + climbing down the office stairs, ruefully turned their steps homeward. + They mingled with the throngs of well-dressed people returning from + church, the majority of whom might well have wondered if the trio they + passed were going to a fireside where love and white-winged peace reigned + supreme. A near relative of Mrs. Lincoln, in explanation of the unhappy + condition of things in that lady's household, offered this suggestion: + "Mrs. Lincoln came of the best stock, and was raised like a lady. Her + husband was her opposite, in origin, in education, in breeding, in + everything; and it is therefore quite natural that she should complain if + he answered the door-bell himself instead of sending the servant to do so; + neither is she to be condemned if, as you say, she raised 'merry war' + because he persisted in using his own knife in the butter, instead of the + silver-handled one intended for that purpose." * Such want of social + polish on the part of her husband of course gave Mrs. Lincoln great + offense, and therefore in commenting on it she cared neither for time nor + place. Her frequent outbursts of temper precipitated many an embarrassment + from which Lincoln with great difficulty' extricated himself. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * A lady relative who lived for two years with the Lincolns told me that + Mr. Lincoln was in the habit of lying on the floor with the back of a + chair for a pillow when he read. One evening, when in this position in + the hall, a knock was heard at the front door and although in his + shirt-sleeves he answered the call. Two ladies were at the door whom he + invited into the parlor, notifying them in his open familiar way, that + he would "trot the women folks out." Mrs. Lincoln from an adjoining room + witnessed the ladies' entrance and overheard her husband's jocose + expression. Her indignation was so instantaneous she made the situation + exceedingly interesting for him, and he was glad to retreat from the + mansion. He did not return till very late at night and then slipped + quietly in at a rear door. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0004" id="linkimage-0004"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/162.jpg" alt="Lincoln Home in Springfield 162 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Mrs. Lincoln, on account of her peculiar nature, could not long retain a + servant in her employ. The sea was never so placid but that a breeze would + ruffle its waters. She loved show and attention, and if, when she + glorified her family descent or indulged in one of her strange outbreaks, + the servant could simulate absolute obsequiousness or had tact enough to + encourage her social pretensions, Mrs. Lincoln was for the time her + firmest friend. One servant, who adjusted herself to suit the lady's + capricious ways, lived with the family for several years. She told me that + at the time of the debate between Douglas and Lincoln she often heard the + latter's wife boast that she would yet be mistress of the White House. The + secret of her ability to endure the eccentricities of her mistress came + out in the admission that Mr. Lincoln gave her an extra dollar each week + on condition that she would brave whatever storms might arise, and suffer + whatever might befall her, without complaint. It was a rather severe + condition, but she lived rigidly up to her part of the contract. The money + was paid secretly and without the knowledge of Mrs. Lincoln. Frequently, + after tempestuous scenes between the mistress and her servant, Lincoln at + the first opportunity would place his hand encouragingly on the latter's + shoulder with the admonition, "Mary, keep up your courage." It may not be + without interest to add that the servant afterwards married a man who + enlisted in the army. In the spring of 1865 his wife managed to reach + Washington to secure her husband's release from the service. After some + effort she succeeded in obtaining an interview with the President. He was + glad to see her, gave her a basket of fruit, and directed her to call the + next day and obtain a pass through the lines and money to buy clothes for + herself and children. That night he was assassinated. + </p> + <p> + The following letter to the editor of a newspaper in Springfield will + serve as a specimen of the perplexities which frequently beset Mr. Lincoln + when his wife came in contact with others. What in this instance she said + to the paper carrier we do not know; we can only intelligently infer. I + have no personal recollection of the incident, although I knew the man to + whom it was addressed quite well. The letter only recently came to light. + I insert it without further comment. + </p> + <p> + [Private.] + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, Ill., February 20, 1857. + </p> + <p> + "John E. Rosette, Esq. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Sir:—Your note about the little paragraph in the Republican + was received yesterday, since which time I have been too unwell to notice + it. I had not supposed you wrote or approved it. The whole originated in + mistake. You know by the conversation with me that I thought the + establishment of the paper unfortunate, but I always expected to throw no + obstacle in its way, and to patronize it to the extent of taking and + paying for one copy. When the paper was brought to my house, my wife said + to me, 'Now are you going to take another worthless little paper?' I said + to her <i>evasively</i>, 'I have not directed the paper to be left.' From + this, in my absence, she sent the message to the carrier. This is the + whole story. + </p> + <p> + "Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + A man once called at the house to learn why Mrs. Lincoln had so + unceremoniously discharged his niece from her employ. Mrs. Lincoln met him + at the door, and being somewhat wrought up, gave vent to her feelings, + resorting to such violent gestures and emphatic language that the man was + glad to beat a hasty retreat. He at once started out to find Lincoln, + determined to exact from him proper satisfaction for his wife's action. + Lincoln was entertaining a crowd in a store at the time. The man, still + laboring under some agitation, called him to the door and made the demand. + Lincoln listened for a moment to his story. "My friend," he interrupted, + "I regret to hear this, but let me ask you in all candor, can't you endure + for a few moments what I have had as my daily portion for the last fifteen + years?" These words were spoken so mournfully and with such a look of + distress that the man was completely disarmed. It was a case that appealed + to his feelings. Grasping the unfortunate husband's hand, he expressed in + no uncertain terms his sympathy, and even apologized for having approached + him. He said no more about the infuriated wife, and Lincoln afterward had + no better friend in Springfield. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln never had a confidant, and therefore never unbosomed himself + to others. He never spoke of his trials to me or, so far as I knew, to any + of his friends. It was a great burden to carry, but he bore it sadly + enough and without a murmur. I could always realize when he was in + distress, without being told. He was not exactly an early riser, that is, + he never usually appeared at the office till about nine o'clock in the + morning. I usually preceded him an hour. Sometimes, however, he would come + down as early as seven o'clock—in fact, on one occasion I remember + he came down before daylight. If, on arriving at the office, I found him + in, I knew instantly that a breeze had sprung up over the domestic sea, + and that the waters were troubled. He would either be lying on the lounge + looking skyward, or doubled up in a chair with his feet resting on the + sill of a back window. He would not look up on my entering, and only + answered my "Good morning" with a grunt. I at once busied myself with pen + and paper, or ran through the leaves of some book; but the evidence of his + melancholy and distress was so plain, and his silence so significant, that + I would grow restless myself, and finding some excuse to go to the + courthouse or elsewhere, would leave the room. + </p> + <p> + The door of the office opening into a narrow hallway was half glass, with + a curtain on it working on brass rings strung on wire. As I passed out on + these occasions I would draw the curtain across the glass, and before I + reached the bottom of the stairs I could hear the key turn in the lock, + and Lincoln was alone in his gloom. An hour in the clerk's office at the + court-house, an hour longer in a neighboring store having passed, I would + return. By that time either a client had dropped in and Lincoln was + propounding the law, or else the cloud of despondency had passed away, and + he was busy in the recital of an Indiana story to whistle off the + recollections of the morning's gloom. Noon having arrived I would depart + homeward for my dinner. Returning within an hour, I would find him still + in the office,—although his house stood but a few squares away,—lunching + on a slice of cheese and a handful of crackers which, in my absence, he + had brought up from a store below. Separating for the day at five or six + o'clock in the evening, I would still leave him behind, either sitting on + a box at the foot of the stairway, entertaining a few loungers, or killing + time in the same way on the court-house steps. A light in the office after + dark attested his presence there till late along in the night, when, after + all the world had gone to sleep, the tall form of the man destined to be + the nation's President could have been seen strolling along in the shadows + of trees and buildings, and quietly slipping in through the door of a + modest frame house, which it pleased the world, in a conventional way, to + call his home. + </p> + <p> + Some persons may insist that this picture is too highly colored. If so, I + can only answer, they do not know the facts. The majority of those who + have a personal knowledge of them are persistent in their silence. If + their lips could be opened and all could be known, my conclusions and + statements, to say the least of them, would be found to be fair, + reasonable, and true. A few words more as to Lincoln's domestic history, + and I pass to a different phase of his life. One of his warmest and + closest friends, who still survives, maintains the theory that, after all, + Lincoln's political ascendancy and final elevation to the Presidency were + due more to the influence of his wife than to any other person or cause. + "The fact," insists this friend, "that Mary Todd, by her turbulent nature + and unfortunate manner, prevented her husband from becoming a domestic + man, operated largely in his favor; for he was thereby kept out in the + world of business and politics. Instead of spending his evenings at home, + reading the papers and warming his toes at his own fireside, he was + constantly out with the common people, was mingling with the politicians, + discussing public questions with the farmers who thronged the offices in + the court-house and state house, and exchanging views with the loungers + who surrounded the stove of winter evenings in the village store. The + result of this continuous contact with the world was, that he was more + thoroughly known than any other man in his community. His wife, therefore, + was one of the unintentional means of his promotion. If, on the other + hand, he had married some less ambitious but more domestic woman, some + honest farmer's quiet daughter,—one who would have looked up to and + worshipped him because he uplifted her,—the result might have been + different. For, although it doubtless would have been her pride to see + that he had clean clothes whenever he needed them; that his slippers were + always in their place; that he was warmly clad and had plenty to eat; and, + although the privilege of ministering to his every wish and whim might + have been to her a pleasure rather than a duty; yet I fear he would have + been buried in the pleasures of a loving home, and the country would never + have had Abraham Lincoln for its President." + </p> + <p> + In her domestic troubles I have always sympathized with Mrs. Lincoln. The + world does not know what she bore, or how ill-adapted she was to bear it. + Her fearless, witty, and austere nature shrank instinctively from + association with the calm, imperturbable, and simple ways of her + thoughtful and absent-minded husband. Besides, who knows but she may have + acted out in her conduct toward her husband the laws of human revenge? The + picture of that eventful evening in 1841, when she stood at the Edwards + mansion clad in her bridal robes, the feast prepared and the guests + gathered, and when the bridegroom came not, may have been constantly + before her, and prompted her to a course of action which kept in the + background the better elements of her nature. In marrying Lincoln she did + not look so far into the future as Mary Owens, who declined his proposal + because "he was deficient in those little links which make up the chain of + woman's happiness." * + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Mrs. Lincoln died at the residence of her sister Mrs. Ninian W. + Edwards, in Springfield, July 16, 1882. Her physician during her last + illness says this of her: "In the late years of her life certain mental + peculiarities were developed which finally culminated in a slight + apoplexy, producing paralysis, of which she died. Among the + peculiarities alluded to, one of the most singular was the habit she had + during the last year or so of her life of immuring herself in a + perfectly dark room and, for light, using a small candle-light, even + when the sun was shining bright out-of-doors. No urging would induce her + to go out into the fresh air. Another peculiarity was the accumulation + of large quantities of silks and dress goods in trunks and by the + cart-load, which she never used and which accumulated until it was + really feared that the floor of the store-room would give way. She was + bright and sparkling in conversation, and her memory remained singularly + good up to the very close of her life. Her face was animated and + pleasing; and to me she was always an interesting woman; and while the + whole world was finding fault with her temper and disposition, it was + clear to me that the trouble was really a cerebral disease."—Dr. + Thomas W. Dresser, letter, January 3, 1889, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + By reason of his practical turn of mind Mr. Lincoln never speculated any + more in the scientific and philosophical than he did in the financial + world. He never undertook to fathom the intricacies of psychology and + metaphysics.* Investigation into first causes, abstruse mental phenomena, + the science of being, he brushed aside as trash—mere scientific + absurdities. He discovered through experience that his mind, like the + minds of other men, had its limitations, and hence he economized his + forces and his time by applying his powers in the field of the practical. + Scientifically regarded he was a realist as opposed to an idealist, a + sensationist as opposed to an intuitionist, a materialist as opposed to a + spiritualist. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "He was contemplative rather than speculative. He wanted something + solid to rest upon, and hence his bias for mathematics and the physical + sciences. He bestowed more attention on them than upon metaphysical + speculations. I have heard him descant upon the problem whether a ball + discharged from a gun in a horizontal position would be longer in + reaching the ground than one dropped at the instant of discharge from + the muzzle. He said it always appeared to him that they would both reach + the ground at the same time, even before he had read the philosophical + explanation."—Joseph Gillespie, letter, December 8, 1866, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + There was more or less superstition in his nature, and, although he may + not have believed implicitly in the signs of his many dreams, he was + constantly endeavoring to unravel them. His mind was readily impressed + with some of the most absurd superstitions. His visit to the Voodoo + fortune-teller in New Orleans in 1831; his faith in the virtues of the + mad-stone, when he took his son Robert to Terre Haute, Indiana, to be + cured of the bite of a rabid dog; and the strange double image of himself + which he told his secretary, John Hay, he saw reflected in a mirror just + after his election in 1860, strongly attest his inclination to + superstition. He held most firmly to the doctrine of fatalism all his + life. His wife, after his death, told me what I already knew, that "his + only philosophy was, what is to be will be, and no prayers of ours can + reverse the decree." He always contended that he was doomed to a sad fate, + and he repeatedly said to me when we were alone in our office: "I am sure + I shall meet with some terrible end." In proof of his strong leaning + towards fatalism he once quoted the case of Brutus and Caesar, arguing + that the former was forced by laws and conditions over which he had no + control to kill the latter, and, <i>vice versâ</i>, that the latter was + specially created to be disposed of by the former. This superstitious view + of life ran through his being like the thin blue vein through the whitest + marble, giving the eye rest from the weariness of continued unvarying + color.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * I have heard him frequently quote the couplet, "There's a divinity + that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + For many years I subscribed for and kept on our office table the <i>Westminster + and Edinburgh Review</i> and a number of other English periodicals. + Besides them I purchased the works of Spencer, Darwin, and the utterances + of other English scientists, all of which I devoured with great relish. I + endeavored, but had little success in inducing Lincoln to read them. + Occasionally he would snatch one up and peruse it for a little while, but + he soon threw it down with the suggestion that it was entirely too heavy + for an ordinary mind to digest.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * In 1856 I purchased in New York a life of Edmund Burke. I have + forgotten now who the author was, but I remember I read it through in a + short time. One morning Lincoln came into the office and, seeing the + book in my hands, enquired what I was reading. I told him, at the same + time observing that it was an excellent work and handing the book over + to him. Taking it in his hand he threw himself down on the office sofa + and hastily ran over its pages, reading a little here and there. At last + he closed and threw it on the table with the exclamation, "No, I've read + enough of it. It's like all the others. Biographies as generally written + are not only misleading, but false. The author of this life of Burke + makes a wonderful hero out of his subject. He magnifies his perfections—if + he had any—and suppresses his imperfections. He is so faithful in + his zeal and so lavish in praise of his every act that one is almost + driven to believe that Burke never made a mistake or a failure in his + life." He lapsed into a brown study, but presently broke out again, + "Billy, I've wondered why book-publishers and merchants don't have blank + biographies on their shelves, always ready for an emergency; so that, if + a man happens to die, his heirs or his friends, if they wish to + perpetuate his memory, can purchase one already written, but with + blanks. These blanks they can at their pleasure fill up with rosy + sentences full of high-sounding praise. In most instances they + commemorate a lie, and cheat posterity out of the truth. History," he + concluded, "is not history unless it is the truth." This emphatic avowal + of sentiment from Mr. Lincoln not only fixes his estimate of ordinary + biography, but is my vindication in advance if assailed for telling the + truth. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + A gentleman in Springfield gave him a book called, I believe, "Vestiges of + Creation," which interested him so much that he read it through. The + volume was published in Edinburgh, and undertook to demonstrate the + doctrine of development or evolution. The treatise interested him greatly, + and he was deeply impressed with the notion of the so-called "universal + law"—evolution; he did not extend greatly his researches, but by + continued thinking in a single channel seemed to grow into a warm advocate + of the new doctrine. Beyond what I have stated he made no further + investigation into the realm of philosophy. "There are no accidents," he + said one day, "in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. The + past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the + future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the + finite to the infinite." From what has been said it would follow logically + that he did not believe, except in a very restricted sense, in the freedom + of the will. We often argued the question, I taking the opposite view; he + changed the expression, calling it the freedom of the mind, and insisted + that man always acted from a motive. I once contended that man was free + and could act without a motive. He smiled at my philosophy, and answered + that it was "impossible, because the motive was born before the man." + </p> + <p> + The foregoing thoughts are prefatory to the much-mooted question of Mr. + Lincoln's religious belief. For what I have heretofore said on this + subject, both in public lectures and in letters which have frequently + found their way into the newspapers, I have been freely and sometimes + bitterly assailed, but I do not intend now to reopen the discussion or to + answer the many persons who have risen up and asked to measure swords with + me. I merely purpose to state the bare facts, expressing no opinion of my + own, and allowing each and every one to put his or her construction on + them. + </p> + <p> + Inasmuch as he was so often a candidate for public office Mr. Lincoln said + as little about his religious opinions as possible, especially if he + failed to coincide with the orthodox world. In illustration of his + religious code I once heard him say that it was like that of an old man + named Glenn, in Indiana, whom he heard speak at a church meeting, and who + said: "When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, and that's my + religion." In 1834, while still living in New Salem and before he became a + lawyer, he was surrounded by a class of people exceedingly liberal in + matters of religion. Volney's "Ruins" and Paine's "Age of Reason" passed + from hand to hand, and furnished food for the evening's discussion in the + tavern and village store. Lincoln read both these books and thus + assimilated them into his own being. He prepared an extended essay—called + by many, a book—in which he made an argument against Christianity, + striving to prove that the Bible was not inspired, and therefore not God's + revelation, and that Jesus Christ was not the son of God. The manuscript + containing these audacious and comprehensive propositions he intended to + have published or given a wide circulation in some other way. He carried + it to the store, where it was read and freely discussed. His friend and + employer, Samuel Hill, was among the listeners, and, seriously questioning + the propriety of a promising young man like Lincoln fathering such + unpopular notions, he snatched the manuscript from his hands and thrust it + into the stove. The book went up in flames, and Lincoln's political future + was secure. But his infidelity and his sceptical views were not + diminished. He soon removed to Springfield, where he attracted + considerable notice by his rank doctrine. Much of what he then said may + properly be credited to the impetuosity and exuberance of youth. One of + his closest friends, whose name is withheld, narrating scenes and + reviewing discussions that in 1838 took place in the office of the county + clerk, says: "Sometimes Lincoln bordered on atheism. He went far that way, + and shocked me. I was then a young man, and believed what my good mother + told me.... He would come into the clerk's office where I and some young + men were writing and staying, and would bring the Bible with him; would + read a chapter and argue against it.... Lincoln was enthusiastic in his + infidelity. As he grew older he grew more discreet; didn't talk much + before strangers about his religion; but to friends, close and bosom ones, + he was always open and avowed, fair and honest; to strangers, he held them + off from policy." John T. Stuart, who was Lincoln's first partner, + substantially endorses the above. "He was an avowed and open infidel," + declares Stuart, "and sometimes bordered on atheism;.... went further + against Christian beliefs and doctrines and principles than any man I ever + heard; he shocked me. I don't remember the exact line of his argument; + suppose it was against the inherent defects, so-called, of the Bible, and + on grounds of reason. Lincoln always denied that Jesus was the Christ of + God—denied that Jesus was the son of God as understood and + maintained by the Christian Church." David Davis tells us this: "The idea + that Lincoln talked to a stranger about his religion or religious views, + or made such speeches and remarks about it as are published, is to me + absurd. I knew the man so well; he was the most reticent, secretive man I + ever saw or expect to see. He had no faith, in the Christian sense of the + term—had faith in laws, principles, causes and effects." Another man + * testifies as follows: "Mr. Lincoln told me that he was a kind of + immortalist; that he never could bring himself to believe in eternal + punishment; that man lived but a little while here; and that if eternal + punishment were man's doom, he should spend that little life in vigilant + and ceaseless preparation by never-ending prayer." Another intimate + friend** furnishes this: "In my intercourse with Mr. Lincoln I learned + that he believed in a Creator of all things, who had neither beginning nor + end, possessing all power and wisdom, established a principle in obedience + to which worlds move and are upheld, and animal and vegetable life come + into existence. A reason he gave for his belief was that in view of the + order and harmony of all nature which we behold, it would have been more + miraculous to have come about by chance than to have been created and + arranged by some great thinking power." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * William H. Hannah. ** I. W. Keys. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + As to the Christian theory that Christ is God or equal to the Creator, he + said that it had better be taken for granted; for by the test of reason we + might become infidels on that subject, for evidence of Christ's divinity + came to us in a somewhat doubtful shape; but that the system of + Christianity was an ingenious one at least, and perhaps was calculated to + do good." Jesse W. Fell, to whom Lincoln first confided the details of his + biography, furnishes a more elaborate account of the latter's religious + views than anyone else. In a statement made September 22, 1870, Fell says: + "If there were any traits of character that stood out in bold relief in + the person of Mr. Lincoln they were those of truth and candor. He was + utterly incapable of insincerity or professing views on this or any other + subject he did not entertain. Knowing such to be his true character, that + insincerity, much more duplicity, were traits wholly foreign to his + nature, many of his old friends were not a little surprised at finding in + some of the biographies of this great man statements concerning his + religious opinions so utterly at variance with his known sentiments. True, + he may have changed or modified these sentiments* after his removal from + among us, though this is hardly reconcilable with the history of the man, + and his entire devotion to public matters during his four years' residence + at the national capital. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Executive Mansion, Washington, May 27, 1865. "Friend Herndon: "Mr. + Lincoln did not to my knowledge in any way change his religious ideas, + opinions, or beliefs from the time he left Springfield to the day of his + death. I do not know just what they were, never having heard him explain + them in detail; but I am very sure he gave no outward indication of his + mind having undergone any change in that regard while here. \ "Yours + truly, "Jno. G. Nicolay." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + It is possible, however, that this may be the proper solution of this + conflict of opinions; or it may be that, with no intention on the part of + any one to mislead the public mind, those who have represented him as + believing in the popular theological views of the times may have + misapprehended him, as experience shows to be quite common where no + special effort has been made to attain critical accuracy on a subject of + this nature. This is the more probable from the well-known fact, that Mr. + Lincoln seldom communicated to any one his views on this subject; but be + this as it may, I have no hesitation whatever in saying that whilst he + held many opinions in common with the great mass of Christian believers, + he did not believe in what are regarded as the orthodox or evangelical + views of Christianity. + </p> + <p> + "On the innate depravity of man, the character and office of the great + Head of the Church, the atonement, the infallibility of the written + revelation, the performance of miracles, the nature and design of present + and future rewards and punishments (as they are popularly called), and + many other subjects he held opinions utterly at variance with what are + usually taught in the Church. I should say that his expressed views on + these and kindred topics were such as, in the estimation of most + believers, would place him outside the Christian pale. Yet, to my mind, + such was not the true position, since his principles and practices and the + spirit of his whole life were of the very kind we universally agree to + call Christian; and I think this conclusion is in no wise affected by the + circumstance that he never attached himself to any religious society + whatever. + </p> + <p> + "His religious views were eminently practical, and are summed up, as I + think, in these two propositions: the Fatherhood of God, and the + brotherhood of man. He fully believed in a superintending and overruling + Providence that guides and controls the operations of the world, but + maintained that law and order, and not their violation or suspension, are + the appointed means by which this Providence is exercised.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "A convention of preachers held, I think, at Philadelphia, passed a + resolution asking him to recommend to Congress an amendment to the + Constitution directly recognizing the existence of God. The first draft + of his message prepared after this resolution was sent him did contain a + paragraph calling the attention of Congress to the subject. When I + assisted him in reading the proof he struck it out, remarking that he + had not made up his mind as to its propriety."—MS. letter, John D. + Defrees, December 4, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "I will not attempt any specification of either his belief or disbelief on + various religious topics, as derived from conversations with him at + different times during a considerable period; but as conveying a general + view of his religious or theological opinions, will state the following + facts. Some eight or ten years prior to his death, in conversing with him + upon this subject, the writer took occasion to refer, in terms of + approbation, to the sermons and writings generally of Dr. W. E. Channing; + and, finding he was considerably interested in the statement I made of the + opinions held by that author, I proposed to present him (Lincoln) a copy + of Channing's entire works, which I soon after did. Subsequently the + contents of these volumes, together with the writings of Theodore Parker, + furnished him, as he informed me, by his friend and law partner, William + H. Herndon, became naturally the topics of conversation with us; and, + though far from believing there was an entire harmony of views on his part + with either of those authors, yet they were generally much admired and + approved by him. + </p> + <p> + "No religious views with him seemed to find any favor except of the + practical and rationalistic order; and if, from my recollections on this + subject, I was called upon to designate an author whose views most nearly + represented Mr. Lincoln's on this subject, I would say that author was + Theodore Parker." The last witness to testify before this case is + submitted to the reader is no less a person than Mrs. Lincoln herself. In + a statement made at a time and under circumstances detailed in a + subsequent chapter she said this: "Mr. Lincoln had no faith and no hope in + the usual acceptation of those words. He never joined a Church; but still, + as I believe, he was a religious man by nature. He first seemed to think + about the subject when our boy Willie died, and then more than ever about + the time he went to Gettysburg; but it was a kind of poetry in his nature, + and he was never a technical Christian." + </p> + <p> + No man had a stronger or firmer faith in Providence—God—than + Mr. Lincoln, but the continued use by him late in life of the word God + must not be interpreted to mean that he believed in a personal God. In + 1854 he asked me to erase the word God from a speech which I had written + and read to him for criticism because my language indicated a personal + God, whereas he insisted no such personality ever existed. + </p> + <p> + My own testimony, however, in regard to Mr. Lincoln's religious views may + perhaps invite discussion. The world has always insisted on making an + orthodox Christian of him, and to analyze his sayings or sound his beliefs + is but to break the idol. It only remains to say that, whether orthodox or + not, he believed in God and immortality; and even if he questioned the + existence of future eternal punishment he hoped to find a rest from + trouble and a heaven beyond the grave. If at any time in his life he was + sceptical of the divine origin of the Bible he ought not for that reason + to be condemned; for he accepted the practical precepts of that great book + as binding alike upon his head and his conscience. The benevolence of his + impulses, the seriousness of his convictions, and the nobility of his + character are evidences unimpeachable that his soul was ever filled with + the exalted purity and sublime faith of natural religion. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + The result of the campaign of 1858 wrought more disaster to Lincoln's + finances than to his political prospects. The loss of over six months from + his business, and the expenses of the canvass, made a severe drain on his + personal income. He was anxious to get back to the law once more and earn + a little ready money. A letter written about this time to his friend + Norman B. Judd, Chairman of the Republican State Committee, will serve to + throw some light on the situation he found himself in. "I have been on + expenses so long, without earning anything," he says, "that I am + absolutely without money now for even household expenses. Still, if you + can put in $250 for me towards discharging the debt of the committee, I + will allow it when you and I settle the private matter between us. This, + with what I have already paid, with an outstanding note of mine, will + exceed my subscription of $500. This, too, is exclusive of my ordinary + expenses during the campaign, all of which, being added to my loss of time + and business, bears prettily heavily upon one no better off than I am. But + as I had the post of honor, it is not for me to be over-nice." At the time + this letter was written his property consisted of the house and lot on + which he lived, a few law books and some household furniture. He owned a + small tract of land in Iowa which yielded him nothing, and the annual + income from his law practice did not exceed $3,000; yet the party's + committee in Chicago were dunning their late standard-bearer, who, besides + the chagrin of his defeat, his own expenses, and the sacrifice of his + time, was asked to aid in meeting the general expenses of the campaign. At + this day one is a little surprised that some of the generous and wealthy + members of the party in Chicago or elsewhere did not come forward and + volunteer their aid. But they did not, and whether Lincoln felt in his + heart the injustice of this treatment or not, he went straight ahead in + his own path and said nothing about it. + </p> + <p> + Political business being off his hands, he now conceived the idea of + entering the lecture field. He began preparations in the usual way by + noting down ideas on stray pieces of paper, which found a lodgment inside + his hat, and finally brought forth in connected form a lecture on + "Inventions." He recounted the wonderful improvements in machinery, the + arts, and sciences. Now and then he indulged in a humorous paragraph, and + witticisms were freely sprinkled throughout the lecture. During the winter + he delivered it at several towns in the central part of the State, but it + was so commonplace, and met with such indifferent success, that he soon + dropped it altogether.* The effort met with the disapproval of his + friends, and he himself was filled with disgust. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "As we were going to Danville court I read to Lincoln a lecture by + Bancroft on the wonderful progress of man, delivered in the preceding + November. Sometime later he told us—Swett and me—that he had + been thinking much on the subject and believed he would write a lecture + on 'Man and His Progress.' Afterwards I read in a paper that he had come + to either Bloomington or Clinton to lecture and no one turned out. The + paper added, 'That doesn't look much like his being President.' I once + joked him about it; he said good-naturedly, 'Don't; that plagues me.'"—Henry + C. Whitney, letter, Aug. 27, 1867, MS. "Springfield, March 28, 1859. "W. + M. Morris, Esq., "Dear Sir:—Your kind note inviting me to deliver + a lecture at Galesburg is received. I regret to say I cannot do so now; + I must stick to the courts awhile. I read a sort of lecture to three + different audiences during the last month and this; but I did so under + circumstances which made it a waste of no time whatever. "Yours very + truly, "A. Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + If his address in 1852, over the death of Clay, proved that he was no + eulogist, then this last effort demonstrated that he was no lecturer. + Invitations to deliver the lecture—prompted no doubt by the + advertisement given him in the contest with Douglas—came in very + freely; but beyond the three attempts named, he declined them all. "Press + of business in the courts" afforded him a convenient excuse, and he + retired from the field. + </p> + <p> + During the fall of 1859 invitations to take part in the canvass came from + over half-a-dozen States where elections were to be held, Douglas, fresh + from the Senate, had gone to Ohio, and thither in September Lincoln, in + response to the demands of party friends everywhere, followed.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "He returned to the city two years after with a fame as wide as the + continent, with the laurels of the Douglas contest on his brow, and the + Presidency in his grasp. He returned, greeted with the thunder of + cannon, the strains of martial music, and the joyous plaudits of + thousands of citizens thronging the streets. He addressed a vast + concourse on Fifth Street Market; was entertained in princely style at + the Burnet House, and there received with courtesy the foremost citizens + come to greet this rising star. With high hope and happy heart he left + Cincinnati after a three days' sojourn. But a perverse fortune attended + him and Cincinnati in their intercourse. Nine months after Mr. Lincoln + left us, after he had been nominated for the Presidency, when he was + tranquilly waiting in his cottage home at Springfield the verdict of the + people, his last visit to Cincinnati and the good things he had had at + the Burnet House were rudely brought to his memory by a bill presented + to him from its proprietors. Before leaving the hotel he had applied to + the clerk for his bill; was told that it was paid, or words to that + effect. This the committee had directed, but afterwards neglected its + payment. The proprietors shrewdly surmised that a letter to the nominee + for the Presidency would bring the money. The only significance in this + incident is in the letter it brought from Mr. Lincoln, revealing his + indignation at the seeming imputation against his honor, and his greater + indignation at one item of the bill. 'As to wines, liquors, and cigars, + we had none, absolutely none. These last may have been in Room 15 by + order of committee, but I do not recollect them at all.'—W. M. + Dickson, "Harper's Magazine," June, 1884. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He delivered telling and impressive speeches at Cincinnati and Columbus,* + following Douglas at both places. He made such a favorable impression + among his Ohio friends that, after a glorious Republican victory, the + State committee asked the privilege of publishing his speeches, along with + those of Douglas, to be used and distributed as a campaign document. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Douglas had written a long and carefully prepared article on "Popular + Sovereignty in the Territories," which appeared for the first time in + the September (1859) number of "Harper's Magazine." It went back some + distance into the history of the government, recounting the proceedings + of the earliest Congresses, and sought to mark out more clearly than had + heretofore been done "the dividing line between Federal and Local + authority." In a speech at Columbus, O, Lincoln answered the "copy-right + essay" categorically. After alluding to the difference of position + between himself and Judge Douglas on the doctrine of Popular + Sovereignty, he said: "Judge Douglas has had a good deal of trouble with + Popular Sovereignty. His explanations, explanatory of explanations + explained, are interminable. The most lengthy and, as I suppose, the + most maturely considered of his long series of explanations is his great + essay in "Harper's Magazine." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + This request he especially appreciated, because after some effort he had + failed to induce any publisher in Springfield to undertake the + enterprise,* thus proving anew that "a prophet is not without honor, save + in his own country." In December he visited Kansas, speaking at Atchison, + Troy, Leavenworth, and other towns near the border. His speeches there + served to extend his reputation still further westward. Though his + arguments were repetitions of the doctrine laid down in the contest with + Douglas, yet they were new to the majority of his Kansas** hearers and + were enthusiastically approved. By the close of the year he was back again + in the dingy law office in Springfield. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * A gentleman is still living, who at the time of the debate between + Lincoln and Douglas, was a book publisher in Springfield. Lincoln had + collected newspaper slips of all the speeches made during the debate, + and proposed to him their publication in book form; but the man + declined, fearing there would be no demand for such a book. + Subsequently, when the speeches were gotten out in book form in Ohio, + Mr. Lincoln procured a copy and gave it to his Springfield friend, + writing on the fly-leaf, "Compliments of A. Lincoln." ** How Mr. Lincoln + stood on the questions of the hour, after his defeat by Douglas, is + clearly shown in a letter written on the 14th of May, 1859, to a friend + in Kansas, who had forwarded him an invitation to attend a Republican + convention there. "You will probably adopt resolutions," he writes, "in + the nature of a platform. I think the only danger will be the temptation + to lower the Republican standard in order to gather recruits. In my + judgment such a step would be a serious mistake, and open a gap through + which more would pass out than pass in. And this would be the same + whether the letting down should be in deference to Douglasism or to the + Southern opposition element; either would surrender the object of the + Republican organization— the preventing of the spread and + nationalization of slavery. This object surrendered, the organization + would go to pieces. I do not mean by this that no Southern man must be + placed upon our national ticket for 1860. There are many men in the + slave states for any one of whom I could cheerfully vote, to be either + President or Vice-president, provided he would enable me to do so with + safety to the Republican cause, without lowering the Republican + standard. This is the indispensable condition of a union with us; it is + idle to talk of any other. Any other would be as fruitless to the South + as distasteful to the North, the whole ending in common defeat. Let a + union be attempted on the basis of ignoring the slavery question, and + magnifying other questions which the people are just now caring about, + and it will result in gaining no single electoral vote in the South, and + losing every one in the North."—MS. letter to M. W. Delahay. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The opening of the year 1860 found Mr. Lincoln's name freely mentioned in + connection with the Republican nomination for the Presidency. To be + classed with Seward, Chase, McLean, and other celebrities was enough to + stimulate any Illinois lawyer's pride; but in Mr. Lincoln's case, if it + had any such effect, he was most artful in concealing it. Now and then + some ardent friend, an editor, for example, would run his name up to the + mast-head, but in all cases he discouraged the attempt. "In regard to the + matter you spoke of," he answered one man who proposed his name, "I beg + that you will not give it a further mention. Seriously, I do not think I + am fit for the Presidency."* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Letter, March 5, 1859, to Thomas J. Pickett. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The first effort in his behalf as a Presidential aspirant was the action + taken by his friends at a meeting held in the State House early in 1860, + in the rooms of O. M. Hatch, then Secretary of State. Besides Hatch there + were present Norman B. Judd, chairman of the Republican State Committee, + Ebenezer Peck, Jackson Grimshaw, and others of equal prominence in the + party. "We all expressed a personal preference for Mr. Lincoln," relates + one who was a participant in the meeting,* "as the Illinois candidate for + the Presidency, and asked him if his name might be used at once in + connection with the nomination and election. With his characteristic + modesty he doubted whether he could get the nomination even if he wished + it, and asked until the next morning to answer us whether his name might + be announced. Late the next day he authorized us, if we thought proper to + do so, to place him in the field." To the question from Mr. Grimshaw + whether, if the nomination for President could not be obtained, he would + accept the post of Vice-president, he answered that he would not; that his + name having been used for the office of President, he would not permit it + to be used for any other office, however honorable it might be. This + meeting was preliminary to the Decatur convention, and was also the first + concerted action in his behalf on the part of his friends. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Jackson Grimshaw. Letter, Quincy, Ill., April 28, 1866, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In the preceding October he came rushing into the office one morning, with + the letter from New York City, inviting him to deliver a lecture there, + and asked my advice and that of other friends as to the subject and + character of his address. We all recommended a speech on the political + situation. Remembering his poor success as a lecturer himself, he adopted + our suggestions. He accepted the invitation of the New York committee, at + the same time notifying them that his speech would deal entirely with + political questions, and fixing a day late in February as the most + convenient time. Meanwhile he spent the intervening time in careful + preparation. He searched through the dusty volumes of congressional + proceedings in the State library, and dug deeply into political history. + He was painstaking and thorough in the study of his subject, but when at + last he left for New York we had many misgivings—and he not a few + himself—of his success in the great metropolis. What effect the + unpretentious Western lawyer would have on the wealthy and fashionable + society of the great city could only be conjectured. A description of the + meeting at Cooper Institute, a list of the names of the prominent men and + women present, or an account of Lincoln in the delivery of the address + would be needless repetitions of well-known history.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * On his return home Lincoln told me that for once in his life he was + greatly abashed over his personal appearance. The new suit of clothes + which he donned on his arrival in New York were ill-fitting garments, + and showed the creases made while packed in the valise; and for a long + time after he began his speech and before he became "warmed up" he + imagined that the audience noticed the contrast between his Western + clothes and the neat-fitting suits of Mr. Bryant and others who sat on + the platform. The collar of his coat on the right side had an unpleasant + way of flying up whenever he raised his arm to gesticulate. He imagined + the audience noticed that also. After the meeting closed, the newspaper + reporters called for slips of his speech. This amused him, because he + had no idea what slips were, and besides, didn't suppose the newspapers + cared to print his speech verbatim. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + It only remains to say that his speech was devoid of all rhetorical + imagery, with a marked sup-pression of the pyrotechnics of stump oratory. + It was constructed with a view to accuracy of statement, simplicity of + language, and unity of thought. In some respects like a lawyer's brief, it + was logical, temperate in tone, powerful—irresistibly driving + conviction home to men's reasons and their souls. No former effort in the + line of speech-making had cost Lincoln so much time and thought as this + one. It is said by one of his biographers, that those afterwards engaged + in getting out the speech as a campaign document were three weeks in + verifying the statements and finding the historical records referred to + and consulted by him. This is probably a little over-stated as to time, + but unquestionably the work of verification and reference, was in any + event a very labored and extended one.* The day following the Cooper + Institute meeting, the leading New York dailies published the speech in + full, and made favorable editorial mention of it and of the speaker as + well. It was plain now that Lincoln had captured the metropolis. From New + York he travelled to New England to visit his son Robert, who was + attending college. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Mr. Lincoln obtained most of the facts of his Cooper Institute speech + from Eliott's "Debates on the Federal Constitution." There were six + volumes, which he gave to me when he went to Washington in 1861. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In answer to the many calls and invitations which showered on him, he + spoke at various places in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. + In all these places he not only left deep impressions of his ability, but + he convinced New England of his intense earnestness in the great cause. + The newspapers treated him with no little consideration. One paper* + characterized his speech as one of "great fairness," delivered with "great + apparent candor and wonderful interest. For the first half hour his + opponents would agree with every word he uttered; and from that point he + would lead them off little by little until it seemed as if he had got them + all into his fold. He is far from prepossessing in personal appearance, + and his Voice is disagreeable; and yet he wins your attention from the + start.. He indulges in no flowers of rhetoric, no eloquent passages.... He + displays more shrewdness, more knowledge of the masses of mankind than any + public speaker we have heard since Long Jim Wilson left for California." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Manchester Mirror. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Lincoln's return to Springfield after his dazzling success in the East was + the signal for earnest congratulations on the part of his friends. Seward + was the great man of the day, but Lincoln had demonstrated to the + satisfaction of his friends that he was tall enough and strong enough to + measure swords with the Auburn statesman. His triumph in New York and New + England had shown that the idea of a house divided against itself induced + as strong cooperation and hearty support in prevention of a great wrong in + the East as the famous "irrepressible conflict" attracted warriors to + Seward's standard in the Mississippi valley. It was apparent now to + Lincoln that the Presidential nomination was within his reach. He began + gradually to lose his interest in the law and to trim his political sails + at the same time. His recent success had stimulated his self-confidence to + unwonted proportions. He wrote to influential party workers everywhere. I + know the idea prevails that Lincoln sat still in his chair in Springfield, + and that one of those unlooked-for tides in human affairs came along and + cast the nomination into his lap; but any man who has had experience in + such things knows that great political prizes are not obtained in that + way. The truth is, Lincoln was as vigilant as he was ambitious, and there + is no denying the fact that he understood the situation perfectly from the + start. In the management of his own interests he was obliged to rely + almost entirely on his own resources. He had no money with which to + maintain a political bureau, and he lacked any kind of personal + organization whatever. Seward had all these things, and, behind them all, + a brilliant record in the United States Senate with which to dazzle his + followers. But with all his prestige and experience the latter was no more + adroit and no more untiring in pursuit of his ambition than the man who + had just delivered the Cooper Institute speech. A letter written by + Lincoln about this time to a friend in Kansas serves to illustrate his + methods, and measures the extent of his ambition. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/196.jpg" alt="Letter to Kansas Delegate 196 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The letter is dated March 10, and is now in my possession. For obvious + reasons I withhold the friend's name: "As to your kind wishes for myself," + writes Lincoln, "allow me to say I cannot enter the ring on the money + basis—first, because in the main it is wrong; and secondly, I have + not and cannot get the money. I say in the main the use of money is wrong; + but for certain objects in a political contest the use of some is both + right and indispensable. With me, as with yourself, this long struggle has + been one of great pecuniary loss. I now distinctly say this: If you shall + be appointed a delegate to Chicago I will furnish one hundred dollars to + bear the expenses of the trip." There is enough in this letter to show + that Lincoln was not only determined in his political ambition, but + intensely practical as well. His eye was constantly fastened on Seward, + who had already freely exercised the rights of leadership in the party. + All other competitors he dropped out of the problem. In the middle of + April he again writes his Kansas friend: "Reaching home last night I found + yours of the 7th. You know I was recently in New England. Some of the + acquaintances while there write me since the election that the close vote + in Connecticut and the quasi-defeat in Rhode Island are a drawback upon + the prospects of Governor Seward; and Trumbull writes Dubois to the same + effect. Do not mention this as coming from me. Both these States are safe + enough in the fall." But, while Seward may have lost ground near his home, + he was acquiring strength in the West. He had invaded the very territory + Lincoln was intending to retain by virtue of his course in the contest + with Douglas. Lincoln's friend in Kansas, instead of securing that + delegation for him, had suffered the Seward men to outgeneral him, and the + prospects were by no means flattering. "I see by the dispatches," writes + Lincoln, in a burst of surprise, "that, since you wrote, Kansas has + appointed delegates and instructed for Seward. Don't stir them up to + anger, but come along to the convention and I will do as I said about + expenses." Whether the friend ever accepted Lincoln's generous offer I do + not know,* but it may not be without interest to state that within ten + days after the latter's inauguration he appointed him to a Federal office + with comfortable salary attached, and even asked for his preferences as to + other contemplated appointments in his own State.** + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * This case illustrates quite forcibly Lincoln's weakness in dealing + with individuals. This man I know had written Lincoln, promising to + bring the Kansas delegation to Chicago for him if he would only pay his + expenses. Lincoln was weak enough to make the promise, and yet such was + his faith in the man that he appointed him to an important judicial + position and gave him great prominence in other ways. What President or + candidate for President would dare do such a thing now? ** The following + is in my possession: "Executive Mansion, March 13,1861. "———, + Esq. "My Dear Sir: "You will start for Kansas before I see you again; + and when I saw you a moment this morning I forgot to ask you about some + of the Kansas appointments, which I intended to do. If you care much + about them you can write, as I think I shall not make the appointments + just yet. "Yours in haste, "A. Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In the rapid, stirring scenes that crowd upon each other from this time + forward the individuality of Lincoln is easily lost sight of. He was so + thoroughly interwoven in the issues before the people of Illinois that he + had become a part of them. Among his colleagues at the bar he was no + longer looked upon as the Circuit-Court lawyer of earlier days. To them it + seemed as if the nation were about to lay its claim upon him. His tall + form enlarged, until, to use a figurative expression, he could no longer + pass through the door of our dingy office. Reference has already been made + to the envy of his rivals at the bar, and the jealousy of his political + contemporaries. Very few indeed were free from the degrading passion; but + it made no difference in Lincoln's treatment of them. He was as generous + and deferred to them as much as ever. The first public movement by the + Illinois people in his interest was the action of the State convention, + which met at Decatur on the 9th and 10th of May. It was at this convention + that Lincoln's friend and cousin, John Hanks, brought in the two historic + rails which both had made in the Sangamon bottom in 1830, and which served + the double purpose of electrifying the Illinois people and kindling the + fire of enthusiasm that was destined to sweep over the nation. In the + words of an ardent Lincoln delegate, "These rails were to represent the + issue in the coming contest between labor free and labor slave; between + democracy and aristocracy. Little did I think," continues our jubilant and + effusive friend, "of the mighty consequences of this little incident; + little did I think that the tall, and angular, and bony rail-splitter who + stood in girlish diffidence bowing with awkward grace would fill the chair + once filled by Washington, and that his name would echo in chants of + praise along the corridor of all coming time." A week later the hosts were + gathered for the great convention in Chicago. David Davis had rented rooms + in the Tremont House and opened up "Lincoln's headquarters." I was not a + delegate, but belonged to the contingent which had Lincoln's interests in + charge. Judge Logan was the Springfield delegate, and to him Lincoln had + given a letter authorizing the withdrawal of his name whenever his friends + deemed such action necessary or proper. Davis was the active man, and had + the business management in charge. If any negotiations were made, he made + them. The convention was held in a monster building called the Wigwam. No + one who has ever attempted a description of it has overdrawn its + enthusiasm and exciting scenes. Amid all the din and confusion, the + curbstone contentions, the promiscuous wrangling of delegates, the + deafening roar of the assembled hosts, the contest narrowed down to a + neck-and-neck race between the brilliant statesman of Auburn and the less + pretentious, but manly rail-splitter from the Sangamon bottoms. With the + proceedings of the convention the world is already well familiar. On the + first ballot Seward led, but was closely followed by Lincoln; on the + second Lincoln gained amazingly; on the third the race was an even one + until the dramatic change by Carter, of Ohio, when Lincoln, swinging + loose, swept grandly to the front. The cannon planted on the roof of the + Wigwam belched forth a boom across the Illinois prairies. The sound was + taken up and reverberated from Maine to California. With the nomination of + Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, the convention adjourned. The delegates—victorious + and vanquished alike— turned their steps homeward, and the great + campaign of 1860 had begun. The day before the nomination the editor of + the Springfield <i>Journal</i> arrived in Chicago with a copy of the + Missouri <i>Democrat</i>, in which Lincoln had marked three passages + referring to Seward's position on the slavery question. On the margin of + the paper he had written in pencil, "I agree with Seward in his + 'Irrepressible Conflict,' but I do not endorse his 'Higher Law' doctrine." + Then he added in words underscored, "Make no contracts that will bind me." + This paper was brought into the room where Davis, Judd, Logan, and I were + gathered, and was read to us. But Lincoln was down in Springfield, some + distance away from Chicago, and could therefore not appreciate the gravity + of the situation; at least so Davis argued, and, viewing it in that light, + the latter went ahead with his negotiations. What the consequences of + these deals were will appear later on. The new's of his nomination found + Lincoln at Springfield in the office of the <i>Journal</i>. Naturally + enough he was nervous, restless, and laboring under more or loss + suppressed excitement. He had been tossing ball—a pastime frequently + indulged in by the lawyers of that day, and had played a few games of + billiards to keep down, as another has expressed it "the unnatural + excitement that threatened to possess him." When the telegram containing + the result of the last ballot came in, although apparently calm and + undisturbed, a close observer could have detected in the compressed lip + and serious countenance evidences of deep and unusual emotion. As the + balloting progressed he had gone to the office of the <i>Journal</i>, and + was sitting in a large arm-chair there when the news of his nomination + came. What a line of scenes, stretching from the barren glade in Kentucky + to the jubilant and enthusiastic throng in the Wigwam at Chicago, must + have broken in upon his vision as he hastened from the newspaper office to + "tell a little woman down the street the news!" In the evening his friends + and neighbors called to congratulate him. He thanked them feelingly and + shook them each by the hand. A day later the committee from the + convention, with George Ashmun, of Massachusetts, at its head, called, and + delivered formal notice of his nomination. This meeting took place at his + house. His response was couched in polite and dignified language, and many + of the committee, who now met him for the first time, departed with an + improved impression of the new standard-bearer. A few days later he wrote + his official letter of acceptance, in which he warmly endorsed the + resolutions of the convention. His actions and utterances so far had begun + to dissipate the erroneous notion prevalent in some of the more remote + Eastern States, that he was more of a backwoods boor than a gentleman; but + with the arrival of the campaign in dead earnest, people paid less + attention to the candidates and more to the great issues at stake. Briefly + stated, the Republican platform was a declaration that "the new dogma, + that the Constitution carries slavery into all the Territories, is a + dangerous political heresy, revolutionary in tendency and subversive of + the peace and harmony of the country; that the normal condition of all the + Territories is that of freedom; that neither Congress, the territorial + legislature, nor any individual can give legal existence to slavery in any + territory; that the opening of the slave trade would be a crime against + humanity." Resolutions favoring a homestead law, river and harbor + improvements, and the Pacific railroad were also included in the platform. + With these the Republicans, as a lawyer would say, went to the country. + The campaign which followed was one with few parallels in American + history. There was not only the customary exultation and enthusiasm over + candidates, but there was patient listening and hard thinking among the + masses. The slavery question, it was felt, must soon be decided. Threats + of disunion were the texts of many a campaign speech in the South: in + fact, as has since been shown, a deep laid conspiracy to overthrow the + Union was then forming, and was only awaiting the election of a Republican + President to show its hideous head. The Democratic party was struggling + under the demoralizing effects of a split, in which even the Buchanan + administration had taken sides. Douglas, the nominee of one wing, in his + desperation had entered into the canvass himself, making speeches with all + the power and eloquence at his command. The Republicans, cheered over the + prospect, had joined hands with the Abolitionists, and both were marching + to victory under the inspiration of Lincoln's sentiment, that "the further + spread of slavery should be arrested, and it should be placed where the + public mind shall rest in the belief of its ultimate extinction." + </p> + <p> + As the canvass advanced and waxed warm I tendered my services and made a + number of speeches in the central part of the State. I remember, in the + midst of a speech at Petersburg, and just as I was approaching an + oratorical climax, a man out of breath came rushing up to me and thrust a + message into my hand. I was somewhat frustrated and greatly alarmed, + fearing it might contain news of some accident in my family; but great was + my relief when I read it, which I did aloud. It was a message from + Lincoln, telling me to be be of good cheer, that Ohio, Pennsylvania, and + Indiana had gone Republican.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * The handwriting of the note was a little tremulous, showing that + Lincoln was excited and nervous when he wrote it. Following is a copy of + the original MS.: "Springfield, Ill., October 10, 1860. "Dear William: I + cannot give you details, but it is entirely certain that Pennsylvania + and Indiana have gone Republican very largely. Pennsylvania 25,000, and + Indiana 5000 to 10,000. Ohio of course is safe. "Yours as ever, "A. + Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + These were then October States, and this was the first gun for the great + cause. It created so much demonstration, such a burst of enthusiasm and + confusion, that the crowd forgot they had any speaker; they ran yelling + and hurrahing out of the hall, and I never succeeded in finishing the + speech. + </p> + <p> + As soon as officially notified of his nomination* Mr. Lincoln moved his + headquarters from our office to a room in the State House building, and + there, with his secretary, John G. Nicolay, he spent the busy and exciting + days of his campaign. Of course he attended to no law business, but still + he loved to come to our office of evenings, and spend an hour with a few + choice friends in a friendly privacy which was denied him at his public + quarters. These were among the last meetings we had with Lincoln as our + friend and fellow at the bar; and they are also the most delightful + recollections any of us have retained of him.** + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Following is Lincoln's letter of acceptance: "Springfield, III., June + 23, 1860. "Sir: I accept the nomination tendered me by the convention + over which you presided, of which I am formally apprised in a letter of + yourself and others, acting as a committee of the convention for that + purpose. The declaration of principles which accompanies your letter + meets my approval, and it shall be my care not to violate it or + disregard it in any part. Imploring the assistance of Divine Providence, + and with due regard to the views and feelings of all who were + represented in the convention, to the rights of all the states and + territories and people of the nation, to the inviolability of the + Constitution, and the perpetual union, prosperity, and harmony of all, I + am most happy to cooperate for the practical success of the principles + declared by the convention. "Your obliged friend and fellow-citizen, + "Abraham Lincoln." "Hon. George Ashmun." ** One of what Lincoln regarded + as the remarkable features of his canvass for President was the attitude + of some of his neighbors in Springfield. A poll of the voters had been + made in a little book and given to him. On running over the names he + found that the greater part of the clergy of the city—in fact all + but three—were against him. This depressed him somewhat, and he + called in Dr. Newton Bateman, who as Superintendent of Public + Instruction occupied the room adjoining his own in the State House, and + whom he 'habitually addressed as "Mr. Schoolmaster." He commented + bitterly on the attitude of the preachers and many of their followers, + who, pretending to be believers in the Bible and God-fearing Christians, + yet by their votes demonstrated that they cared not whether slavery was + voted up or down. "God cares and humanity cares," he reflected, "and if + they do not they surely have not read their Bible aright." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + At last the turmoil and excitement and fatigue of the campaign were over: + the enthusiastic political workers threw aside their campaign uniforms, + the boys blew out their torches, and the voter approached the polls with + his ballot. On the morning of election day I stepped in to see Mr. + Lincoln, and was surprised to learn that he did not intend to cast his + vote. I knew of course that he did so because of a feeling that the + candidate for a Presidential office ought not to vote for his own + electors; but when I suggested the plan of cutting off the Presidential + electors and voting for the State officers, he was struck with the idea, + and at last consented. His appearance at the polls, accompanied by Ward + Lamon, the lamented young Ellsworth, and myself, was the occasion of no + little surprise because of the general impression which prevailed that he + did not intend to vote. The crowd around the polls opened a gap as the + distinguished voter approached, and some even removed their hats as he + deposited his ticket and announced in a subdued voice his name, "Abraham + Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + The election was held on the 6th of November. The result showed a popular + vote of 1,857,610 for Lincoln; 1,291,574 for Douglas; 850,022 for + Breckenridge; and 646,124 for Bell. In the electoral college Lincoln + received 180 votes, Breckenridge 72, Bell 39, and Douglas 12.* Mr. Lincoln + having now been elected, there remained, before taking up the reins of + government, the details of his departure from Springfield, and the + selection of a cabinet. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Lincoln electors were chosen in seventeen of the free States, as + follows: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, + Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, + Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, California, Oregon; and in one State,—New + Jersey,— owing to a fusion between Democrats, Lincoln secured four + and Douglas three of the electors. Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, + Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North, and South Carolina, + and Texas went for Breckenridge; Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia for + Bell; while Douglas secured only one entire State—Missouri. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0006" id="linkimage-0006"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/209.jpg" alt="Portrait of Lincoln in 1860 209 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The election over, Mr. Lincoln scarcely had time enough to take a breath + until another campaign and one equally trying, so far as a test of his + constitution and nerves was concerned, as the one through which he had + just passed, opened up before him. I refer to the siege of the + cabinet-makers and office-seekers. It proved to be a severe and protracted + strain and one from which there seemed to be no relief, as the + President-elect of this renowned democratic Government is by custom and + precedent expected to meet and listen to everybody who calls to see him. + "Individuals, deputations, and delegations," says one of Mr. Lincoln's + biographers, "from all quarters pressed in upon him in a manner that might + have killed a man of less robust constitution. The hotels of Springfield + were filled with gentlemen who came with light baggage and heavy schemes. + The party had never been in office. A clean sweep of the 'ins' was + expected, and all the 'outs' were patriotically anxious to take the vacant + places. It was a party that had never fed; and it was voraciously hungry. + Mr. Lincoln and Artemus Ward saw a great deal of fun in it; and in all + human probability it was the fun alone that enabled Mr. Lincoln to bear + it." + </p> + <p> + His own election of course disposed of any claims Illinois might have had + to any further representation in the cabinet, but it afforded Mr. Lincoln + no relief from the argumentative interviews and pressing claims of the + endless list of ambitious statesmen in the thirty-two other states, who + swarmed into Springfield from every point of the compass. He told each one + of them a story, and even if he failed to put their names on his slate + they went away without knowing that fact, and never forgot the visit.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * A newspaper correspondent who had been sent down from Chicago to + "write up" Mr. Lincoln soon after his nomination, was kind enough + several years ago to furnish me with an account of his visit. As some of + his reminiscences are more or less interesting, I take the liberty of + inserting a portion of his letter. "A what-not in the corner of the + room," he relates, "was laden with various kinds of shells. Taking one + in my hand, I said, 'This, I suppose, is called a Trocus by the + geologist or naturalist.' Mr. Lincoln paused a moment as if reflecting + and then replied, 'I do not know, for I never studied either geology or + natural history.' I then took to examining the few pictures that hung on + the walls, and was paying more than ordinary attention to one that hung + above, the sofa. He was immediately at my left and pointing to it said, + 'That picture gives a very fair representation of my homely face.'... + The time for my departure nearing, I made the usual apologies and + started to go. 'You cannot get out of the town before a quarter past + eleven,' remonstrated Mr. Lincoln, 'and you may as well stay a little + longer.' Under pretence of some unfinished matters down town, however, I + very reluctantly withdrew from the mansion. 'Well,' said Mr. Lincoln, as + we passed into the hall, 'suppose you come over to the State House + before you start for Chicago.' After a moment's deliberation I promised + to do so. Mr. Lincoln, following without his hat, and continuing the + conversation, shook hands across the gate, saying, 'Now, come over.' I + wended my way to my hotel, and after a brief period was in his office at + the State House. Resuming conversation, he said, 'If the man comes with + the key before you go, I want to give you a book.' I certainly hoped the + man would come with the key. Some conversation had taken place at the + house on which his book treated,—but I had forgotten this,—and + soon Mr. Lincoln absented himself for perhaps two minutes and returned + with a copy of the debates between himself and Judge Douglas. He placed + the book on his knee, as he sat back on two legs of his chair, and wrote + on the fly-leaf, 'J. S. Bliss, from A. Lincoln.' Besides this he marked + a complete paragraph near the middle of the book. While sitting in the + position described little Willie, his son, came in and begged his father + for twenty- five cents. 'My son,' said the father, 'what do you want + with twenty-five cents?' 'I want it to buy candy with,' cried the boy. + 'I cannot give you twenty-five cents, my son, but will give you five + cents,' at the same time putting his thumb and finger into his vest + pocket and taking therefrom five cents in silver, which he placed upon + the desk before the boy. But this did not reach Willie's expectations; + he scorned the pile, and turning away clambered down-stairs and through + the spacious halls of the Capitol, leaving behind him his five cents and + a distinct reverberation of sound. Mr. Lincoln turned to me and said, + 'He will be back after that in a few minutes.' 'Why do you think so?' + said I. 'Because, as soon as he finds I will give him no more he will + come and get it.' After the matter had been nearly forgotten and + conversation had turned in an entirely different channel, Willie came + cautiously in behind my chair and that of his father, picked up the + specie, and went away without saying a word."—J. S. Bliss, letter, + Jan. 29, 1867, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He had a way of pretending to assure his visitor that in the choice of his + advisers he was "free to act as his judgment dictated," although David + Davis, acting as his manager at the Chicago convention, had negotiated + with the Indiana and Pennsylvania delegations, and assigned places in the + cabinet to Simon Cameron and Caleb Smith, besides making other + "arrangements" which Mr. Lincoln was expected to ratify. Of this he was + undoubtedly aware, although in answer to a letter from Joshua R. Giddings, + of Ohio, congratulating him on his nomination, he said,* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Letter, May 21st, 1860, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "It is indeed most grateful to my feelings that the responsible position + assigned me comes without conditions." Out of regard to the dignity of the + exalted station he was about to occupy, he was not as free in discussing + the matter of his probable appointments with some of his personal friends + as they had believed he would be. In one or two instances, I remember, the + latter were offended at his seeming disregard of the claims of old + friendship. My advice was not asked for on such grave subjects, nor had I + any right or reason to believe it would be; hence I never felt slighted or + offended. On some occasions in our office, when Mr. Lincoln had come + across from the State House for a rest or a chat with me, he would relate + now and then some circumstance—generally an amusing one—connected + with the settlement of the cabinet problem, but it was said in such a way + that one would not have felt free to interrogate him about his plans. Soon + after his election I received from my friend Joseph Medill, of Chicago, a + letter which argued strongly against the appointment of Simon Cameron to a + place in the cabinet, and which the writer desired I should bring to Mr. + Lincoln's attention. I awaited a favorable opportunity, and one evening + when we were alone in our office I gave it to him. It was an eloquent + protest against the appointment of a corrupt and debased man, and coming + from the source it did—the writer being one of Lincoln's best + newspaper supporters—made a deep impression on him. Lincoln read it + over several times, but refrained from expressing any opinion. He did say + however that he felt himself under no promise or obligation to appoint + anyone; that if his friends made any agreements for him they did so over + his expressed direction and without his knowledge. At another time he said + that he wanted to give the South, by way of placation, a place in his + cabinet; that a fair division of the country entitled the Southern States + to a reasonable representation there, and if not interfered with he would + make such a distribution as would satisfy all persons interested. He named + three persons who would be acceptable to him. They were Botts, of + Virginia; Stephens, of Georgia; and Maynard, of Tennessee. He apprehended + no such grave danger to the Union as the mass of people supposed would + result from Southern threats, and said he could not in his heart believe + that the South designed the overthrow of the Government. This is the + extent of my conversation about the cabinet. Thurlow Weed, the veteran in + journalism and politics, came out from New York and spent several days + with Lincoln. He was not only the representative of Senator Seward, but + rendered the President-elect signal service in the formation of his + cabinet. In his autobiography Mr. Weed relates numerous incidents of this + visit. He was one day opposing the claims of Montgomery Blair, who aspired + to a cabinet appointment, when Mr. Lincoln inquired of Weed whom he would + recommend. "Henry Winter Davis," was the response. "David Davis, I see, + has been posting you up on this question," retorted Lincoln. "He has Davis + on the brain. I think Maryland must be a good State to move from." The + President then told a story of a witness in court in a neighboring county, + who on being asked his age replied, "Sixty." Being satisfied he was much + older the question was repeated, and on receiving the same answer, the + court admonished the witness, saying, "The court knows you to be much + older than sixty." "Oh, I understand now," was the rejoinder; "you're + thinking of those ten years I spent on the eastern shore of Maryland; that + was so much time lost and don't count." Before Mr. Lincoln's departure + from Springfield, people who knew him personally were frequently asked + what sort of man he was. I received many letters, generally from the + Eastern States, showing that much doubt still existed in the minds of the + people whether he would prove equal to the great task that lay in store + for him. Among others who wrote me on the subject was the Hon. Henry + Wilson, late Vice-president of the United States, whom I had met during my + visit to Washington in the spring of 1858. Two years after Mr. Lincoln's + death, Mr. Wilson wrote me as follows: "I have just finished reading your + letter dated December 21, 1860, in answer to a letter of mine asking you + to give me your opinion of the President just elected. In this letter to + me you say of Mr. Lincoln what more than four years of observation + confirmed. After stating that you had been his law partner for over + eighteen years and his most intimate and bosom friend all that time you + say, 'I know him better than he does himself. I know this seems a little + strong, but I risk the assertion. Lincoln is a man of heart—aye, as + gentle as a woman's and as tender—but he has a will strong as iron. + He therefore loves all mankind, hates slavery and every form of despotism. + Put these together—love for the slave, and a determination, a will, + that justice, strong and unyielding, shall be done when he has the right + to act, and you can form your own conclusion. Lincoln will fail here, + namely, if a question of political economy—if any question comes up + which is doubtful, questionable, which no man can demonstrate, then his + friends can rule him; but when on justice, right, liberty, the Government, + the Constitution, and the Union, then you may all stand aside: he will + rule then, and no man can move him—no set of men can do it. There is + no fail here. This is Lincoln, and you mark my prediction. You and I must + keep the people right; God will keep Lincoln right.' These words of yours + made a deep impression upon my mind, and I came to love and trust him even + before I saw him. After an acquaintance of more than four years I found + that your idea of him was in all respects correct—that he was the + loving, tender, firm, and just man you represented him to be; while upon + some questions in which moral elements did not so clearly enter he was + perhaps too easily influenced by others. Mr. Lincoln was a genuine + democrat in feelings, sentiments, and actions. How patiently and + considerately he listened amid the terrible pressure of public affairs to + the people who thronged his ante-room! I remember calling upon him one day + daring the war on pressing business. The ante- room was crowded with men + and women seeking admission. He seemed oppressed, careworn, and weary, I + said to him, 'Mr. President, you are too exhausted to see this throng + waiting to see you; you will wear yourself out and ought not see these + people today.' He replied, with one of those smiles in which sadness + seemed to mingle, 'They don't want much; they get but little, and I must + see them.' During the war his heart was oppressed and his life burdened + with the conflict between the tenderness of his nature and what seemed to + be the imperative demands of duty. In the darkest hours of the conflict + desertions from the army were frequent, and army officers urgently pressed + the execution of the sentences of the law; but it was with the greatest + effort that he would bring himself to consent to the execution of the + judgment of the military tribunals. I remember calling early one sabbath + morning with a wounded Irish officer, who came to Washington to say that a + soldier who had been sentenced to be shot in a day or two for desertion + had fought gallantly by his side in battle. I told Mr. Lincoln we had come + to ask him to pardon the poor soldier. After a few moments' reflection he + said, 'My officers tell me the good of the service demands the enforcement + of the law; but it makes my heart ache to have the poor fellows shot. I + will pardon this soldier, and then you will all join in blaming me for it. + You censure me for granting pardons, and yet you all ask me to do so.' I + say again, no man had a more loving and tender nature than Mr. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + Before departing for Washington Mr. Lincoln went to Chicago* for a few + days' stay, and there by previous arrangement met his old friend, Joshua + F. Speed. Both were accompanied by their wives, and while the latter were + out shopping the two husbands repaired to Speed's room at the hotel. "For + an hour or more," relates Speed, "we lived over again the scenes of other + days. Finally Lincoln threw himself on the bed, and fixing his eyes on a + spot in the ceiling asked me this question, 'Speed, what is your pecuniary + condition? are you rich or poor?' I answered, addressing him by his new + title, 'Mr. President, I think I can anticipate what you are going to say. + I'll speak candidly to you on the subject. My pecuniary condition is + satisfactory to me now; you would perhaps call it good. I do not think you + have within your gift any office I could afford to take.' Mr. Lincoln then + proposed to make Guthrie, of Kentucky, Secretary of War, but did not want + to write to him—asked me to feel of him. I did as requested, but the + Kentucky statesman declined on the ground of his advanced age, and + consequent physical inability to fill the position. He gave substantial + assurance of his loyal sentiments, however, and insisted that the Union + should be preserved at all hazards." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * A lady called one day at the hotel where the Lincolns were stopping in + Chicago to take Mrs. Lincoln out for a promenade or a drive. She was met + in the parlor by Mr. Lincoln, who, after a hurried trip upstairs to + ascertain the cause of the delay in his wife's appearance, returned with + the report that "She will be down as soon as she has all her trotting + harness on." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Late in January Mr. Lincoln informed me that he was ready to begin the + preparation of his inaugural address. He had, aside from his law books and + the few gilded volumes that ornamented the centre-table in his parlor at + home, comparatively no library. He never seemed to care to own or collect + books. On the other hand I had a very respectable collection, and was + adding to it every day. To my library Lincoln very frequently had access. + When, therefore, he began on his inaugural speech he told me what works he + intended to consult. I looked for a long list, but when he went over it I + was greatly surprised. He asked me to furnish him with Henry Clay's great + speech delivered in 1850; Andrew Jackson's proclamation against + Nullification; and a copy of the Constitution. He afterwards called for + Webster's reply to Hayne, a speech which he read when he lived at New + Salem, and which he always regarded as the grandest specimen of American + oratory. With these few "volumes," and no further sources of reference, he + locked himself up in a room upstairs over a store across the street from + the State House, and there, cut off from all communication and intrusion, + he prepared the address. Though composed amid the unromantic surroundings + of a dingy, dusty, and neglected back room, the speech has become a + memorable document. Posterity will assign to it a high rank among + historical utterances; and it will ever bear comparison with the efforts + of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, or any that preceded its delivery from + the steps of the national Capitol. + </p> + <p> + After Mr. Lincoln's rise to national prominence, and especially since his + death, I have often been asked if I did not write this or that paper for + him; if I did not prepare or help prepare some of his speeches. I know + that other and abler friends of Lincoln have been asked the same + question.* To people who made such enquiries I always responded, "You + don't understand Mr. Lincoln. No man ever asked less aid then he; his + confidence in his own ability to meet the requirements of every hour was + so marked that his friends never thought of tendering their aid, and + therefore no one could share his responsibilities. I never wrote a line + for him; he never asked me to. I was never conscious of having exerted any + influence over him. He often called out my views on some philosophical + question, simply because I was a fond student of philosophy, and conceding + that I had given the subject more attention than he; he often asked as to + the use of a word or the turn of a sentence, but if I volunteered to + recommend or even suggest a change of language which involved a change of + sentiment I found him the most inflexible man I have ever seen." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "I know it was the general impression in Washington that I knew all + about Lincoln's plans and ideas, but the truth is, I knew nothing. He + never confided to me anything of his purposes."—David Davis, + statement, September 20, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + One more duty—an act of filial devotion—remained to be done + before Abraham Lincoln could announce his readiness to depart for the city + of Washington—a place from which it was unfortunately decreed he + should never return. In the first week of February he slipped quietly away + from Springfield and rode to Farmington in Coles County, where his aged + step-mother was still living. Here, in the little country village, he met + also the surviving members of the Hanks and Johnston families. He visited + the grave of his father, old Thomas Lincoln, which had been unmarked and + neglected for almost a decade, and left directions that a suitable stone + should be placed there to mark the spot. Retracing his steps in the + direction of Springfield he stopped over-night in the town of Charleston, + where he made a brief address, recalling many of his boyhood exploits, in + the public hall. In the audience were many persons who had known him first + as the stalwart young ox-driver when his father's family drove into + Illinois from southern Indiana. One man had brought with him a horse which + the President-elect, in the earlier days of his law practice, had + recovered for him in a replevin suit; another one was able to recite from + personal recollection the thrilling details of the famous wrestling match + between Lincoln the flat-boatman in 1830 and Daniel Needham; and all had + some reminiscence of his early manhood to relate. The separation from his + step-mother was particularly touching.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Lincoln's love for his second mother was a most filial and + affectionate one. His letters show that he regarded the relation truly + as that of mother and son. November 4, 1851, he writes her after the + death of his father: "Dear Mother: "Chapman tells me he wants you to go + and live with him. If I were you I would try it awhile. If you get tired + of it (as I think you will not) you can return to your own home. Chapman + feels very kindly to you; and I have no doubt he will make your + situation very pleasant. "Sincerely your son, "A. Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + On the 9th of the same month he writes his step-brother John D. Johnston: + "If the land can be sold so that I can get three hundred dollars to put to + interest for mother I will not object if she does not. But before I will + make a deed the money must be had, or secured beyond all doubt at ten per + cent." + </p> + <p> + The parting, when the good old woman, with tears streaming down her + cheeks, gave him a mother's benediction, expressing the fear that his life + might be taken by his enemies, will never be forgotten by those who + witnessed it. Deeply impressed by this farewell scene Mr. Lincoln + reluctantly withdrew from the circle of warm friends who crowded around + him, and, filled with gloomy forebodings of the future, returned to + Springfield. The great questions of state having been pretty well settled + in his own mind, and a few days yet remaining before his final departure, + his neighbors and old friends called to take leave of him and pay their + "best respects." Many of these callers were from New Salem, where he had + made his start in life, and each one had some pleasant or amusing incident + of earlier days to call up when they met. Hannah Armstrong, who had + "foxed" his trowsers with buckskin in the days when he served as surveyor + under John Calhoun, and whose son Lincoln had afterwards acquitted in the + trial for murder at Beardstown, gave positive evidence of the interest she + took in his continued rise in the world. + </p> + <p> + She bade him good-bye, but was filled with a presentiment that she would + never see him alive again. "Hannah," he said, jovially, "if they do kill + me I shall never die again." Isaac Cogsdale, another New Salem pioneer, + came, and to him Lincoln again admitted his love for the unfortunate Anne + Rutledge. Cogsdale afterwards told me of this interview. It occurred late + in the afternoon. Mr. Nicolay, the secretary, had gone home, and the + throng of visitors had ceased for the day. Lincoln asked about all the + early families of New Salem, calling up the peculiarities of each as he + went over the list. Of the Rutledges he said: "I have loved the name of + Rutledge to this day. I have kept my mind on their movements ever since." + Of Anne he spoke with some feeling: "I loved her dearly. She was a + handsome girl, would have made a good, loving wife; she was natural, and + quite intellectual, though not highly educated. I did honestly and truly + love the girl, and think often of her now." + </p> + <p> + Early in February the last item of preparation for the journey to + Washington had been made. Mr. Lincoln had disposed of his household goods + and furniture to a neighbor, had rented his house; and as these + constituted all the property he owned in Illinois there was no further + occasion for concern on that score. In the afternoon of his last day in + Springfield he came down to our office to examine some papers and confer + with me about certain legal matters in which he still felt some interest. + On several previous occasions he had told me he was coming over to the + office "to have a long talk with me," as he expressed it. We ran over the + books and arranged for the completion of all unsettled and unfinished + matters. In some cases he had certain requests to make—certain lines + of procedure he wished me to observe. After these things were all disposed + of he crossed to the opposite side of the room and threw himself down on + the old office sofa, which, after many years of service, had been moved + against the wall for support. He lay for some moments, his face towards + the ceiling, without either of us speaking. Presently he inquired, + "Billy,"—he always called me by that name,—"how long have we + been together?" "Over sixteen years," I answered. "We've never had a cross + word during all that time, have we?" to which I returned a vehement, "No, + indeed we have not." He then recalled some incidents of his early practice + and took great pleasure in delineating the ludicrous features of many a + lawsuit on the circuit. It was at this last interview in Springfield that + he told me of the efforts that had been made by other lawyers to supplant + me in the partnership with him. He insisted that such men were weak + creatures, who, to use his own language, "hoped to secure a law practice + by hanging to his coat-tail." I never saw him in a more cheerful mood. He + gathered a bundle of books and papers he wished to take with him and + started to go; but before leaving he made the strange request that the + sign-board which swung on its rusty hinges at the foot of the stairway + should remain. "Let it hang there undisturbed,"* he said, with a + significant lowering of his voice. "Give our clients to understand that + the election of a President makes no change in the firm of Lincoln and + Herndon. If I live I'm coming back some time, and then we'll go right on + practising law as if nothing had ever happened." He lingered for a moment + as if to take a last look at the old quarters, and then passed through the + door into the narrow hallway. I accompanied him downstairs. On the way he + spoke of the unpleasant features surrounding the Presidential office. "I + am sick of office-holding already," he complained, "and I shudder when I + think of the tasks that are still ahead." He said the sorrow of parting + from his old associations was deeper than most persons would imagine, but + it was more marked in his case because of the feeling which had become + irrepressible that he would never return alive. I argued against the + thought, characterizing it as an illusory notion not in harmony or keeping + with the popular ideal of a President. "But it is in keeping with my + philosophy," was his quick retort. Our conversation was frequently broken + in upon by the interruptions of passers-by, who, each in succession, + seemed desirous of claiming his attention. At length he broke away from + them all. Grasping my hand warmly and with a fervent "Good-bye," he + disappeared down the street, and never came back to the office again. On + the morning following this last interview, the 11th day of February, the + Presidential party repaired to the railway station, where the train which + was to convey them to Washington awaited the ceremony of departure. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * In answer to the many inquiries made of me, I will say here that + during this last interview Mr. Lincoln, for the first time, brought up + the subject of an office under his administration. He asked me if I + desired an appointment at his hands, and, if so, what I wanted. I + answered that I had no desire for a Federal office, that I was then + holding the office of Bank Commissioner of Illinois under appointment of + Governor Bissel, and that if he would request my retention in office by + Yates, the incoming Governor, I should be satisfied. He made the + necessary recommendation, and Governor Yates complied. I was present at + the meeting between Yates and Lincoln, and I remember that the former, + when Lincoln urged my claims for retention in office, asked Lincoln to + appoint their mutual friend A. Y. Ellis postmaster at Springfield. I do + not remember whether Lincoln promised to do so or not, but Ellis was + never appointed. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0007" id="linkimage-0007"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/228.jpg" alt="Springfield Railway Station 228 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The intention was to stop at many of the principal cities along the route, + and plenty of time had been allotted for the purpose. Mr. Lincoln had told + me that a man named Wood had been recommended to him by Mr. Seward, and he + had been placed in charge of the party as a sort of general manager. The + party, besides the President, his wife, and three sons, Robert, William, + and Thomas, consisted of his brother-in-law, Dr. W. S. Wallace, David + Davis, Norman B. Judd, Elmer E. Ellsworth, Ward H. Lamon, and the + President's two secretaries, John G. Nicolay and John Hay. Colonel E. V. + Sumner and other army gentlemen were also in the car, and some friends of + Mr. Lincoln—among them O. H. Browning, Governor Yates, and + ex-Governor Moore—started with the party from Springfield, but + dropped out at points along the way. The day was a stormy one, with dense + clouds hanging heavily overhead. A goodly throng of Springfield people had + gathered to see the distinguished party safely off. After the latter had + entered the car the people closed about it until the President appeared on + the rear platform. He stood for a moment as if to suppress evidences of + his emotion, and removing his hat made the following brief but dignified + and touching address: * "Friends: No one who has never been placed in a + like position can understand my feelings at this hour, nor the oppressive + sadness I feel at this parting. For more than a quarter of a century I + have lived among you, and during all that time I have received nothing but + kindness at your hands. Here I have lived from my youth until now I am an + old man. Here the most sacred ties of earth were assumed. Here all my + children were born; and here one of them lies buried. To you, dear + friends, I owe all that I have, all that I am. All the strange, checkered + past seems to crowd now upon my mind. To-day I leave you. I go to assume a + task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the + great God who assisted him shall be with and aid me, I must fail; but if + the same omniscient mind and almighty arm that directed and protected him + shall guide and support me I shall not fail—I shall succeed. Let us + all pray that the God of our fathers may not forsake us now. To him I + commend you all. Permit me to ask that with equal sincerity and faith you + will invoke his wisdom and guidance for me. With these words I must leave + you, for how long I know not. Friends, one and all, I must now bid you an + affectionate farewell." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * I was not present when Mr. Lincoln delivered his farewell at the depot + in Springfield, and never heard what he said. I have adopted the version + of his speech as published in our papers. There has been some + controversy over the exact language he used on that occasion, and Mr. + Nicolay has recently published the speech from what he says is the + original MS., partly in his own and partly in the handwriting of Mr. + Lincoln. Substantially, however, it is like the speech as reproduced + here from the Springfield paper. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + At the conclusion of this neat and appropriate farewell the train rolled + slowly out, and Mr. Lincoln, still standing in the doorway of the rear + car, took his last view of Springfield. The journey had been as well + advertised as it had been carefully planned, and therefore, at every town + along the route, and at every stop, great crowds were gathered to catch a + glimpse of the President-elect.* + </p> + <p> + * "Before Mr. Lincoln's election in 1860 I, then a child of eleven years, + was presented with his lithograph. Admiring him with my whole heart, I + thought still his appearance would be much improved should he cultivate + his whiskers. Childish thoughts must have utterance. So I proposed the + idea to him, expressing as well as I was able the esteem in which he was + held among honest men. A few days after I received this kind and friendly + letter? + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "* Springfield, III., October 19, 1860. "'Miss Grace Bedell. "'My Dear + Little Miss:—Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received. I + regret the necessity of saying I have no daughter. I have three sons—one + seventeen, one nine, and one seven. They with their mother constitute my + whole family. As to the whiskers, as I have never worn any, do you not + think that people would call it a piece of silly affectation were I to + begin wearing them now? "'I am your true friend and sincere well-wisher, + "'A. Lincoln.' "It appears I was not forgotten, for after his election + to the Presidency, while on his journey to Washington, the train stopped + at Westfield, Chautauqua County, at which place I then resided. Mr. + Lincoln said, 'I have a correspondent in this place, a little girl whose + name is Grace Bedell, and I would like to see her.' I was conveyed to + him; he stepped from the cars, extending his hand and saying, 'You see I + have let these whiskers grow for you, Grace,' kissed me, shook me + cordially by the hand, and was gone. I was frequently afterward assured + of his remembrance.'" Grace G. Bedell, MS. letter, Dec. 14, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln usually gratified the wishes of the crowds, who called him out + for a speech whether it was down on the regular programme of movements or + not. In all cases his remarks were well-timed and sensibly uttered. At + Indianapolis, where the Legislature was in session, he halted for a day + and delivered a speech the burden of which was an answer to the Southern + charges of coercion and invasion. From Indianapolis he moved on to + Cincinnati and Columbus, at the last-named place meeting the Legislature + of Ohio. The remainder of the journey convinced Mr. Lincoln of his + strength in the affections of the people. Many, no doubt, were full of + curiosity to see the now famous rail-splitter, but all were outspoken and + earnest in their assurances of support. At Steubenville, Pittsburg, + Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York, and Philadelphia he made manly and + patriotic speeches. These speeches, plain in language and simple in + illustration, made every man who heard them a stronger friend than ever of + the Government. He was skilful enough to warn the people of the danger + ahead and to impress them with his ability to deal properly with the + situation, without in any case outlining his intended policy or revealing + the forces he held in reserve.* At Pittsburg he advised deliberation and + begged the American people to keep their temper on both sides of the line. + At Cleveland he insisted that "the crisis, as it is called, is an + artificial crisis and has no foundation in fact;" and at Philadelphia he + assured his listeners that under his administration there would be "no + bloodshed unless it was forced upon the Government, and then it would be + compelled to act in self-defence." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * The following are extracts from Mr. Lincoln's letters written during + the campaign in answer to his position with reference to the anticipated + uprisings in the Southern States. They are here published for the first + time: [From a letter to L. Montgomery Bond, Esq., Oct. 15, 1860.] "I + certainly am in no temper and have no purpose to embitter the feelings + of the South, but whether I am inclined to such a course as would in + fact embitter their feelings you can better judge by my published + speeches than by anything I would say in a short letter if I were + inclined now, as I am not, to define my position anew." [From a letter + to Samuel Haycraft, dated, Springfield, Ill., June 4, 1860.] "Like + yourself I belonged to the old Whig party from its origin to its close. + I never belonged to the American party organization, nor ever to a party + called a Union party; though I hope I neither am or ever have been less + devoted to the Union than yourself or any other patriotic man." [Private + and Confidential.] Springfield, Ill., Nov. 13, 1860. "Hon. Samuel + Haycraft. "My Dear Sir:—Yours of the 9th is just received. I can + only answer briefly. Rest fully assured that the good people of the + South who will put themselves in the same temper and mood towards me + which you do will find no cause to complain of me. "Yours very truly, + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + This last utterance was made in front of Independence Hall, where, a few + moments before, he had unfurled to the breeze a magnificent new flag, an + impressive ceremony performed amid the cheers swelling from the vast sea + of upturned faces before him. From Philadelphia his journey took him to + Harrisburg, where he visited both branches of the Legislature then in + session. For an account of the remainder of this now famous trip I beg to + quote from the admirable narrative of Dr. Holland. Describing the welcome + tendered him by the Legislature at Harrisburg, the latter says: "At the + conclusion of the exercises of the day Mr. Lincoln, who was known to be + very weary, was permitted to pass undisturbed to his apartments in the + Jones House. It was popularly understood that he was to start for + Washington the next morning, and the people of Harrisburg supposed they + had only taken a temporary leave of him. He remained in his rooms until + nearly six o'clock, when he passed into the street, entered a carriage + unobserved in company with Colonel Lamon, and was driven to a special + train on the Pennsylvania railroad in waiting for him. As a matter of + precaution the telegraph wires were cut the moment he left Harrisburg, so + that if his departure should be discovered intelligence of it could not be + communicated at a distance. At half-past ten the train arrived at + Philadelphia, and here Mr. Lincoln was met by a detective, who had a + carriage in readiness in which the party were driven to the depot of the + Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore railroad. At a quarter past eleven + they arrived and very fortunately found the regular train, which should + have left at eleven, delayed. The party took berths in the sleeping, car, + and without change of cars passed directly through Baltimore to + Washington, where Mr. Lincoln arrived at half-past six o'clock in the + morning and found Mr. Washburne anxiously awaiting him. He was taken into + a carriage and in a few minutes he was talking over his adventures with + Senator Seward at Willard's Hotel." The remaining members of the + Presidential party from whom Mr. Lincoln separated at Harrisburg left that + place on the special train intended for him; and as news of his safe + arrival in Washington had been already telegraphed over the country no + attempt was made to interrupt their safe passage through Baltimore. As is + now generally well known many threats had up to that time been made that + Mr. Lincoln, on his way to Washington, should never pass through Baltimore + alive. It was reported and believed that conspiracies had been formed to + attack the train, blow it up with explosives or in some equally effective + way dispose of the President-elect. Mr. Seward and others were so deeply + impressed with the grave features of the reports afloat that Allan + Pinkerton, the noted detective of Chicago, was employed to investigate the + matter and ferret out the conspiracy, if any existed. This shrewd operator + went to Baltimore, opened an office as a stock-broker, and through his + assistants—the most adroit and serviceable of whom was a woman—was + soon in possession of inside information. The change of plans and trains + at Harrisburg was due to his management and advice. Some years before his + death Mr. Pinkerton furnished me with a large volume of the written + reports of his subordinates and an elaborate account by himself of the + conspiracy and the means he employed to ferret it out. The narrative, + thrilling enough in some particulars, is too extended for insertion here. + It is enough for us to know that the tragedy was successfully averted and + that Mr. Lincoln was safely landed in Washington. + </p> + <p> + In January preceding his departure from Springfield Mr. Lincoln, becoming + somewhat annoyed, not to say alarmed, at the threats emanating from + Baltimore and other portions of the country adjacent to Washington, that + he should not reach the latter place alive, and that even if successful in + reaching the Capitol his inauguration should in some way be prevented, + determined to ascertain for himself what protection would be given him in + case an effort should be made by an individual or a mob to do him + violence. He sent a young military officer in the person of Thomas Mather, + then Adjutant-General of Illinois, to Washington with a letter to General + Scott, in which he recounted the threats he had heard and ventured to + inquire as to the probability of any attempt at his life being made on the + occasion of his inauguration. General Mather, on his arrival in + Washington, found General Scott confined to his room by illness and unable + to see visitors. On Mather calling a second time and sending in his letter + he was invited up to the sick man's chamber. "Entering the room." related + Mather in later years, "I found the old warrior, grizzly and wrinkled, + propped up in the bed by an embankment of pillows behind his back. His + hair and beard were considerably disordered, the flesh seemed to lay in + rolls across his warty face and neck, and his breathing was not without + great labor. In his hand he still held Lincoln's letter. He was weak from + long-continued illness, and trembled very perceptibly. It was evident that + the message from Lincoln had wrought up the old veteran's feelings. + 'General Mather,' he said to me, in great agitation, 'present my + compliments to Mr. Lincoln when you return to Springfield, and tell him I + expect him to come on to Washington as soon as he is ready. Say to him + that I'll look after those Maryland and Virginia rangers myself; I'll + plant cannon at both ends of Pennsylvania avenue, and if any of them show + their heads or raise a finger I'll blow them to hell.' On my return to + Springfield," concludes Mather, "I hastened to assure Mr. Lincoln that, if + Scott were alive on the day of the inauguration, there need be no alarm + lest the performance be interrupted by any one. I felt certain the hero of + Lundy's Lane would give the matter the care and attention it deserved." + </p> + <p> + Having at last reached his destination in safety, Mr. Lincoln spent the + few days preceding his inauguration at Willard's Hotel, receiving an + uninterrupted stream of visitors and friends. In the few unoccupied + moments allotted him, he was carefully revising his inaugural address. On + the morning of the 4th of March he rode from his hotel with Mr. Buchanan + in an open barouche to the Capitol. + </p> + <p> + There, slightly pale and nervous, he was introduced to the assembled + multitude by his old friend Edward D. Baker, and in a fervid and + impressive manner delivered his address. At its conclusion the customary + oath was administered by the venerable Chief Justice Taney, and he was now + clothed with all the powers and privileges of Chief Magistrate of the + nation. He accompanied Mr. Buchanan to the White House, and here the + historic bachelor of Lancaster bade him farewell, bespeaking for him a + peaceful, prosperous, and successful administration. + </p> + <p> + One who witnessed the impressive scene left the following graphic + description of the inauguration and its principal incidents: "Near noon I + found myself a member of the motley crowd gathered about the side entrance + to Willard's Hotel. Soon an open barouche drove up, and the only occupant + stepped out. A large, heavy, awkward-moving man, far advanced in years, + short and thin gray hair, full face, plentifully seamed and wrinkled, head + curiously inclined to the left shoulder, a low-crowned, broad-brimmed silk + hat, an immense white cravat like a poultice, thrusting the old-fashioned + standing collar up to the ears, dressed in black throughout, with + swallow-tail coat not of the newest style. It was President Buchanan, + calling to take his successor to the Capitol. In a few minutes he + reappeared, with Mr. Lincoln on his arm; the two took seats side-by-side, + and the carriage rolled away, followed by a rather disorderly and + certainly not very imposing procession. I had ample time to walk to the + Capitol, and no difficulty in securing a place where everything could be + seen and heard to the best advantage. The attendance at the inauguration + was, they told me, unusually small, many being kept away by anticipated + disturbance, as it had been rumored—truly, too—that General + Scott himself was fearful of an outbreak, and had made all possible + military preparations to meet the emergency. A square platform had been + built out from the steps to the eastern portico, with benches for + distinguished spectators on three sides. Douglas, the only one I + recognized, sat at the extreme end of the seat on the right of the narrow + passage leading from the steps. There was no delay, and the gaunt form of + the President-elect was soon visible, slowly making his way to the front. + To me, at least, he was completely metamorphosed—partly by his own + fault, and partly through the efforts of injudicious friends and ambitious + tailors. He was raising (to gratify a very young lady, it is said) a crop + of whiskers, of the blacking-brush variety, coarse, stiff, and ungraceful; + and in so doing spoiled, or at least seriously impaired, a face which, + though never handsome, had in its original state a peculiar power and + pathos. On the present occasion the whiskers were reinforced by brand-new + clothes from top to toe; black dress-coat, instead of the usual frock, + black cloth or satin vest, black pantaloons, and a glossy hat evidently + just out of the box. To cap the climax of novelty, he carried a huge ebony + cane, with a gold head the size of an egg. In these, to him, strange + habiliments, he looked so miserably uncomfortable that I could not help + pitying him. Reaching the platform, his discomfort was visibly increased + by not knowing what to do with hat and cane; and so he stood there, the + target for ten thousand eyes, holding cane in one hand and hat in the + other, the very picture of helpless embarrassment. After some hesitation + he pushed the cane into a corner of the railing, but could not find a + place for the hat except on the floor, where I could see he did not like + to risk it. Douglas, who fully took in the situation, came to rescue of + his old friend and rival, and held the precious hat until the owner needed + it again; a service which, if predicted two years before, would probably + have astonished him. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice + Taney, whose black robes, attenuated figure, and cadaverous countenance + reminded me of a galvanized corpse. Then the President came forward, and + read his inaugural address in a clear and distinct voice. It was + attentively listened to by all, but the closest listener was Douglas, who + leaned forward as if to catch every word, nodding his head emphatically at + those passages which most pleased him. There was some applause, not very + much nor very enthusiastic. I must not forget to mention the presence of a + Mephistopheles in the person of Senator Wigfall, of Texas, who stood with + folded arms leaning against the doorway of the Capitol, looking down upon + the crowd and the ceremony with a contemptuous air, which sufficiently + indicated his opinion of the whole performance. To him the Southern + Confederacy was already an accomplished fact. He lived to see it the + saddest of fictions." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + Lincoln, the President, did not differ greatly from Lincoln the lawyer and + politician. In the latter capacity only had his old friends in Illinois + known him. For a long time after taking his seat they were curious to know + what change, if any, his exalted station had made in him. He was no longer + amid people who had seen him grow from the village lawyer to the highest + rank in the land, and whose hands he could grasp in the confidence of a + time-tried friendship; but now he was surrounded by wealth, power, + fashion, influence, by adroit politicians and artful schemers of every + sort. In the past his Illinois and particularly his Springfield friends* + had shared the anxiety and responsibility of every step he had made; but + now they were no longer to continue in the partnership. Many of them + wanted no office, but all of them felt great interest as well as pride in + his future. A few attempted to keep up a correspondence with him, but his + answers were tardy and irregular. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Lincoln, even after his elevation to the Presidency, always had an eye + out for his friends, as the following letters will abundantly prove: + "Executive Mansion, Washington, April 20, 1864. "Calvin Truesdale, Esq. + "Postmaster, Rock Island, Ill.: "Thomas J. Pickett, late agent of the + Quartermaster's Department for the Island of Rock Island, has been + removed or suspended from that position on a charge of having sold + timber and stone from the island for his private benefit. Mr. Pickett is + an old acquaintance and friend of mine, and I will thank you, if you + will, to set a day or days and place on and at which to take testimony + on the point. Notify Mr. Pickett and one J. B. Danforth (who as I + understand makes the charge) to be present with their witnesses. Take + the testimony in writing offered by both sides, and report it in full to + me. Please do this for me. "Yours truly, "A. Lincoln." The man Pickett + was formerly the editor of a newspaper in northern Illinois, and had, to + use an expression of later days, inaugurated in the columns of his paper + Lincoln's boom for the Presidency. When he afterwards fell under + suspicion, no one came to his rescue sooner than the President himself. + The following letter needs no explanation: "Executive Mansion, + Washington, August 27, 1862. "Hon. Wash. Talcott. "My Dear Sir:—I + have determined to appoint you collector. I now have a very special + request to make of you, which is, that you will make no war upon Mr. + Washburne, who is also my friend, and of longer standing than yourself. + I will even be obliged if you can do something for him if occasion + presents. "Yours truly, "A. Lincoln." Mr. Talcott, to whom it was + addressed, was furnished a letter of introduction by the President, as + follows: "The Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner of Internal + Revenue will please see Mr. Talcott, one of the best men there is, and, + if any difference, one they would like better than they do me. "A. + Lincoln." August 18, 1862. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Because he did not appoint a goodly portion of his early associates to + comfortable offices, and did not interest himself in the welfare of + everyone whom he had known in Illinois, or met while on the circuit, the + erroneous impression grew that his elevation had turned his head. There + was no foundation for such an unwarranted conclusion. Lincoln had not + changed a particle. He was overrun with duties and weighted down with + cares; his surroundings were different and his friends were new, but he + himself was the same calm, just, and devoted friend as of yore. His + letters were few and brief, but they showed no lack of gratitude or + appreciation, as the following one to me will testify: + </p> + <p> + "Executive Mansion, February 3, 1862. + </p> + <p> + "Dear William: + </p> + <p> + "Yours of January 30th is just received. Do just as you say about the + money matters. As you well know, I have not time enough to write a letter + of respectable length. God bless you, says + </p> + <p> + "Your friend, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln."* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * On February 19,1863, I received this despatch from Mr. Lincoln: "Would + you accept a job of about a month's duration, at St Louis, $5 a day and + mileage. Answer. "A. Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + His letters to others were of the same warm and generous tenor, but yet + the foolish notion prevailed that he had learned to disregard the + condition and claims of his Springfield friends. One of the latter who + visited Washington returned somewhat displeased because Mr. Lincoln failed + to inquire after the health and welfare of each one of his old neighbors. + The report spread that he cared nothing for his home or the friends who + had made him what he was. Those who entertained this opinion of the man + forgot that he was not exactly the property of Springfield and Illinois, + but the President of all the States in the Union.* + </p> + <p> + In this connection it may not be out of order to refer briefly to the + settlement by Mr. Lincoln of the claims his leading Illinois friends had + on him. As before observed his own election to the Presidency cancelled + Illinois as a factor in the cabinet problem, but in no wise disposed of + the friends whom the public expected and whom he himself intended should + be provided for. Of these latter the oldest and most zealous and effective + was David Davis.** It is not extravagance, taking their long association + together in mind, to say that Davis had done more for Lincoln than any + dozen other friends he had. Of course, after Lincoln was securely + installed in office, the people, especially in Illinois, awaited his + recognition of Davis. What was finally done is minutely told in a letter + by Leonard Swett, which it is proper here to insert: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * The following letter from a disappointed Illinois friend will serve to + illustrate the perplexities that beset Lincoln in disposing of the + claims of personal friendship. It was written by a man of no + inconsiderable reputation in Illinois, where he at one time filled a + State office: "Lincoln is a singular man, and I must confess I never + knew him. He has for twenty years past used me as a plaything to + accomplish his own ends; but the moment he was elevated to his proud + position he seems all at once to have entirely changed his whole nature + and become altogether a new being. He knows no one, and the road to his + favor is always open to his enemies, while the door is hermetically + sealed to his old friends." ** "I had done Lincoln many, many favors, + had electioneered for him, spent my money for him, worked and toiled for + him."—David Davis, statement, September 20, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "Chicago, Ill., August 29,1887. + </p> + <p> + "William H. Herndon. + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Sir:—Your inquiry in reference to the circumstances of the + appointment of David Davis as one of the Justices of the Supreme Court + reached me last evening. In reply I beg leave to recall the fact, that in + 1860 the politicians of Illinois were divided into three divisions, which + were represented in the Decatur convention by the votes on the nomination + for Governor. The largest vote was for Norman B. Judd, of Chicago, his + strength in the main being the northern part of the State. I was next in + order of strength, and Richard Yates the third, but the divisions were not + materially unequal. The result was Yates was nominated, his strength being + about Springfield and Jacksonville, extending to Quincy on the west, and + mine was at Bloomington and vicinity and south and southeast. + </p> + <p> + "These divisions were kept up awhile after Mr. Lincoln's election, and + were considered in the distribution of Federal patronage. A vacancy in the + United States Senate occurred early in 1861 by the death of Stephen A. + Douglas, and Governor Yates appointed Oliver H. Browning, of Quincy, to + fill the vacancy. There was also a vacancy upon the Supreme Bench of the + United States to be filled from this general vicinity by Mr. Lincoln in + the early part of his administration, and Judge Davis, of Bloomington, and + Mr. Browning, of Quincy, were aspirants for the position. Mr. Browning had + the advantage that Lincoln was new in his seat, and Senators were august + personages; and, being in the Senate and a most courteous and able + gentleman, Mr. Browning succeeded in securing nearly all the senatorial + strength, and Mr. Lincoln was nearly swept off his feet by the current of + influence. Davis' supporters were the circuit lawyers mainly in the + eastern and central part of the State. These lawyers were at home, and + their presence was not a living force felt constantly by the President at + Washington. + </p> + <p> + "I was then living at Bloomington, and met Judge Davis every day. As + months elapsed we used to get word from Washington in reference to the + condition of things; finally, one day the word came that Lincoln had said, + 'I do not know what I may do when the time comes, but there has never been + a day when if I had to act I should not have appointed Browning.' Judge + Davis, General Orme, and myself held a consultation in my law-office at + Bloomington. We decided that the remark was too Lincolnian to be mistaken + and no man but he could have put the situation so quaintly. We decided + also that the appointment was gone, and sat there glum over the situation. + I finally broke the silence, saying in substance, 'The appointment is gone + and I am going to pack my carpet-sack for Washington.' 'No, you are not,' + said Davis. 'Yes, I am,' was my reply. 'Lincoln is being swept off his + feet by the influence of these Senators, and I will have the luxury of one + more talk with him before he acts.' + </p> + <p> + "I did go home, and two days thereafter, in the morning about seven + o'clock—for I knew Mr. Lincoln's habits well—was at the White + House and spent most of the forenoon with him. I tried to impress upon him + that he had been brought into prominence by the Circuit Court lawyers of + the old eighth Circuit, headed by Judge Davis. 'If,' I said. 'Judge Davis, + with his tact and force, had not lived, and all other things had been as + they were, I believe you would not now be sitting where you are.' He + replied gravely, 'Yes, that is so.' 'Now it is a common law of mankind,' + said I, 'that one raised into prominence is expected to recognize the + force that lifts him, or, if from a pinch, the force that lets him out. + The Czar Nicholas was once attacked by an assassin; a kindly hand warded + off the blow and saved his life. The Czar hunted out the owner of that + hand and strewed his pathway with flowers through life. The Emperor + Napoleon III. has hunted out everybody who even tossed him a biscuit in + his prison at Ham and has made him rich. Here is Judge Davis, whom you + know to be in every respect qualified for this position, and you ought in + justice to yourself and public expectation to give him this place.' We had + an earnest pleasant forenoon, and I thought I had the best of the + argument, and I think he thought so too. + </p> + <p> + "I left him and went to Willard's Hotel to think over the interview, and + there a new thought struck me. I therefore wrote a letter to Mr. Lincoln + and returned to the White House. Getting in, I read it to him and left it + with him. It was, in substance, that he might think if he gave Davis this + place the latter when he got to Washington would not give him any peace + until he gave me a place equally as good; that I recognized the fact that + he could not give this place to Davis, which would be charged to the + Bloomington faction in our State politics, and then give me anything I + would have and be just to the party there; that this appointment, if made, + should kill 'two birds with one stone;' that I would accept it as one-half + for me and one-half for the Judge; and that thereafter, if I or any of my + friends ever troubled him, he could draw that letter as a plea in bar on + that subject. As I read it Lincoln said, 'If you mean that among friends + as it reads I will take it and make the appointment.' He at once did as he + said. + </p> + <p> + "He then made a request of the Judge after his appointment in reference to + a clerk in his circuit, and wrote him a notice of the appointment, which + Davis received the same afternoon I returned to Bloomington. + </p> + <p> + "Judge Davis was about fifteen years my senior. I had come to his circuit + at the age of twenty-four, and between him and Lincoln I had grown up + leaning in hours of weakness on their own great arms for support. I was + glad of the opportunity to put in the mite of my claims upon Lincoln and + give it to Davis, and have been glad I did it every day since. + </p> + <p> + "An unknown number of people have almost every week since, speaking + perhaps extravagantly, asked me in a quasi-confidential manner, 'How was + it that you and Lincoln were so intimate and he never gave you anything?' + I have generally said, 'It seems to me that is my question, and so long as + I don't complain I do not see why you should.' I may be pardoned also for + saying that I have not considered every man not holding an office out of + place in life. I got my eyes open on this subject before I got an office, + and as in Washington I saw the Congressman in decline I prayed that my + latter end might not be like his. + </p> + <p> + "Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + "Leonard Swett." + </p> + <p> + Before his departure for Washington, Mr. Lincoln had on several occasions + referred in my presence to the gravity of the national questions that + stared him in the face; yet from what he said I caught no definite idea of + what his intentions were. He told me he would rely upon me to keep him + informed of the situation about home, what his friends were saying of him, + and whether his course was meeting with their approval. He suggested that + I should write him frequently, and that arrangements would be made with + his private secretary, Mr. Nicolay, that my letters should pass through + the latter's hands unopened. This plan was adhered to, and I have every + reason now to believe that all my letters to Lincoln, although they + contained no great secrets of state, passed unread into his hands. I was + what the newspaper men would call a "frequent contributor." I wrote + oftener than he answered, sometimes remitting him his share of old fees, + sometimes dilating on national affairs, but generally confining myself to + local politics and news in and around Springfield. I remember of writing + him two copious letters, one on the necessity of keeping up the draft, the + other admonishing him to hasten his Proclamation of Emancipation. In the + latter I was especially fervid, assuring, him if he emancipated the + slaves, he could "go down the other side of life filled with the + consciousness of duty well done, and along a pathway blazing with eternal + glory." How my rhetoric or sentiments struck him I never learned, for in + the rush of executive business he never responded to either of the + letters. Late in the summer of 1861, as elsewhere mentioned in these + chapters, I made my first and only visit to Washington while he was + President. My mission was intended to promote the prospects of a + brother-in-law, Charles W. Chatterton, who desired to lay claim to an + office in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Mr. Lincoln accompanied me to the + office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,—William P. Dole of + Paris, Illinois,—told a good story, and made the request which + secured the coveted office—an Indian agency—in an amazingly + short time. This was one of the few favors I asked of Mr. Lincoln, and he + granted it "speedily—without delay; freely—without purchase; + and fully—without denial." I remained in Washington for several days + after this, and, notwithstanding the pressure of business, he made me + spend a good portion of the time at the White House. One thing he could + scarcely cease from referring to was the persistence of the + office-seekers. They slipped in, he said, through the half-opened doors of + the Executive Mansion; they dogged his steps if he walked; they edged + their way through the crowds and thrust their papers in his hands when he + rode;* and, taking it all in all, they well-nigh worried him to death. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * He said that one day, as he was passing down Pennsylvania avenue, a + man came running after him, hailed him, and thrust a bundle of papers in + his hands. It angered him not a little, and he pitched the papers back, + saying, "I'm not going to open shop here." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He said that, if the Government passed through the Rebellion without + dismemberment, there was the strongest danger of its falling a prey to the + rapacity of the office-seeking class. "This human struggle and scramble + for office," were his words, "for a way to live without work, will finally + test the strength of our institutions." A good part of the day during my + stay I would spend with him in his office or waiting-room. I saw the + endless line of callers, and met the scores of dignitaries one usually + meets at the White House, even now; but nothing took place worthy of + special mention here. One day Horace Maynard and Andrew Johnson, both + senators from Tennessee, came in arm-in-arm. They declined to sit down, + but at once set to work to discuss with the President his recent action in + some case in which they were interested. Maynard seemed very earnest in + what he said. "Beware, Mr. President," he said, "and do not go too fast. + There is danger ahead," "I know that," responded Lincoln, good-naturedly, + "but I shall go just so fast and only so fast as I think I'm right and the + people are ready for the step." Hardly half-a-dozen words followed, when + the pair wheeled around and walked away. The day following I left + Washington for home. I separated from Mr. Lincoln at the White House. He + followed me to the rear portico, where I entered the carriage to ride to + the railroad depot. He grasped me warmly by the hand and bade me a fervent + "Good-bye." It was the last time I ever saw him alive. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ninian Edwards, who, it will be remembered, was the sister of Mrs. + Lincoln, some time before her death furnished me an account of her visit + to Washington, some of the incidents of which are so characteristic that I + cannot refrain from giving them room here. This lady, without endeavoring + to suppress mention of her sister's many caprices and eccentricities while + mistress of the White House, remarked that, having been often solicited by + the Lincolns to visit them, she and her husband, in answer to the cordial + invitation, at last made the journey to Washington, "One day while there," + she relates, "in order to calm his mind, to turn his attention away from + business and cheer him up, I took Mr. Lincoln down through the + conservatory belonging to the Executive Mansion, and showed him the world + of flowers represented there. He followed me patiently through. 'How + beautiful these flowers are! how gorgeous these roses! Here are exotics,' + I exclaimed, in admiration, 'gathered from the remotest corners of the + earth, and grand beyond description.' A moody silence followed, broken + finally by Mr. Lincoln with this observation: 'Yes, this whole thing looks + like spring; but do you know I have never been in here before. I don't + know why it is so, but I never cared for flowers; I seem to have no taste, + natural or acquired, for such things.' I induced him one day," continued + Mrs. Edwards, "to walk to the Park north of the White House. He hadn't + been there, he said, for a year. On such occasions, when alone or in the + company of a close friend, and released from the restraint of his official + surroundings, he was wont to throw from his shoulders many a burden. He + was a man I loved and respected. He was a good man, an honest and true + one. Much of his seeming disregard, which has been tortured into + ingratitude, was due to his peculiar construction. His habits, like + himself, were odd and wholly irregular. He would move around in a vague, + abstracted way, as if unconscious of his own or any one else's existence. + He had no expressed fondness for anything, and ate mechanically. I have + seen him sit down at the table absorbed in thought, and never, unless + recalled to his senses, would he think of food. But, however peculiar and + secretive he may have seemed, he was anything but cold. Beneath what the + world saw lurked a nature as tender and poetic as any I ever knew. The + death of his son Willie, which occurred in Washington, made a deep + impression on him. It was the first death in his family, save an infant + who died a few days after its birth in Springfield. On the evening we + strolled through the Park he spoke of it with deep feeling, and he + frequently afterward referred to it. When I announced my intention of + leaving Washington he was much affected at the news of my departure. We + were strolling through the White House grounds, when he begged me with + tears in his eyes to remain longer. 'You have such strong control and such + an influence over Mary,' he contended, 'that when troubles come you can + console me.' The picture of the man's despair never faded from my vision. + Long after my return to Springfield, on reverting to the sad separation, + my heart ached because I was unable in my feeble way to lighten his + burden." + </p> + <p> + In the summer of 1866 I wrote to Mrs. Lincoln, then in Chicago, asking for + a brief account of her own and her husband's life or mode of living while + at the White House. She responded as follows: * + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * From MSS. in Author's possession. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "375 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ill., August 28, 1866. + </p> + <p> + "Hon. Wm. H. Herndon. + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Sir:—Owing to Robert's absence from Chicago your last + letter to him was only shown me last evening. The recollection of my + beloved husband's truly affectionate regard for you, and the knowledge of + your great love and reverence for the best man that ever lived, would of + itself cause you to be cherished with the sincerest regard by my sons and + myself. In my overwhelming bereavement those who loved my idolized husband + aside from disinterested motives are very precious to me and mine. My + grief has been so uncontrollable that, in consequence, I have been obliged + to bury myself in solitude, knowing that many whom I would see could not + fully enter into the state of my feelings. I have been thinking for some + time past I would like to see you and have a long conversation. I wish to + know if you will be in Springfield next Wednesday week, September 4; if + so, at ten o'clock in the morning you will find me at the St. Nicholas + Hotel. Please mention this visit to Springfield to no one. It is a most + sacred one, as you may suppose, to visit the tomb which contains my all in + life—my husband. If it will not be convenient, or if business at the + time specified should require your absence, should you visit Chicago any + day this week I will be pleased to see you. I remain, + </p> + <p> + "Very truly, + </p> + <p> + "Mary Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + I met Mrs. Lincoln at the hotel in Springfield according to appointment. + Our interview was somewhat extended in range, but none the less + interesting. Her statement made at the time now lies before me. "My + husband intended," she said, "when he was through with his Presidential + term, to take me and our boys with him to Europe. After his return from + Europe he intended to cross the Rocky Mountains and go to California, + where the soldiers were to be digging out gold to pay the national debt. + During his last days he and Senator Sumner became great friends, and were + closely attached to each other. They were down the river after Richmond + was taken—were full of joy and gladness at the thought of the war + being over. Up to 1864 Mr. Lincoln wanted to live in Springfield, and if + he died be buried there also; but after that and only a short time before + his death he changed his mind slightly, but never really settled on any + particular place. The last time I remember of his referring to the matter + he said he thought it would be good for himself and me to spend a year or + more travelling. As to his nature, he was the kindest man, most tender + husband, and loving father in the world. He gave us all unbounded liberty, + saying to me always when I asked for anything, 'You know what you want, go + and get it,' and never asking if it were necessary. He was very indulgent + to his children. He never neglected to praise them for any of their good + acts. He often said, 'It is my pleasure that my children are free and + happy, and unrestrained by parental tyranny. Love is the chain whereby to + bind a child to its parents.' + </p> + <p> + "My husband placed great reliance on my knowledge of human nature, often + telling me, when about to make some important appointment, that he had no + knowledge of men and their motives. It was his intention to remove Seward + as soon as peace with the South was declared. He greatly disliked Andrew + Johnson. Once the latter, when we were in company, followed us around not + a little. It displeased Mr. Lincoln so much he turned abruptly and asked, + loud enough to be heard by others, 'Why is this man forever following me?' + At another time, when we were down at City Point, Johnson, still following + us, was drunk. Mr. Lincoln in desperation exclaimed, 'For God's sake don't + ask Johnson to dine with us, Sumner, who was along, joined in the request. + Mr. Lincoln was mild in his manners, but he was a terribly firm man when + he set his foot down. None of us, no man or woman, could rule him after he + had once fully made up his mind. I could always tell when in deciding + anything he had reached the ultimatum. At first he was very cheerful, then + he lapsed into thoughtfulness, bringing his lips together in a firm + compression. When these symptoms developed I fashioned myself accordingly, + and so did all others have to do sooner or later. When we first went to + Washington many thought Mr. Lincoln was weak, but he rose grandly with the + circumstances. I told him once of the assertion I had heard coming from + the friends of Seward, that the latter was the power behind the throne; + that he could rule him. He replied, 'I may not rule myself, but certainly + Seward shall not. The only ruler I have is my conscience—following + God in it—and these men will have to learn that yet.' + </p> + <p> + "Some of the newspaper attacks on him gave him great pain. I sometimes + read them to him, but he would beg me to desist, saying, 'I have enough to + bear now, but yet I care nothing for them. If I'm right I'll live, and if + wrong I'll die anyhow; so let them fight at me unrestrained.' My playful + response would be, 'The way to learn is to hear both sides.' I once + assured him Chase and certain others who were scheming to supplant him + ought to be restrained in their evil designs. 'Do good to them who hate + you,' was his generous answer, 'and turn their ill-will into friendship.' + </p> + <p> + "I often told Mr. Lincoln that God would not let any harm come of him. We + had passed through four long years—terrible and bloody years—unscathed, + and I believed we would be released from all danger. He gradually grew + into that belief himself, and the old gloomy notion of his unavoidable + taking-off was becoming dimmer as time passed away. Cheerfulness merged + into joyfulness. The skies cleared, the end of the war rose dimly into + view when the great blow came and shut him out forever." + </p> + <p> + For a glimpse of Lincoln's habits while a resident of Washington and an + executive officer, there is no better authority than John Hay, who served + as one of his secretaries. In 1866, Mr. Hay, then a member of the United + States Legation in Paris, wrote me an interesting account, which so + faithfully delineates Lincoln in his public home that I cannot refrain + from quoting it entire. Although the letter was written in answer to a + list of questions I asked, and was prepared without any attempt at + arrangement, still it is none the less interesting. "Lincoln went to bed + ordinarily," it begins, "from ten to eleven o'clock, unless he happened to + be kept up by important news, in which case he would frequently remain at + the War Department till one or two. He rose early. When he lived in the + country at the Soldiers' Home he would be up and dressed, eat his + breakfast (which was extremely frugal, an egg, a piece of toast, coffee, + etc.), and ride into Washington, all before eight o'clock. In the winter, + at the White House, he was not quite so early. He did not sleep well, but + spent a good while in bed. 'Tad' usually slept with him. He would lie + around the office until he fell asleep, and Lincoln would shoulder him and + take him off to bed. He pretended to begin business at ten o'clock in the + morning, but in reality the ante-rooms and halls were full long before + that hour—people anxious to get the first axe ground. He was + extremely unmethodical; it was a four years' struggle on Nicolay's part + and mine to get him to adopt some systematic rules. He would break through + every regulation as fast as it was made. Anything that kept the people + themselves away from him he disapproved, although they nearly annoyed the + life out of him by unreasonable complaints and requests. He wrote very few + letters, and did not read one in fifty that he received. At first we tried + to bring them to his notice, but at last he gave the whole thing over to + me, and signed, without reading them, the letters I wrote in his name. He + wrote perhaps half-a-dozen a week himself—not more. Nicolay received + members of Congress and other visitors who had business with the Executive + office, communicated to the Senate and House the messages of the + President, and exercised a general supervision over the business. I opened + and read the letters, answered them, looked over the newspapers, + supervised the clerks who kept the records, and in Nicolay's absence did + his work also. When the President had any rather delicate matter to manage + at a distance from Washington he rarely wrote, but sent Nicolay or me. The + House remained full of people nearly all day. At noon the President took a + little lunch—a biscuit, a glass of milk in winter, some fruit or + grapes in summer. He dined between five and six, and we went off to our + dinner also. Before dinner was over, members and Senators would come back + and take up the whole evening. Sometimes, though rarely, he shut himself + up and would see no one. Sometimes he would run away to a lecture, or + concert, or theatre for the sake of a little rest. He was very abstemious—ate + less than any man I know. He drank nothing but water, not from principle + but because he did not like wine or spirits. Once, in rather dark days + early in the war, a temperance committee came to him and said that the + reason we did not win was because our army drank so much whiskey as to + bring the curse of the Lord upon them. He said it was rather unfair on the + part of the aforesaid curse, as the other side drank more and worse + whiskey than ours did. He read very little. He scarcely ever looked into a + newspaper unless I called his attention to an article on some special + subject. He frequently said, 'I know more about it than any of them.' It + is absurd to call him a modest man. No great man was ever modest. It was + his intellectual arrogance and unconscious assumption of superiority that + men like Chase and Sumner never could forgive. I believe that Lincoln is + well understood by the people; but there is a patent-leather, kid-glove + set who know no more of him than an owl does of a comet blazing into his + blinking eyes.* Their estimates of him are in many causes disgraceful + exhibitions of ignorance and prejudice. Their effeminate natures shrink + instinctively from the contact of a great reality like Lincoln's + character. I consider Lincoln's republicanism incarnate—with all its + faults and all its virtues. As, in spite of some rudeness, republicanism + is the sole hope of a sick world, so Lincoln, with all his foibles, is the + greatest character since Christ." + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Bancroft's eulogy on Lincoln never pleased the latter's lifelong + friends—those who knew him so thoroughly and well. February 16, + 1866, David Davis, who had heard it, wrote me: "You will see Mr. + Bancroft's oration before this reaches you. It is able, but Mr. Lincoln + is in the background. His analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is + superficial. It did not please me. How did it satisfy you?" On the 22d + he again wrote: "Mr. Bancroft totally misconceived Mr. Lincoln's + character in applying 'unsteadiness' and confusion to it. Mr. Lincoln + grew more steady and resolute, and his ideas were never confused. If + there were any changes in him after he got here they were for the + better. I thought him always master of his subject. He was a much more + self-possessed man than I thought. He thought for himself, which is a + rare quality nowadays. How could Bancroft know anything about Lincoln + except as he judged of him as the public do? He never saw him, and is + himself as cold as an icicle. I should never have selected an old + Democratic politician, and that one from Massachusetts, to deliver an + eulogy on Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In 1863 Mr. Lincoln was informed one morning that among the visitors in + the ante-room of the White House was a man who claimed to be his relative. + He walked out and was surprised to find his boyhood friend and cousin, + Dennis Hanks. The latter had come to see his distinguished relative on a + rather strange mission. A number of persons living in Coles County, in + Illinois, offended at the presence and conduct of a few soldiers who were + at home from the war on furlough at the town of Charleston, had brought + about a riot, in which encounter several of the latter had been killed. + Several of the civilian participants who had acted as leaders in the + strife had been arrested and sent to Fort McHenry or some other place of + confinement equally as far from their homes. The leading lawyers and + politicians of central Illinois were appealed to, but they and all others + who had tried their hands had been signally unsuccessful in their efforts + to secure the release of the prisoners. Meanwhile some one of a + sentimental turn had conceived the idea of sending garrulous old Dennis + Hanks to Washington, fondly believing that his relationship to the + President might in this last extremity be of some avail. The novelty of + the project secured its adoption by the prisoners' friends, and Dennis, + arrayed in a suit of new clothes, set out for the national capital. I have + heard him describe this visit very minutely. How his appearance in + Washington and his mission struck Mr. Lincoln can only be imagined. The + President, after listening to him and learning the purpose of his visit, + retired to an adjoining room and returned with an extremely large roll of + papers labelled, "The Charleston Riot Case," which he carefully untied and + gravely directed his now diplomatic cousin to read. Subsequently, and as + if to continue the joke, he sent him down to confer with the Secretary of + War. He soon returned from the latter's office with the report that the + head of the War Department could not be found; and it was well enough that + he did not meet that abrupt and oftentimes demonstrative official. In the + course of time, however, the latter happened in at the Executive Mansion, + and there, in the presence of Dennis, the President sought to reopen the + now noted Charleston case. Adopting Mr. Hanks' version, the Secretary, + with his characteristic plainness of speech, referring to the prisoners, + declared that "every d-d one of them should be hung." Even the humane and + kindly enquiry of the President, "If these men should return home and + become good citizens, who would be hurt?" failed to convince the + distinguished Secretary that the public good could be promoted by so + doing. The President not feeling willing to override the judgment of his + War Secretary in this instance, further consideration of the case ceased, + and his cousin returned to his home in Illinois with his mission + unaccomplished.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * The subsequent history of these riot cases I believe is that the + prisoners were returned to Illinois to be tried in the State courts + there; and that by successive changes of venue and continuances the + cases were finally worn out. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Dennis retained a rather unfavorable impression of Mr. Stanton, whom he + described as a "frisky little Yankee with a short coat-tail." "I asked + Abe," he said to me once, "why he didn't kick him out. I told him he was + too fresh altogether." + </p> + <p> + Lincoln's answer was, "If I did, Dennis, it would be difficult to find + another man to fill his place." The President's cousin * sat in the office + during the endless interviews that take place between the head of the + nation and the latter's loyal subjects. He saw modesty and obscurity + mingling with the arrogance of pride and distinction. One day an + attractive and handsomely dressed woman called to procure the release from + prison of a relative in whom she professed the deepest interest. She was a + good talker, and her winning ways seemed to be making a deep impression on + the President. After listening to her story he wrote a few lines on a + card, enclosing it in an envelope and directing her to take it to the + Secretary of War. Before sealing it he showed it to Dennis. It read: "This + woman, dear Stanton, is a little smarter than she looks to be." She had, + woman-like, evidently overstated her case. Before night another woman + called, more humble in appearance, more plainly clad. It was the old + story. Father and son both in the army, the former in prison. Could not + the latter be discharged from the army and sent home to help his mother? A + few strokes of the pen, a gentle nod of the head, and the little woman, + her eyes filling with tears and expressing a grateful acknowledgment her + tongue could not utter, passed out. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * During this visit Mr. Lincoln presented Dennis with a silver watch, + which the latter still retains as a memento alike of the donor and his + trip to Washington. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + BEFORE passing to a brief and condensed view of the great panorama of the + war it will interest the reader and no doubt aid him greatly in drawing + the portrait of Lincoln to call up for the purpose two friends of his, + whose testimony is not only vivid and minute, but for certain reasons + unusually appropriate and essential. The two were devoted and trusted + friends of Lincoln; and while neither held office under him, both were + offered and both declined the same. That of itself ought not to be + considered as affecting or strengthening their statements, and yet we + sometimes think that friends who are strong enough to aid us, and yet, + declining our aid, take care of themselves, are brave enough to tell us + the truth. The two friends of Lincoln here referred to are Joshua F. Speed + and Leonard Swett. In quoting them I adhere strictly to their written + statements now in my possession. The former, under date of December 6, + 1866, says: "Mr. Lincoln was so unlike all the men I had ever known before + or seen or known since that there is no one to whom I can compare him. In + all his habits of eating, sleeping, reading, conversation, and study he + was, if I may so express it, regularly irregular; that is, he had no + stated time for eating, no fixed time for going to bed, none for getting + up. No course of reading was chalked out. He read law, history, + philosophy, or poetry; Burns, Byron, Milton, or Shakespeare and the + newspapers, retaining them all about as well as an ordinary man would any + one of them who made only one at a time his study. I once remarked to him + that his mind was a wonder to me; that impressions were easily made upon + it and never effaced. 'No,' said he, 'you are mistaken; I am slow to + learn, and slow to forget that which I have learned. My mind is like a + piece of steel—very hard to scratch anything on it, and almost + impossible after you get it there to rub it out.' I give this as his own + illustration of the character of his mental faculties; it is as good as + any I have seen from anyone. + </p> + <p> + "The beauty of his character was its entire simplicity. He had no + affectation in anything. True to nature, true to himself, he was true to + everybody and everything around him. When he was ignorant on any subject, + no matter how simple it might make him appear, he was always willing to + acknowledge it. His whole aim in life was to be true to himself, and being + true to himself he could be false to no one. + </p> + <p> + "He had no vices, even as a young man. Intense thought with him was the + rule and not, as with most of us, the exception. He often said that he + could think better after breakfast, and better walking than sitting, + lying, or standing. His world-wide reputation for telling anecdotes and + telling them so well was in my judgment necessary to his very existence. + Most men who have been great students, such as he was, in their hours of + idleness have taken to the bottle, to cards or dice. He had no fondness + for any of these. Hence he sought relaxation in anecdotes. So far as I now + remember of his study for composition, it was to make short sentences and + a compact style. Illustrative of this it might be well to state that he + was a great admirer of the style of John C. Calhoun. I remember reading to + him one of Mr. Calhoun's speeches in reply to Mr. Clay in the Senate, in + which Mr. Clay had quoted precedent. Mr. Calhoun replied (I quote from + memory) that 'to legislate upon precedent is but to make the error of + yesterday the law of today.' Lincoln thought that was a great truth and + grandly uttered. + </p> + <p> + "Unlike all other men, there was entire harmony between his public and + private life. He must believe he was right, and that he had truth and + justice with him, or he was a weak man; but no man could be stronger if he + thought he was right. + </p> + <p> + "His familiar conversations were like his speeches and letters in this: + that while no set speech of his (save the Gettysburg address) will be + considered as entirely artistic and complete, yet, when the gems of + American literature come to be selected, as many will be culled from + Lincoln's speeches as from any American orator. So of his conversation, + and so of his private correspondence; all abound in gems. + </p> + <p> + "My own connection or relation with Mr. Lincoln during the war has so + often been commented on, and its extent so often enlarged upon, I feel + impelled to state that during his whole administration he never requested + me to do anything, except in my own State, and never much in that except + to advise him as to what measures and policy would be most conducive to + the growth of a healthy Union sentiment. + </p> + <p> + "My own opinion of the history of the Emancipation Proclamation is that + Mr. Lincoln foresaw the necessity for it long before he issued it. He was + anxious to avoid it, and came to it only when he saw that the measure + would subtract from its labor, and add to our army quite a number of good + fighting men. I have heard of the charge of duplicity against him by + certain Western members of Congress. I never believed the charge, because + he has told me from his own lips that the charge was false. I, who knew + him so well, could never after that credit the report. At first I was + opposed to the Proclamation, and so told him. I remember well our + conversation on the subject. He seemed to treat it as certain that I would + recognize the wisdom of the act when I should see the harvest of good + which we would ere long glean from it. In that conversation he alluded to + an incident in his life, long passed, when he was so much depressed that + he almost contemplated suicide. At the time of his deep depression he said + to me that he had 'done nothing to make any human being remember that he + had lived,' and that to connect his name with the events transpiring in + his day and generation, and so impress himself upon them as to link his + name with something that would redound to the interest of his fellow man, + was what he desired to live for. He reminded me of that conversation, and + said with earnest emphasis, 'I believe that in this measure [meaning his + Proclamation] my fondest hope will be realized.' Over twenty years had + passed between the two conversations. + </p> + <p> + "The last interview but one I had with him was about ten days prior to his + last inauguration. Congress was drawing to a close; it had been an + important session; much attention had to be given to the important bills + he was signing; a great war was upon him and the country; visitors were + coming and going to the President with their varying complaints and + grievances from morning till night with almost as much regularity as the + ebb and flow of the tide; and he was worn down in health and spirits. On + this occasion I was sent for, to come and see him. Instructions were given + that when I came I should be admitted. When I entered his office it was + quite full, and many more—among them not a few Senators and members + of Congress—still waiting. As soon as I was fairly inside, the + President remarked that he desired to see me as soon as he was through + giving audiences, and that if I had nothing to do I could take the papers + and amuse myself in that or any other way I saw fit till he was ready. In + the room, when I entered, I observed sitting near the fireplace, dressed + in humble attire, two ladies modestly waiting their turn. One after + another of the visitors came and went, each bent on his own particular + errand, some satisfied and others evidently displeased at the result of + their mission. The hour had arrived to close the door against all further + callers. No one was left in the room now except the President, the two + ladies, and me. With a rather peevish and fretful air he turned to them + and said, 'Well, ladies, what can I do for you?' They both commenced to + speak at once. From what they said he soon learned that one was the wife + and the other the mother of two men imprisoned for resisting the draft in + western Pennsylvania. 'Stop,' said he, 'don't say any more. Give me your + petition.' The old lady responded, 'Mr. Lincoln, we've got no petition; we + couldn't write one and had no money to pay for writing one, and I thought + best to come and see you.' 'Oh,' said he, 'I understand your cases.' He + rang his bell and ordered one of the messengers to tell General Dana to + bring him the names of all the men in prison for resisting the draft in + western Pennsylvania. The General soon came with the list. He enquired if + there was any difference in the charges or degrees of guilt. The General + replied that he knew of none. 'Well, then,' said he, 'these fellows have + suffered long enough, and I have thought so for some time, and now that my + mind is on the subject I believe I will turn out the whole flock. So, draw + up the order, General, and I will sign it.' It was done and the General + left the room. Turning to the women he said, 'Now, ladies, you can go.' + The younger of the two ran forward and was in the act of kneeling in + thankfulness. 'Get up,' he said; 'don't kneel to me, but thank God and + go.' The old lady now came forward with tears in her eyes to express her + gratitude. 'Good-bye, Mr. Lincoln,' said she; 'I shall probably never see + you again till we meet in heaven.' These were her exact words. She had the + President's hand in hers, and he was deeply moved. He instantly took her + right hand in both of his and, following her to the door, said, 'I am + afraid with all my troubles I shall never get to the resting-place you + speak of; but if I do I am sure I shall find you. That you wish me to get + there is, I believe, the best wish you could make for me. Good-bye.' + </p> + <p> + "We were now alone. I said to him, 'Lincoln, with my knowledge of your + nervous sensibility, it is a wonder that such scenes as this don't kill + you.' He thought for a moment and then answered in a languid voice, 'Yes, + you are to a certain degree right. I ought not to undergo what I so often + do. I am very unwell now; my feet and hands of late seem to be always + cold, and I ought perhaps to be in bed; but things of the sort you have + just seen don't hurt me, for, to tell you the truth, that scene is the + only thing to-day that has made me forget my condition or given me any + pleasure. I have, in that order, made two people happy and alleviated the + distress of many a poor soul whom I never expect to see. That old lady,' + he continued, 'was no counterfeit. The mother spoke out in all the + features of her face. It is more than one can often say that in doing + right one has made two people happy in one day. Speed, die when I may, I + want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a + thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow.' What a + fitting sentiment! What a glorious recollection!" + </p> + <p> + The recollections of Lincoln by Mr. Swett are in the form of a letter + dated January 17, 1866. There is so much of what I know to be true in it, + and it is so graphically told, that although there maybe some repetition + of what has already been touched upon in the preceding chapters, still I + believe that the portrait of Lincoln will be made all the more lifelike by + inserting the letter without abridgment. + </p> + <p> + "Chicago, Ill., Jan. 17, 1866. + </p> + <p> + "Wm. H. Herndon, Esq. + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, Ill. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Sir: I received your letter to day, asking me to write you Friday. + Fearing if I delay, you will not get it in time, I will give you such + hasty thoughts as may occur to me to-night. I have mislaid your second + lecture, so that I have not read it at all, and have not read your first + one since about the time it was published. What I shall say, therefore, + will be based upon my own ideas rather than a review of the lecture. + </p> + <p> + "Lincoln's whole life was a calculation of the law of forces and ultimate + results. The whole world to him was a question of cause and effect. He + believed the results to which certain causes tended; he did not believe + that those results could be materially hastened or impeded. His whole + political history, especially since the agitation of the slavery question, + has been based upon this theory. He believed from the first, I think, that + the agitation of slavery would produce its overthrow, and he acted upon + the result as though it was present from the beginning. His tactics were + to get himself in the right place and remain there still, until events + would find him in that place. This course of action led him to say and do + things which could not be understood when considered in reference to the + immediate surroundings in which they were done or said. You will remember, + in his campaign against Douglas in 1858, the first ten lines of the first + speech he made defeated him. The sentiment of the 'house divided against + itself' seemed wholly inappropriate. It was a speech made at the + commencement of a campaign, and apparently made for the campaign. Viewing + it in this light alone, nothing could have been more unfortunate or + inappropriate. It was saying just the wrong thing; yet he saw it was an + abstract truth, and standing by the speech would ultimately find him in + the right place. I was inclined at the time to believe these words were + hastily and inconsiderately uttered, but subsequent facts have convinced + me they were deliberate and had been matured. Judge T. L. Dickey says, + that at Bloomington, at the first Republican Convention in 1856, he + uttered the same sentences in a speech delivered there, and that after the + meeting was over, he (Dickey) called his attention to these remarks. + </p> + <p> + "Lincoln justified himself in making them by stating they were true; but + finally, at Dickey's urgent request, he promised that for his sake, or + upon his advice, he would not repeat them. In the summer of 1859, when he + was dining with a party of his intimate friends at Bloomington, the + subject of his Springfield speech was discussed. We all insisted it was a + great mistake, but he justified himself, and finally said, 'Well, + gentlemen, you may think that speech was a mistake, but I never have + believed it was, and you will see the day when you will consider it was + the wisest thing I ever said.' + </p> + <p> + "He never believed in political combinations, and consequently, whether an + individual man or class of men supported or opposed him, never made any + difference in his feelings, or his opinions of his own success. If he was + elected, he seemed to believe that no person or class of persons could + ever have defeated him, and if defeated, he believed nothing could ever + have elected him. Hence, when he was a candidate, he never wanted anything + done for him in the line of political combination or management. He seemed + to want to let the whole subject alone, and for everybody else to do the + same. I remember, after the Chicago Convention, when a great portion of + the East were known to be dissatisfied at his nomination, when fierce + conflicts were going on in New York and Pennsylvania, and when great + exertions seemed requisite to harmonize and mould in concert the action of + our friends, Lincoln always seemed to oppose all efforts made in the + direction of uniting the party. I arranged with Mr. Thurlow Weed after the + Chicago Convention to meet him at Springfield. I was present at the + interview, but Lincoln said nothing. It was proposed that Judge Davis + should go to New York and Pennsylvania to survey the field and see what + was necessary to be done. Lincoln consented, but it was always my opinion + that he consented reluctantly. + </p> + <p> + "He saw that the pressure of a campaign was the external force coercing + the party into unity. If it failed to produce that result, he believed any + individual effort would also fail. If the desired result followed, he + considered it attributable to the great cause, and not aided by the lesser + ones. He sat down in his chair in Springfield and made himself the Mecca + to which all politicians made pilgrimages. He told them all a story, said + nothing, and sent them away. All his efforts to procure a second + nomination were in the same direction. I believe he earnestly desired that + nomination. He was much more eager for it than he was for the first, and + yet from the beginning he discouraged all efforts on the part of his + friends to obtain it. From the middle of his first term all his + adversaries were busily at work for themselves. Chase had three or four + secret societies and an immense patronage extending all over the country. + Frémont was constantly at work, yet Lincoln would never do anything either + to hinder them or to help himself. + </p> + <p> + "He was considered too conservative, and his adversaries were trying to + outstrip him in satisfying the radical element. I had a conversation with + him upon this subject in October, 1863, and tried to induce him to + recommend in his annual message a constitutional amendment abolishing + slavery. I told him I was not very radical, but I believed the result of + the war would be the extermination of slavery; that Congress would pass + the amendment making the slave free, and that it was proper at that time + to be done. I told him also, if he took that stand, it was an outside + position, and no one could maintain himself upon any measure more radical, + and if he failed to take the position, his rivals would. Turning to me + suddenly he said, 'Is not the question of emancipation doing well enough + now?' I replied it was. 'Well,'said he, 'I have never done an official act + with a view to promote my own personal aggrandizement, and I don't like to + begin now. I can see that emancipation is coming; whoever can wait for it + will see it; whoever stands in its way will be run over by it.' + </p> + <p> + "His rivals were using money profusely; journals and influences were being + subsidized against him. I accidentally learned that a Washington + newspaper, through a purchase of the establishment, was to be turned + against him, and consulted him about taking steps to prevent it. The only + thing I could get him to say was that he would regret to see the paper + turned against him. Whatever was done had to be done without his + knowledge. Mr. Bennett of the <i>Herald</i>, with his paper, you know, is + a power. The old gentleman wanted to be noticed by Lincoln, and he wanted + to support him. A friend of his, who was certainly in his secrets, came to + Washington and intimated if Lincoln would invite Bennett to come over and + chat with him, his paper would be all right. Mr. Bennett wanted nothing, + he simply wanted to be noticed. Lincoln in talking about it said, 'I + understand it; Bennett has made a great deal of money, some say not very + properly, now he wants me to make him respectable. I have never invited + Mr. Bryant or Mr. Greeley here; I shall not, therefore, especially invite + Mr. Bennett.' All Lincoln would say was, that he was receiving everybody, + and he should receive Mr. Bennett if he came. + </p> + <p> + "Notwithstanding his entire inaction, he never for a moment doubted his + second nomination. One time in his room discussing with him who his real + friends were, he told me, if I would not show it, he would make a list of + how the Senate stood. When he got through, I pointed out some five or six, + and I told him I knew he was mistaken about them. Said he, 'You may think + so, but you keep that until the convention and tell me then whether I was + right.' He was right to a man. He kept a kind of account book of how + things were progressing, for three or four months, and whenever I would + get nervous and think things were going wrong, he would get out his + estimates and show how everything on the great scale of action, such as + the resolutions of legislatures, the instructions of delegates, and things + of that character, were going exactly as he expected. These facts, with + many others of a kindred nature, have convinced me that he managed his + politics upon a plan entirely different from any other man the country has + ever produced. + </p> + <p> + "He managed his campaigns by ignoring men and by ignoring all small + causes, but by closely calculating the tendencies of events and the great + forces which were producing logical results. + </p> + <p> + "In his conduct of the war he acted upon the theory that but one thing was + necessary, and that was a united North. He had all shades of sentiments + and opinions to deal with, and the consideration was always presented to + his mind, how can I hold these discordant elements together? + </p> + <p> + "It was here that he located his own greatness as a President. One time, + about the middle of the war, I left his house about eleven o'clock at + night, at the Soldiers' Home. We had been discussing the discords in the + country, and particularly the States of Missouri and Kentucky. As we + separated at the door he said, 'I may not have made as great a President + as some other men, but I believe I have kept these discordant elements + together as well as anyone could.' Hence, in dealing with men he was a + trimmer, and such a trimmer the world has never seen. Halifax, who was + great in his day as a trimmer, would blush by the side of Lincoln; yet + Lincoln never trimmed in principles, it was only in his conduct with men. + He used the patronage of his office to feed the hunger of these various + factions. Weed always declared that he kept a regular account-book of his + appointments in New York, dividing his various favors so as to give each + faction more than it could get from any other source, yet never enough to + satisfy its appetite. + </p> + <p> + "They all had access to him, they all received favors from him, and they + all complained of ill treatment; but while unsatisfied, they all had + 'large expectations,' and saw in him the chance of obtaining more than + from anyone else whom they could be sure of getting in his place. He used + every force to the best possible advantage. He never wasted anything, and + would always give more to his enemies than he would to his friends; and + the reason was, because he never had anything to spare, and in the close + calculation of attaching the factions to him, he counted upon the abstract + affection of his friends as an element to be offset against some gift with + which he must appease his enemies. Hence, there was always some truth in + the charge of his friends that he failed to reciprocate their devotion + with his favors. The reason was, that he had only just so much to give + away—'He always had more horses than oats.' + </p> + <p> + "An adhesion of all forces was indispensable to his success and the + success of the country; hence he husbanded his means with the greatest + nicety of calculation. Adhesion was what he wanted; if he got it + gratuitously he never wasted his substance paying for it. + </p> + <p> + "His love of the ludicrous was not the least peculiar of his + characteristics. His love of fun made him overlook everything else but the + point of the joke sought after. If he told a good story that was refined + and had a sharp point, he did not like it any the better because it was + refined. If it was outrageously vulgar, he never seemed to see that part + of it, if it had the sharp ring of wit; nothing ever reached him but the + wit. Almost any man that will tell a very vulgar story, has, in a degree, + a vulgar mind; but it was not so with him; with all his purity of + character and exalted morality and sensibility, which no man can doubt, + when hunting for wit he had no ability to discriminate between the vulgar + and the refined substances from which he extracted it. It was the wit he + was after, the pure jewel, and he would pick it up out of the mud or dirt + just as readily as he would from a parlor table. + </p> + <p> + "He had great kindness of heart. His mind was full of tender + sensibilities, and he was extremely humane, yet while these attributes + were fully developed in his character, and, unless intercepted by his + judgment, controlled him, they never did control him contrary to his + judgment. He would strain a point to be kind, but he never strained it to + breaking. Most men of much kindly feeling are controlled by this sentiment + against their judgment, or rather that sentiment beclouds their judgment. + It was never so with him; he would be just as kind and generous as his + judgment would let him be—no more. If he ever deviated from this + rule, it was to save life. He would sometimes, I think, do things he knew + to be impolitic and wrong to save some poor fellow's neck. I remember one + day being in his room when he was sitting at his table with a large pile + of papers before him, and after a pleasant talk he turned quite abruptly + and said, 'Get out of the way, Swett; to-morrow is butcher-day, and I must + go through these papers and see if I cannot find some excuse to let these + poor fellows off.' The pile of papers he had were the records of courts + martial of men who on the following day were to be shot. He was not + examining the records to see whether the evidence sustained the findings; + he was purposely in search of occasions to evade the law, in favor of + life. + </p> + <p> + "Some of Lincoln's friends have insisted that he lacked the strong + attributes of personal affection which he ought to have exhibited; but I + think this is a mistake. Lincoln had too much justice to run a great + government for a few favors; and the complaints against him in this + regard, when properly digested, seem to amount to this and no more, that + he would not abuse the privileges of his situation. + </p> + <p> + "He was certainly a very poor hater. He never judged men by his like or + dislike for them. If any given act was to be performed, he could + understand that his enemy could do it just as well as anyone. If a man had + maligned him or been guilty of personal ill-treatment, and was the fittest + man for the place, he would give him that place just as soon as he would + give it to a friend. + </p> + <p> + "I do not think he ever removed a man because he was his enemy or because + he disliked him. + </p> + <p> + "The great secret of his power as an orator, in my judgment, lay in the + clearness and perspicuity of his statements. When Mr. Lincoln had stated a + case it was always more than half argued and the point more than half won. + It is said that some one of the crowned heads of Europe proposed to marry + when he had a wife living. A gentleman, hearing of this proposition, + replied, how could he? 'Oh,' replied his friend, 'he could marry and then + he could get Mr. Gladstone to make an explanation about it.' This was said + to illustrate the convincing power of Mr. Gladstone's statement. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Lincoln had this power greater than any man I have ever known. The + first impression he generally conveyed was, that he had stated the case of + his adversary better and more forcibly than his opponent could state it + himself. He then answered that statement of facts fairly and fully, never + passing by or skipping over a bad point. + </p> + <p> + "When this was done he presented his own case. There was a feeling, when + he argued a case, in the mind of any man who listened to it, that nothing + had been passed over; yet if he could not answer the objections he argued, + in his own mind, and himself arrive at the conclusion to which he was + leading others, he had very little power of argumentation. The force of + his logic was in conveying to the minds of others the same clear and + thorough analysis he had in his own, and if his own mind failed to be + satisfied, he had little power to satisfy anybody else. He never made a + sophistical argument in his life, and never could make one. I think he was + of less real aid in trying a thoroughly bad case than any man I was ever + associated with. If he could not grasp the whole case and believe in it, + he was never inclined to touch it. + </p> + <p> + "From the commencement of his life to its close, I have sometimes doubted + whether he ever asked anybody's advice about anything. He would listen to + everybody; he would hear everybody; but he rarely, if ever, asked for + opinions. I never knew him in trying a case to ask the advice of any + lawyer he was associated with. + </p> + <p> + "As a politician and as President, he arrived at all his conclusions from + his own reflections, and when his opinion was once formed, he never + doubted but what it was right. + </p> + <p> + "One great public mistake of his character, as generally received and + acquiesced in, is that he is considered by the people of this country as a + frank, guileless, and unsophisticated man. There never was a greater + mistake. Beneath a smooth surface of candor and apparent declaration of + all his thoughts and feelings, he exercised the most exalted tact and the + wisest discrimination. He handled and moved men remotely as we do pieces + upon a chess-board. He retained through life all the friends he ever had, + and he made the wrath of his enemies to praise him. This was not by + cunning or intrigue, in the low acceptation of the term, but by far-seeing + reason and discernment. He always told enough only of his plans and + purposes to induce the belief that he had communicated all, yet he + reserved enough to have communicated nothing. He told all that was + unimportant with a gushing frankness, yet no man ever kept his real + purposes closer, or penetrated the future further with his deep designs. + </p> + <p> + "You ask me whether he changed his religious opinions towards the close of + his life. I think not. As he became involved in matters of the greatest + importance, full of great responsibility and great doubt, a feeling of + religious reverence, a belief in God and his justice and overruling power + increased with him. He was always full of natural religion; he believed in + God as much as the most approved Church member, yet he judged of Him by + the same system of generalization as he judged everything else. He had + very little faith in ceremonials or forms. In fact he cared nothing for + the form of anything. But his heart was full of natural and cultivated + religion. He believed in the great laws of truth, and the rigid discharge + of duty, his accountability to God, the ultimate triumph of the right and + the overthrow of wrong. If his religion were to be judged by the lines and + rules of Church creeds he would fall far short of the standard; but if by + the higher rule of purity of conduct, of honesty of motive, of unyielding + fidelity to the right, and acknowledging God as the supreme ruler, then he + filled all the requirements of true devotion, and his whole life was a + life of love to God, and love of his neighbor as of himself. + </p> + <p> + "Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + "Leonard Swett." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + The outlines of Mr. Lincoln's Presidential career are alone sufficient to + fill a volume, and his history after he had been sworn into office by + Chief Justice Taney is so much a history of the entire country, and has + been so admirably and thoroughly told by others, that I apprehend I can + omit many of the details and still not impair the portrait I have been + endeavoring to draw in the mind of the reader. The rapid shifting of + scenes in the drama of secession, the disclosure of rebellious plots and + conspiracies, the threats of Southern orators and newspapers, all + culminating in the attack on Fort Sumter, brought the newly installed + President face to face with the stern and grave realities of a civil war.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Lincoln then told me of his last interview with Douglas. 'One day + Douglas came rushing in,' he related, 'and said he had just got a + telegraph despatch from some friends in Illinois urging him to come out + and help set things right in Egypt, and that he would go, or stay in + Washington, just where I thought he could do the most good. I told him + to do as he chose, but that he could probably do best in Illinois. Upon + that he shook hands with me and hurried away to catch the next train. I + never saw him again.'"—Henry C. Whitney, MS. letter, November 13, + 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln's military knowledge had been acquired in the famous campaign + against the Indian Chief Black Hawk on the frontier in 1832, the thrilling + details of which he had already given the country in a Congressional + stump-speech; and to this store of experience he had made little if any + addition. It was therefore generally conceded that in grappling with the + realities of the problem which now confronted both himself and the country + he would be wholly dependent on those who had made the profession of arms + a life-work. Those who held such hastily conceived notions of Mr. Lincoln + were evidently misled by his well-known and freely advertised Democratic + manners. Anybody had a right, it was supposed, to advise him of his duty; + and he was so conscious of his shortcomings as a military President that + the army officers and Cabinet would run the Government and conduct the + war. That was the popular idea. Little did the press, or people, or + politicians then know that the country lawyer who occupied the executive + chair was the most self-reliant man who ever sat in it, and that when the + crisis came his rivals in the Cabinet, and the people everywhere, would + learn that he and he alone would be master of the situation. + </p> + <p> + It is doubtless true that for a long time after his entry into office he + did not assert himself; that is, not realizing the gigantic scale upon + which the war was destined to be fought, he may have permitted the idea to + go forth that being unused to the command of armies he would place himself + entirely in the hands of those who were.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * I was in Washington in the Indian service for a few days before + August, 1861, and I merely said to Lincoln one day, 'Everything is + drifting into the war, and I guess you will have to put me in the army.' + He looked up from his work and said, good-humoredly, 'I'm making + generals now. In a few days I will be making quartermasters, and then + I'll fix you.'"—-H. C. Whitney, MS. letter, June 13, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The Secretary of State, whose ten years in the Senate had acquainted him + with our relations to foreign powers, may have been lulled into the + innocent belief that the Executive would have no fixed or definite views + on international questions. So also of the other Cabinet officers; but + alas for their fancied security! It was the old story of the sleeping + lion. Old politicians, eying him with some distrust and want of + confidence, prepared themselves to control his administration, not only as + a matter of right, but believing that he would be compelled to rely upon + them for support. A brief experience taught them he was not the man they + bargained for. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0008" id="linkimage-0008"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/285.jpg" alt="Portraits 285 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Next in importance to the attack on Fort Sumter, from a military + standpoint, was the battle of Bull Run. How the President viewed it is + best illustrated by an incident furnished by an old friend * who was an + associate of his in the Legislature of Illinois, and who was in Washington + when the engagement took place. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Robert L. Wilson, MS., Feb. 10, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "The night after the battle," he relates, "accompanied by two Wisconsin + Congressmen, I called at the White House to get the news from Manassas, as + it was then called, having failed in obtaining any information at Seward's + office and elsewhere. Stragglers were coming with all sorts of wild + rumors, but nothing more definite than that there had been a great + engagement; and the bearer of each report had barely escaped with his + life. Messengers bearing despatches to the President and Secretary of War + were constantly arriving, but outsiders could gather nothing worthy of + belief. Having learned that Mr. Lincoln was at the War Department we + started thither, but found the building surrounded by a great crowd, all + as much in the dark as we. Removing a short distance away we sat down to + rest. Presently Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Nicolay, his private secretary, came + along, headed for the White House. It was proposed by my companions that + as I was acquainted with the President I should join him and ask for the + news. I did so, but he said that he had already told more than under the + rules of the War Department he had any right to, and that, although he + could see no harm in it, the Secretary of War had forbidden his imparting + information to persons not in the military service. 'These war fellows,' + he said, complainingly, 'are very strict with me, and I regret that I am + prevented from telling you anything; but I must obey them, I suppose, + until I get the hang of things.' 'But, Mr. President,' I insisted, 'if you + cannot tell me the news, you can at least indicate its nature, that is, + whether good or bad.' The suggestion struck him favorably. Grasping my arm + he leaned over, and placing his face near my ear, said, in a shrill but + subdued voice, 'It's d———d bad.' It was the first time I + had ever heard him use profane language, if indeed it was profane in that + connection; but later, when the painful details of the fight came in, I + realized that, taking into consideration the time and the circumstances, + no other term would have contained a truer qualification of the word + 'bad.'" + </p> + <p> + "About one week after the battle of Bull Run," relates another old friend—Whitney—from + Illinois, "I made a call on Mr. Lincoln, having no business except to give + him some presents which the nuns at the Osage Mission school in Kansas had + sent to him through me. A Cabinet meeting had just adjourned, and I was + directed to go at once to his room. He was keeping at bay a throng of + callers, but, noticing me enter, arose and greeted me with his old-time + cordiality. After the room had been partially cleared of visitors + Secretary Seward came in and called up a case which related to the + territory of New Mexico. 'Oh, I see,' said Lincoln; 'they have neither + Governor nor Government. Well, you see Jim Lane; the secretary is his man, + and he must hunt him up,' Seward then left, under the impression, as I + then thought, that Lincoln wanted to get rid of him and diplomacy at the + same time. Several other persons were announced, but Lincoln notified them + all that he was busy and could not see them. He was playful and sportive + as a child, told me all sorts of anecdotes, dealing largely in stories + about Charles James Fox, and enquired after several odd characters whom we + both knew in Illinois. While thus engaged General James was announced. + This officer had sent in word that he would leave town that evening, and + must confer with the President before going. 'Well, as he is one of the + fellows who make cannons,' observed Lincoln, 'I suppose I must see him. + Tell him when I get through with Whitney I'll see him.' No more cards came + up, and James left about five o'clock, declaring that the President was + closeted with 'an old Hoosier from Illinois, and was telling dirty yarns + while the country was quietly going to hell.' But, however indignant + General James may have felt, and whatever the people may have thought, + still the President was full of the war. He got down his maps of the seat + of war," continues Whitney, "and gave me a full history of the preliminary + discussions and steps leading to the battle of Bull Run. He was opposed to + the battle, and explained to General Scott by those very maps how the + enemy could by the aid of the railroad reinforce their army at Manassas + Gap until they had brought every man there, keeping us meanwhile + successfully at bay. 'I showed to General Scott our paucity of railroad + advantages at that point,' said Lincoln, 'and their plenitude, but Scott + was obdurate and would not listen to the possibility of defeat. Now you + see I was right, and Scott knows it, I reckon. My plan was, and still is, + to make a strong feint against Richmond and distract their forces before + attacking Manassas. That problem General McClellan is now trying to work + out.' Mr. Lincoln then told me of the plan he had recommended to + McClellan, which was to send gunboats up one of the rivers—not the + James—in the direction of Richmond, and divert the enemy there while + the main attack was made at Manassas. I took occasion to say that + McClellan was ambitious to be his successor. 'I am perfectly willing,' he + answered, 'if he will only put an end to this war.'"* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * This interview with Lincoln was written out during the war, and + contains many of his peculiarities of expression. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The interview of Mr. Whitney with the President on this occasion is + especially noteworthy because the latter unfolded to him his idea of the + general plan formed in his mind to suppress the rebellion movement and + defeat the Southern army. "The President," continues Mr. Whitney, "now + explained to me his theory of the Rebellion by the aid of the maps before + him. Running his long forefinger down the map he stopped at Virginia. 'We + must drive them away from here (Manassas Gap),' he said, 'and clear them + out of this part of the State so that they cannot threaten us here + (Washington) and get into Maryland. We must keep up a good and thorough + blockade of their ports. We must march an army into east Tennessee and + liberate the Union sentiment there. Finally we must rely on the people + growing tired and saying to their leaders: 'We have had enough of this + thing, we will bear it no longer.'" + </p> + <p> + Such was Mr. Lincoln's plan for heading off the Rebellion in the summer of + 1861. How it enlarged as the war progressed, from a call for seventy-five + thousand volunteers to one for five hundred thousand men and five hundred + millions of dollars, is a matter now of well-known history. The war once + inaugurated, it was plain the North had three things to do. These were: + the opening of the Mississippi River; the blockade of the Southern ports; + and the capture of Richmond. To accomplish these great and vital ends the + deadly machinery of war was set in motion. The long-expected upheaval had + come, and as the torrent of fire broke forth the people in the agony of + despair looking aloft cried out, "Is our leader equal to the task?" That + he was the man for the hour is now the calm, unbiassed judgment of all + mankind. + </p> + <p> + The splendid victories early in 1862 in the southwest, which gave the + Union cause great advance toward the entire redemption of Kentucky, + Tennessee, and Missouri from the presence of rebel armies and the + prevalence of rebel influence, were counterbalanced by the dilatory + movements and inactive policy of McClellan, who had been appointed in + November of the preceding year to succeed the venerable Scott. The + forbearance of Lincoln in dealing with McClellan was only in keeping with + his well-known spirit of kindness; but, when the time came and + circumstances warranted it, the soldier-statesman found that the President + not only comprehended the scope of the war, but was determined to be + commander-in-chief of the army and navy himself. When it pleased him to + place McClellan again at the head of affairs, over the protest of such a + wilful and indomitable spirit as Stanton, he displayed elements of rare + leadership and evidence of uncommon capacity. His confidence in the + ability and power of Grant, when the press and many of the people had + turned against the hero of Vicksburg, was but another proof of his + sagacity and sound judgment. + </p> + <p> + As the bloody drama of war moves along we come now to the crowning act in + Mr. Lincoln's career—that sublime stroke with which his name will be + forever and indissolubly united—the emancipation of the slaves. In + the minds of many people there had been a crying need for the liberation + of the slaves. Laborious efforts had been made to hasten the issuance by + the President of the Emancipation Proclamation, but he was determined not + to be forced into premature and inoperative measures. Wendell Phillips + abused and held him up to public ridicule from the stump in New England. + Horace Greeley turned the batteries of the New York <i>Tribune</i> against + him; and, in a word, he encountered all the rancor and hostility of his + old friends the Abolitionists. General Frémont having in the fall of 1861 + undertaken by virtue of his authority as a military commander to + emancipate the slaves in his department, the President annulled the order, + which he characterized as unauthorized and premature. This precipitated an + avalanche of fanatical opposition. Individuals and delegations, many + claiming to have been sent by the Lord, visited him day after day, and + urged immediate emancipation. In August, 1862, Horace Greeley repeated the + "prayer of twenty millions of people" protesting against any further + delay. Such was the pressure from the outside. All his life Mr. Lincoln + had been a believer in the doctrine of gradual emancipation. He advocated + it while in Congress in 1848; yet even now, as a military necessity, he + could not believe the time was ripe for the general liberation of the + slaves. All the coercion from without, and all the blandishments from + within, his political household failed to move him. An heroic figure, + indifferent alike to praise and blame, he stood at the helm and waited. In + the shadow of his lofty form the smaller men could keep up their petty + conflicts. Towering thus, he overlooked them all, and fearlessly abided + his time. At last the great moment came. He called his Cabinet together + and read the decree. The deed was done, unalterably, unhesitatingly, + irrevocably, and triumphantly. The people, at first profoundly impressed, + stood aloof, but, seeing the builder beside the great structure he had so + long been rearing, their confidence was abundantly renewed. It was a + glorious work, "sincerely believed to be an act of justice warranted by + the constitution upon military necessity," and upon it its author "invoked + the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty + God." I believe Mr. Lincoln wished to go down in history as the liberator + of the black man. He realized to its fullest extent the responsibility and + magnitude of the act, and declared it was "the central act of his + administration and the great event of the nineteenth century." Always a + friend of the negro, he had from boyhood waged a bitter unrelenting + warfare against his enslavement. He had advocated his cause in the courts, + on the stump, in the Legislature of his State and that of the nation, and, + as if to crown it with a sacrifice, he sealed his devotion to the great + cause of freedom with his blood. As the years roll slowly by, and the + participants in the late war drop gradually out of the ranks of men, let + us pray that we may never forget their deeds of patriotic valor; but even + if the details of that bloody struggle grow dim, as they will with the + lapse of time, let us hope that so long as a friend of free man and free + labor lives the dust of forgetfulness may never settle on the historic + form of Abraham Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + As the war progressed, there was of course much criticism of Mr. Lincoln's + policy, and some of his political rivals lost no opportunity to encourage + opposition to his methods. He bore everything meekly and with sublime + patience, but as the discontent appeared to spread he felt called upon to + indicate his course. On more than one occasion he pointed out the + blessings of the Emancipation Proclamation or throttled the clamorer for + immediate peace. In the following letter to James C. Conkling* of + Springfield, Ill., in reply to an invitation to attend a mass meeting of + "Unconditional Union" men to be held at his old home, he not only disposed + of the advocates of compromise, but he evinced the most admirable skill in + dealing with the questions of the day. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Springfield, III., January 11, 1889. "Jesse W. Weik, Esq. "Dear Sir: + "I enclose you a copy of the letter dated August 26, 1863, by Mr. + Lincoln to me. It has been carefully compared with the original and is a + correct copy, except that the words commencing 'I know as fully as one + can know' to the words 'You say you will fight to free negroes' were not + included in the original, but were telegraphed the next day with + instructions to insert. The following short note in Mr. Lincoln's own + handwriting accompanied the letter: [Private.] "'War Department, + "'Washington City, D. C., August 27, 1862. "'My Dear Conkling: "'I + cannot leave here now. Herewith is a letter instead. You are one of the + best public readers. I have but one suggestion—read it very + slowly. And now God bless you, and all good Union men. "'Yours as ever, + "'A. Lincoln." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "Mr. Bancroft, the historian, in commenting on this letter, considers it + addressed to me as one who was criticising Mr. Lincoln's policy. On the + contrary, I was directed by a meeting of 'Unconditional Union' men to + invite Mr. Lincoln to attend a mass meeting composed of such men, and he + simply took occasion to address his opponents through the medium of the + letter. + </p> + <p> + "Executive Mansion, Washington, August 26, 1863. + </p> + <p> + "Hon. James C. Conkling. + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Sir: + </p> + <p> + "Your letter inviting me to attend a mass meeting of Unconditional Union + men, to be held at the Capitol of Illinois, on the 3d day of September, + has been received. + </p> + <p> + "It would be very agreeable to me to thus meet my old friends at my own + home; but I cannot, just now, be absent from here so long as a visit there + would require. + </p> + <p> + "The meeting is to be of all those who maintain unconditional devotion to + the Union; and I am sure my old political friends will thank me for + tendering, as I do, the nation's gratitude to those other noble men, whom + no partisan malice, or partisan's hope, can make false to the nation's + life. + </p> + <p> + "There are those who are dissatisfied with me. To such I would say: You + desire peace; and you blame me that we do not have it. But how can we + attain it? There are but three conceivable ways. + </p> + <p> + "First, to suppress the rebellion by force of arms. This I am trying to + do. Are you for it? If you are, so far we are agreed. If you are not for + it, a second way is, to give up the Union. I am against this. Are you for + it? If you are, you should say so plainly. If you are not for <i>force</i>, + nor yet for <i>dissolution</i>, there only remains some imaginable <i>compromise</i>. + I do not believe any compromise, embracing the maintenance of the Union, + is now possible. All I learn leads to a directly opposite belief. The + strength of the rebellion is its military—its army. That army + dominates all the country and all the people within its range. Any offer + of terms made by any man or men within that range in opposition to that + army is simply nothing for the present, because such man or men have no + power whatever to enforce their side of a compromise, if one were made + with them. To illustrate: suppose refugees from the South, and peace men + of the North, get together in convention and frame and proclaim a + compromise embracing a restoration of the Union; in what way can that + compromise be used to keep Lee's army out of Pennsylvania? Meade's army + can keep Lee's army out of Pennsylvania, and I think can ultimately drive + it out of existence. + </p> + <p> + "But no paper compromise, to which the controllers of Lee's army are not + agreed, can at all affect that army. In an effort at such compromise we + should waste time, which the enemy would improve to our disadvantage; and + that would be all. A compromise, to be effective, must be made either with + those who control the rebel army, or with the people first liberated from + the domination of that army by the success of our own army. Now allow me + to assure you that no word or intimation from that rebel army or from any + of the men controlling it, in relation to any peace compromise, has ever + come to my knowledge or belief. + </p> + <p> + "All changes and insinuations to the contrary are deceptive and + groundless. And I promise you that, if any such proposition shall + hereafter come, it shall not be rejected and kept a secret from you. I + freely acknowledge myself the servant of the people, according to the bond + of service—the United States Constitution, and that, as such, I am + responsible to them. + </p> + <p> + "But to be plain, you are dissatisfied with me about the negro. Quite + likely there is a difference of opinion between you and myself upon that + subject. + </p> + <p> + "I certainly wish that all men could be free, while I suppose you do not. + Yet I have neither adopted nor proposed any measure which is not + consistent with even your view, provided you are for the Union. I + suggested compensated emancipation; to which you replied you wished not to + be taxed to buy negroes. But I had not asked you to be taxed to buy + negroes, except in such way as to save you from greater taxation to save + the Union exclusively by other means. + </p> + <p> + "You dislike the Emancipation Proclamation, and, perhaps, would have it + retracted. You say it is unconstitutional—I think differently. I + think the constitution invests its Commander-in-chief with the law of war + in time of war. The most that can be said, if so much, is that slaves are + property. Is there—has there ever been—any question that by + the law of war, property, both of enemies and friends, may be taken when + needed? + </p> + <p> + "And is it not needed wherever taking it helps us or hurts the enemy? + Armies the world over destroy enemies' property when they cannot use it; + and even destroy their own to keep it from the enemy. Civilized + belligerents do all in their power to help themselves or hurt the enemy, + except a few things regarded as barbarous or cruel. + </p> + <p> + "Among the exceptions are the massacre of vanquished foes and + non-combatants, male and female. + </p> + <p> + "But the proclamation, as law, either is valid or is not valid. + </p> + <p> + "If it is not valid, it needs no retraction. If it is valid, it cannot be + retracted any more than the dead can be brought to life. Some of you + profess to think its retraction would operate favorably for the Union. + </p> + <p> + "Why <i>better</i> after the retraction than <i>before</i> the issue? + </p> + <p> + "There was more than a year and a half of trial to suppress the rebellion + before the proclamation issued, the last one hundred days of which passed + under an explicit notice that it was coming, unless averted by those in + revolt returning to their allegiance. + </p> + <p> + "The war has certainly progressed as favorably for us since the issue of + the proclamation as before. + </p> + <p> + "I know as fully as one can know the opinion of others that some of the + commanders of our armies in the field who have given us our most important + successes believe the emancipation policy and the use of the colored + troops constituted the heaviest blow yet dealt to the Rebellion, and that + at least one of these important successes could not have been achieved + when it was but for the aid of black soldiers. Among the commanders + holding these views are some who have never had any affinity with what is + called abolitionism or with Republican party policies, but who held them + purely as military opinions. I submit these opinions as being entitled to + some weight against the objections often urged that emancipation and + arming the blacks are unwise as military measures, and were not adopted as + such in good faith. + </p> + <p> + "You say you will not fight to free negroes. Some of them seem willing to + fight for you; but no matter. + </p> + <p> + "Fight you, then, exclusively to save the Union. I issued the proclamation + on purpose to aid you in saving the Union. Whenever you shall have + conquered all resistance to the Union, if I shall urge you to continue + fighting, it will be an apt time then for you to declare you will not + fight to free negroes. + </p> + <p> + "I thought that in your struggle for the Union, to whatever extent the + negroes should cease helping the enemy, to that extent it weakened the + enemy in his resistance to you. Do you think differently? I thought that + whatever negroes can be got to do as soldiers leaves just so much less for + white soldiers to do, in saving the Union. Does it appear otherwise to + you? + </p> + <p> + "But negroes, like other people, act upon motives. Why should they do + anything for us, if we will do nothing for them? If they stake their lives + for us, they must be prompted by the strongest motive—even the + promise of freedom. And the promise being made, must be kept. + </p> + <p> + "The signs look better. The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the + sea. Thanks to the great North-west for it. Nor yet wholly to them. Three + hundred miles up they met New England, Empire, Keystone, and Jersey, + hewing their way right and left. The Sunny South too, in more colors than + one, also lent a hand. + </p> + <p> + "On the spot, their part of the history was jotted down in black and + white. The job was a great national one; and let none be barred who bore + an honorable part in it. And while those who have cleared the great river + may well be proud, even that is not all. It is hard to say that anything + has been more bravely and well done than at Antietam, Murfreesboro, + Gettysburg, and on many fields of lesser note. Nor must Uncle Sam's + web-feet be forgotten. At all the watery margins they have been present. + Not only on the deep sea, the broad bay, and the rapid river, but also up + the narrow, muddy bayou, and wherever the ground was a little damp, they + have been, and made their tracks, thanks to all. For the great republic—for + the principle it lives by and keeps alive—for man's vast future—thanks + to all. + </p> + <p> + "Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon and + come to stay, and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time. + It will then have been proved that, among free men, there can be no + successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and that they who take + such appeal are sure to lose their case and pay the cost. And then there + will be some black men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and + clenched teeth, and steady eye, and well-poised bayonet, they have helped + mankind on to this great consummation; while I fear there will be some + white ones, unable to forget that, with malignant heart and deceitful + speech, they have strove to hinder it. + </p> + <p> + "Still, let us not be over-sanguine of a speedy final triumph. Let us be + quite sober. Let us diligently apply the means, never doubting that a just + God, in his own good time, will give us the rightful result. + </p> + <p> + "Yours very truly, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + The summer and fall of 1864 were marked by Lincoln's second Presidential + campaign, he, and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, for Vice-President, having + been nominated at Baltimore on the 8th of June. Frémont, who had been + placed in the field by a convention of malcontents at Cleveland, Ohio, had + withdrawn in September, and the contest was left to Lincoln and General + George B. McClellan, the nominee of the Democratic convention at Chicago. + The canvass was a heated and bitter one. Dissatisfied elements appeared + everywhere. The Judge Advocate-General of the army (Holt) created a + sensation by the publication of a report giving conclusive proof of the + existence of an organized secret association at the North, controlled by + prominent men in the Democratic party, whose objects were the overthrow by + revolution of the administration in the interest of the rebellion.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Mr. Lincoln was advised, and I also so advised him, that the various + military trials in the Northern and Border States, where the courts were + free and untrammelled, were unconstitutional and wrong; that they would + not and ought not to be sustained by the Supreme Court; that such + proceedings were dangerous to liberty. He said he was opposed to + hanging; that he did not like to kill his fellow- man; that if the world + had no butchers but himself it would go bloodless. When Joseph E. + McDonald went to Lincoln about these military trials and asked him not + to execute the men who had been convicted by the military commission in + Indiana he answered that he would not hang them, but added, 'I'll keep + them in prison awhile to keep them from killing the Government.' I am + fully satisfied therefore that Lincoln was opposed to these military + commissions, especially in the Northern States, where everything was + open and free."—David Davis, statement, September 10, 1866, to W. + H. H. "I was counsel for Bowles, Milligan, et al.** who had been + convicted of conspiracy by military tribunal in Indiana. Early in 1865 I + went to Washington to confer with the President, whom I had known, and + with whom in earlier days I had practised law on the circuit in + Illinois. My clients had been sentenced, and unless the President + interfered were to have been executed. Mr. Hendricks, who was then in + the Senate, and who seemed to have little faith in the probability of + executive clemency, accompanied me to the White House. It was early in + the evening, and so many callers and visitors had preceded us we + anticipated a very brief interview. Much to our surprise we found Mr. + Lincoln in a singularly cheerful and reminiscent mood. He kept us with + him till almost eleven o'clock. He went over the history of my clients' + crime as shown by the papers in the case, and suggested certain errors + and imperfections in the record. The papers, he explained, would have to + be returned for correction, and that would consume no little time. 'You + may go home, Mr. McDonald,' he said, with a pleased expression, 'and Ill + send for you when the papers get back; but I apprehend and hope there + will be such a jubilee over yonder,' he added, pointing to the hills of + Virginia just across the river, 'we shall none of us want any more + killing done.' The papers started on their long and circuitous journey, + and sure enough, before they reached Washington again Mr. Lincoln's + prediction of the return of peace had proved true."—Hon. Joseph E. + McDonald, statement, August 28,1888, to J. W. W. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Threats were rife of a revolution at the North, especially in New York + City, if Mr. Lincoln were elected. Mr. Lincoln went steadily on in his own + peculiar way. In a preceding chapter Mr. Swett has told us how indifferent + he appeared to be regarding any efforts to be made in his behalf. He did + his duty as President, and rested secure in the belief that he would be + re-elected whatever might be done for or against him. The importance of + retaining Indiana in the column of Republican States was not to be + overlooked. How the President viewed it, and how he proposed to secure the + vote of the State, is shown in the following letter written to General + Sherman: + </p> + <p> + "Executive Mansion, + </p> + <p> + "Washington, September 19, 1864. + </p> + <p> + "Major General Sherman: + </p> + <p> + "The State election of Indiana occurs on the 11th of October, and the loss + of it to the friends of the Government would go far towards losing the + whole Union cause. The bad effect upon the November election, and + especially the giving the State government to those who will oppose the + war in every possible way, are too much to risk if it can be avoided. The + draft proceeds, notwithstanding its strong tendency to lose us the State. + Indiana is the only important State voting in October whose soldiers + cannot vote in the field. Anything you can safely do to let her soldiers + or any part of them go home and vote at the State election will be greatly + in point. They need not remain for the Presidential election, but may + return to you at once. This is in no sense an order, but is merely + intended to impress you with the importance to the army itself of your + doing all you safely can, yourself being the judge of what you can safely + do. + </p> + <p> + "Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." * + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Unpublished MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The election resulted in an overwhelming victory for Lincoln. He received + a majority of over four hundred thousand in the popular vote—a + larger majority than had ever been received by any other President up to + that time. He carried not only Indiana, but all the New England States, + New York, Pennsylvania, all the Western States, West Virginia, Tennessee, + Louisiana, Arkansas, and the newly admitted State of Nevada. McClellan + carried but three states: New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky. The result, + as Grant so aptly expressed it in his telegram of congratulation, was "a + victory worth more to the country than a battle won." A second time + Lincoln stood in front of the great Capitol to take the oath of office + administered by his former rival, Salmon P. Chase, whom he himself had + appointed to succeed the deceased Roger B. Taney. The problem of the war + was now fast working its own solution. The cruel stain of slavery had been + effaced from the national escutcheon, and the rosy morn of peace began to + dawn behind the breaking clouds of the great storm.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Bearing on the mission of the celebrated Peace Commission the + following bit of inside history is not without interest: "I had given + notice that at one o'clock on the 31st of January I would call a vote on + the proposed constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in the United + States. The opposition caught up a report that morning that Peace + Commissioners were on the way to the city or were in the city. Had this + been true I think the proposed amendment would have failed, as a number + who voted for it could easily have been prevailed upon to vote against + it on the ground that the passage of such a proposition would be + offensive to the commissioners. Accordingly I wrote the President this + note: "'House of Representatives, "'January 31, 1865. "'Dear Sir: "'The + report is in circulation in the House that Peace Commissioners are on + their way or in the city, and is being used against us. If it is true, I + fear we shall lose the bill. Please authorize me to contradict it, if it + is not true. "'Respectfully, "'J. M. Ashley.' To the President. Almost + immediately came the reply, written on the back of my note: "'So far as + I know there are no peace Commissioners in the city or likely to be in + it. "'A. Lincoln.' January 31, 1865. "Mr. Lincoln knew that the + commissioners were then on their way to Fortress Monroe, where he + expected to meet them, and afterwards did meet them. You see how he + answered my note for my purposes, and yet how truly. You know how he + afterwards met the so-called commission, whom he determined at the time + he wrote this note should not come to the city. One or two gentlemen + were present when he wrote the note, to whom he read it before sending + it to me."—J. M. Ashley, M. C., letter, November 23, 1866, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Lincoln, firm but kind, in his inaugural address bade his misguided + brethren of the South come back. With a fraternal affection characteristic + of the man, and strictly in keeping with his former utterances, he asked + for the return of peace. "With malice towards none, with charity for all," + he implored his fellow-countrymen, "with firmness in the right as God + gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in, to bind up + the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and + for his widow and his orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a + just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." With the + coming of spring the great armies, awakening from their long winter's + sleep, began preparations for the closing campaign. Sherman had already + made that grandest march of modern times, from the mountains of Tennessee + through Georgia to the sea, while Grant, with stolid indifference to + public criticism and newspaper abuse, was creeping steadily on through + swamp and ravine to Richmond. Thomas had defeated Hood in Tennessee, + sending the latter back with his army demoralized, cut in pieces, and + ruined. The young and daring Sheridan had driven Early out of the + Shenandoah Valley after a series of brilliant engagements. The "Kearsarge" + had sunk the "Alabama" in foreign waters. Farragut had captured Mobile, + and the Union forces held undisputed possession of the West and the + Mississippi Valley from the lakes to the gulf. Meanwhile Sherman, + undaunted by the perils of a further march through the enemy's country, + returning from the sea, was aiming for Richmond, where Grant, with + bull-dog tenacity, held Lee firmly in his grasp. Erelong, the latter, with + his shattered army reduced to half its original numbers, evacuated + Richmond, with Grant in close pursuit. A few days later the boys in blue + overtook those in gray at Appomattox Court-house, and there, under the + warm rays of an April sun, the life was at last squeezed out of the once + proud but now prostrate Confederacy. "The sun of peace had fairly risen. + The incubus of war that had pressed upon the nation's heart for four long, + weary years was lifted; and the nation sprang to its feet with all + possible demonstrations of joyous exultation." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln himself had gone to the scene of hostilities in Virginia. He + watched the various military manoeuvres and operations, which involved + momentous consequences to the country; he witnessed some of the bloody + engagements participated in by the army of the Potomac. Within a day after + its surrender he followed the victorious Union army into the city of + Richmond. In this unfortunate city—once the proud capital of + Virginia—now smoking and in ruins, he beheld the real horrors of + grim war. Here too he realized in a bountiful measure the earnest + gratitude of the colored people, who everywhere crowded around him and + with cries of intense exultation greeted him as their deliverer. He now + returned to Washington, not like Napoleon fleeing sorrowfully from + Waterloo bearing the tidings of his own defeat, but with joy proclaiming + the era of Union victory and peace among men. "The war was over. The great + rebellion which for four long years had been assailing the nation's life + was quelled. Richmond, the rebel capital, was taken; Lee's army had + surrendered; and the flag of the Union was floating in reassured supremacy + over the whole of the National domain. Friday, the 14th of April, the + anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sumter in 1861 by Major Anderson to + the rebel forces, had been designated by the Government as the day on + which the same officer should again raise the American flag upon the fort + in the presence of an assembled multitude, and with ceremonies befitting + so auspicious an occasion. The whole land rejoiced at the return of peace + and the prospect of renewed prosperity to the country. President Lincoln + shared this common joy, but with a deep intensity of feeling which no + other man in the whole land could ever know. He saw the full fruition of + the great work which had rested so heavily on his hands and heart for four + years past. He saw the great task—as momentous as had ever fallen to + the lot of man—which he had approached with such unfeigned + diffidence, nearly at an end. The agonies of war had passed away; he had + won the imperishable renown which is the reward of those who save their + country; and he could devote himself now to the welcome task of healing + the wounds which war had made, and consolidating by a wise and magnanimous + policy the severed sections of our common Union. His heart was full of the + generous sentiments which these circumstances were so well calculated to + inspire. He was cheerful and hopeful of the success of his broad plans for + the treatment of the conquered people of the South. With all the warmth of + his loving nature, after the four years of storm through which he had been + compelled to pass, he viewed the peaceful sky on which the opening of his + second term had dawned. His mind was free from forebodings and filled only + with thoughts of kindness and of future peace." But alas for the vanity of + human confidence! The demon of assassination lurked near. In the midst of + the general rejoicing at the return of peace Mr. Lincoln was stricken down + by the assassin, John Wilkes Booth, in Ford's Theatre at Washington. The + story of his death, though oft repeated, is the saddest and most + impressive page in American history. I cannot well forbear reproducing its + painful and tragic details here.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * For the details of the assassination and the capture and subsequent + history of the conspirators, I am indebted to Mrs. Gertrude Garrison, of + New York, who has given the subject no little study and investigation. + J. W. W. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0009" id="linkimage-0009"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/309.jpg" alt="Ford's Theatre 309 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "Mr. Lincoln for years had a presentiment that he would reach a high place + and then be stricken down in some tragic way. He took no precautions to + keep out of the way of danger. So many threats had been made against him + that his friends were alarmed, and frequently urged him not to go out + unattended. To all their entreaties he had the same answer: 'If they kill + me the next man will be just as bad for them. In a country like this, + where our habits are simple, and must be, assassination is always + possible, and will come if they are determined upon it.' + </p> + <p> + "Whatever premonition of his tragic fate he may have had, there is nothing + to prove that he felt the nearness of the awful hour. Doomed men rise and + go about their daily duties as unoppressed, often, as those whose paths + know no shadow. On that never-to-be-forgotten 14th of April President + Lincoln passed the day in the usual manner. In the morning his son, + Captain Robert Lincoln, breakfasted with him. The young man had just + returned from the capitulation of Lee, and he described in detail all the + circumstances of that momentous episode of the close of the war, to which + the President listened with the closest interest. After breakfast the + President spent an hour with Speaker Colfax, talking about his future + policy, about to be submitted to his Cabinet. At eleven o'clock he met the + Cabinet. General Grant was present. He spent the afternoon with Governor + Oglesby, Senator Yates, and other friends from Illinois. He was invited by + the manager of Ford's theatre, in Washington, to attend in the evening a + performance of the play, 'Our American Cousin,' with Laura Keene as the + leading lady. This play, now so well known to all play-goers, in which the + late Southern afterward made fortune and fame, was then comparatively + unheralded. Lincoln was fond of the drama. Brought up in a provincial way, + in the days when theatres were unknown outside of the larger cities, the + beautiful art of the actor was fresh and delightful to him. + </p> + <p> + "He loved Shakespeare, and never lost an opportunity of seeing his + characters rendered by the masters of dramatic art. But on that evening, + it is said, he was not eager to go. The play was new, consequently not + alluring to him; but he yielded to the wishes of Mrs. Lincoln and went. + They took with them Miss Harris and Major Rathbone, daughter and stepson + of Senator Harris, of New York. + </p> + <p> + "The theatre was crowded. At 9: 20 the President and his party entered. + The audience rose and cheered enthusiastically as they passed to the + 'state box' reserved for them. Little did anyone present dream that within + the hour enthusiasm would give place to shrieks of horror. It was ten + o'clock when Booth came upon the scene to enact the last and greatest + tragedy of the war. He had planned carefully, but not correctly. A good + horse awaited him at the rear of the theatre, on which he intended to ride + into friendly shelter among the hills of Maryland. He made his way to the + President's box—a double one in the second tier, at the left of the + stage. The separating partition had been removed, and both boxes thrown + into one. + </p> + <p> + "Booth entered the theatre nonchalantly, glanced at the stage with + apparent interest, then slowly worked his way around into the outer + passage leading toward the box occupied by the President. At the end of an + inner passage leading to the box door, one of the President's "messengers" + was stationed to prevent unwelcome intrusions. Booth presented a card to + him, stating that Mr. Lincoln had sent for him, and was permitted to pass. + After gaining an entrance and closing the hall door, he took a piece of + board prepared for the occasion, and placed one end of it in an + indentation in the wall, about four feet from the floor, and the other + against the molding of the door panel a few inches higher, making it + impossible for any one to enter from without. The box had two doors. He + bored a gimlet hole in the panel of one, reaming it out with his knife, so + as to leave it a little larger than a buckshot on the inside, while on the + other side it was big enough to give his eye a wide range. Both doors had + spring locks. To secure against their being locked he had loosened the + screws with which the bolts were fastened. + </p> + <p> + "So deliberately had he planned that the very seats in the box had been + arranged to suit his purpose by an accomplice, one Spangler, an attaché of + the theatre. The President sat in the left-hand corner of the box, nearest + the audience, in an easy arm-chair. Next him, on the right, sat Mrs. + Lincoln. A little distance to the right of both, Miss Harris was seated, + with Major Rathbone at her left, and a little in the rear of Mrs. Lincoln, + who, intent on the play, was leaning forward, with one hand resting on her + husband's knee. The President was leaning upon one hand, and with the + other was toying with a portion of the drapery. His face was partially + turned to the audience, and wore a pleasant smile. + </p> + <p> + "The assassin swiftly entered the box through the door at the right, and + the next instant fired. The ball entered just behind the President's left + ear, and, though not producing instantaneous death, completely obliterated + all consciousness. + </p> + <p> + "Major Rathbone heard the report, and an instant later saw the murderer, + about six feet from the President, and grappled with him, but his grasp + was shaken off. Booth dropped his pistol and drew a long, thin, + deadly-looking knife, with which he wounded the major. Then, touching his + left hand to the railing of the box, he vaulted over to the stage, eight + or nine feet below. In that descent an unlooked-for and curious thing + happened, which foiled all the plans of the assassin and was the means of + bringing him to bay at last. Lincoln's box was draped with the American + flag, and Booth, in jumping, caught his spur in its folds, tearing it down + and spraining his ankle. He crouched as he fell, falling upon one knee, + but soon straightened himself and stalked theatrically across the stage, + brandishing his knife and shouting the State motto of Virginia, '<i>Sic + semper tyrannis!</i>' afterward adding, 'The South is avenged!' He made + his exit on the opposite side of the stage, passing Miss Keene as he went + out. A man named Stewart, a tall lawyer of Washington, was the only person + with presence of mind enough to spring upon the stage and follow him, and + he was too late. + </p> + <p> + "It had all been done so quickly and dramatically that many in the + audience were dazed, and could not understand that anything not a part of + the play had happened. When, at last, the awful truth was known to them + there ensued a scene, the like of which was never known in a theatre + before. Women shrieked, sobbed, and fainted. Men cursed and raved, or were + dumb with horror and amazement. Miss Keene stepped to the front and begged + the frightened and dismayed audience to be calm. Then she entered the + President's box with water and stimulants. Medical aid was summoned and + came with flying feet, but came too late. The murderer's bullet had done + its wicked work well. The President hardly stirred in his chair, and never + spoke or showed any signs of consciousness again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0010" id="linkimage-0010"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/316.jpg" alt="The Peterson House 316 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "They carried him immediately to the house of Mr. Petersen, opposite the + theatre, and there, at 7:22 the next morning, the 15th of April, he died. + </p> + <p> + "The night of Lincoln's assassination was a memorable one in Washington. + Secretary Seward was attacked and wounded while lying in bed with a broken + arm. + </p> + <p> + "The murder of the President put the authorities on their guard against a + wide-reaching conspiracy, and threw the public into a state of terror. The + awful event was felt even by those who knew not of it. Horsemen clattered + through the silent streets of Washington, spreading the sad tidings, and + the telegraph wires carried the terrible story everywhere. The nation + awakened from its dream of peace on the 15th of April, 1865, to learn that + its protector, leader, friend, and restorer had been laid low by a + stage-mad 'avenger.' W. O. Stoddard, in his 'Life of Lincoln,' says: 'It + was as if there had been a death in every house throughout the land. By + both North and South alike the awful news was received with a shudder and + a momentary spasm of unbelief. Then followed one of the most remarkable + spectacles in the history of the human race, for there is nothing else at + all like it on record. Bells had tolled before at the death of a loved + ruler, but never did all bells toll so mournfully as they did that day. + Business ceased. Men came together in public meetings as if by a common + impulse, and party lines and sectional hatreds seemed to be obliterated. + </p> + <p> + "The assassination took place on Friday evening, and on the following + Sunday funeral services were held in all the churches in the land, and + every church was draped in mourning." + </p> + <p> + The death of Mr. Lincoln was an indescribable shock to his fellow + countrymen. The exultation of victory over the final and successful + triumph of Union arms was suddenly changed to the lamentations of grief. + In every household throughout the length and breadth of the land there was + a dull and bitter agony as the telegraph bore tidings of the awful deed. + The public heart, filled with joy over the news from Appomattox, now sank + low with a sacred terror as the sad tidings from the Capitol came in. In + the great cities of the land all business instantly ceased. Flags drooped + half-mast from every winged messenger of the sea, from every church spire, + and from every public building. Thousands upon thousands, drawn by a + common feeling, crowded around every place of public resort and listened + eagerly to whatever any public speaker chose to say. Men met in the + streets and pressed each other's hands in silence, and burst into tears. + The whole nation, which the previous day had been jubilant and hopeful, + was precipitated into the depths of a profound and tender woe. It was a + memorable spectacle to the world—a whole nation plunged into + heartfelt grief and the deepest sorrow. + </p> + <p> + The body of the dead President, having been embalmed, was removed from the + house in which the death occurred to the White House, and there + appropriate funeral services were held. After the transfer of the remains + to the Capitol, where the body was exposed to view in the Rotunda for a + day, preparations were made for the journey to the home of the deceased in + Illinois. On the following day (April 21) the funeral train left + Washington amid the silent grief of the thousands who had gathered to + witness its departure. At all the great cities along the route stops were + made, and an opportunity was given the people to look on the face of the + illustrious dead. The passage of this funeral train westward through + country, village, and city, winding across the territory of vast States, + along a track of more than fifteen hundred miles, was a pageant without a + parallel in the history of the continent or the world. At every halt in + the sombre march vast crowds, such as never before had collected together, + filed past the catafalque for a glimpse of the dead chieftain's face. + Farmers left their farms, workmen left their shops, societies and soldiers + marched in solid columns, and the great cities poured forth their + population in countless masses. From Washington the funeral train moved to + Baltimore, thence to Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Buffalo, + Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago, and at last to Springfield. + </p> + <p> + As the funeral cortège passed through New York it was reverently gazed + upon by a mass of humanity impossible to enumerate. No ovation could be so + eloquent as the spectacle of the vast population, hushed and bareheaded + under the bright spring sky, gazing upon his coffin. Lincoln's own words + over the dead at Gettysburg came to many as the stately car went by: "The + world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can + never forget what they did here." + </p> + <p> + It was remembered, too, that on the 22d of February, 1861, as he raised + the American flag over Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, he spoke of the + sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty not only + to this country, but, "I hope," he said, "to the world for all future + time. But if this country cannot be saved without giving up that + principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated upon this + spot than surrender it." When he died the veil that hid his greatness was + torn aside, and the country then knew what it had possessed and lost in + him. A New York paper, of April 29, 1865, said: "No one who personally + knew him but will now feel that the deep, furrowed sadness of his face + seemed to forecast his fate. The genial gentleness of his manner, his + homely simplicity, the cheerful humor that never failed, are now seen to + have been but the tender light that played around the rugged heights of + his strong and noble nature. It is small consolation that he died at the + moment of the war when he could best be spared, for no nation is ever + ready for the loss of such a friend. But it is something to remember that + he lived to see the slow day breaking. Like Moses, he had marched with us + through the wilderness. From the height of patriotic vision he beheld the + golden fields of the future waving in peace and plenty. He beheld, and + blessed God, but was not to enter in." + </p> + <p> + In a discourse delivered on Lincoln on the 23d of that month, Henry Ward + Beecher said: + </p> + <p> + "And now the martyr is moving in triumphal march, mightier than when + alive. The nation rises up at every stage of his coming. Cities and states + are his pall-bearers, and the cannon speaks the hours with solemn + progression. Dead, dead, dead, he yet speaketh. Is Washington dead? Is + Hampden dead? Is any man that was ever fit to live dead? Disenthralled of + flesh, risen to the unobstructed sphere where passion never comes, he + begins his illimitable work. His life is now grafted upon the infinite, + and will be fruitful as no earthly life can be. Pass on, thou that hast + overcome. Ye people, behold the martyr whose blood, as so many articulate + words, pleads for fidelity, for law, for liberty." + </p> + <p> + The funeral train reached Springfield on the 3d of May. The casket was + borne to the State House and placed in Representative Hall—the very + chamber in which in 1854 the deceased had pronounced that fearful + invective against the sin of human slavery. The doors were thrown open, + the coffin lid was removed, and we who had known the illustrious dead in + other days, and before the nation lay its claim upon him, moved sadly + through and looked for the last time on the silent, upturned face of our + departed friend. All day long and through the night a stream of people + filed reverently by the catafalque. Some of them were his colleagues at + the bar; some his old friends from New Salem; some crippled soldiers fresh + from the battle-fields of the war; and some were little children who, + scarce realizing the impressiveness of the scene, were destined to live + and tell their children yet to be born the sad story of Lincoln's death. + </p> + <p> + At ten o'clock in the morning of the second day, as a choir of + two-hundred-and-fifty voices sang "Peace, Troubled Soul," the lid of the + casket was shut down forever. The remains were borne outside and placed in + a hearse, which moved at the head of a procession in charge of General + Joseph Hooker to Oak Ridge cemetery. There Bishop Matthew Simpson + delivered an eloquent and impressive funeral oration, and Rev. Dr. Gurley, + of Washington, offered up the closing prayer. While the choir chanted + "Unveil Thy Bosom, Faithful Tomb," the vault door opened and received to + its final rest all that was mortal of Abraham Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + "It was soon known that the murder of Lincoln was one result of a + conspiracy which had for its victims Secretary Seward and probably + Vice-President Johnson, Secretary Stanton, General Grant, and perhaps + others. Booth had left a card for Mr. Johnson the day before, possibly + with the intention of killing him. Mr. Seward received wounds, from which + he soon recovered. Grant, who was to have accompanied Lincoln to the + theatre on the night of the assassination, and did not, escaped + unassailed. The general conspiracy was poorly planned and lamely executed. + It involved about twenty-five persons. Mrs. Surratt, David C. Harold, + Lewis Payne, Edward Spangler, Michael O'Loughlin, J. W. Atzerodt, Samuel + Arnold, and Dr. Samuel Mudd, who set Booth's leg, which was dislocated by + the fall from the stage-box, were among the number captured and tried. + </p> + <p> + "After the assassination Booth escaped unmolested from the theatre, + mounted his horse, and rode away, accompanied by Harold, into Maryland. + Cavalrymen scoured the country, and eleven days after the shooting + discovered them in a barn on Garrett's farm, near Port Royal on the + Rappahannock. The soldiers surrounded the barn and demanded a surrender. + After the second demand Harold surrendered, under a shower of curses from + Booth, but Booth refused, declaring that he would never be taken alive. + The captain of the squad then fired the barn. A correspondent thus + describes the scene: + </p> + <p> + "'The blaze lit up the recesses of the great barn till every wasp's nest + and cobweb in the roof were luminous, flinging streaks of red and violet + across the tumbled farm gear in the corner. They tinged the beams, the + upright columns, the barricades, where clover and timothy piled high held + toward the hot incendiary their separate straws for the funeral pile. They + bathed the murderer's retreat in a beautiful illumination, and, while in + bold outlines his figure stood revealed, they rose like an impenetrable + wall to guard from sight the hated enemy who lit them. Behind the blaze, + with his eye to a crack, Colonel Conger saw Wilkes Booth standing upright + upon a crutch. At the gleam of fire Booth dropped his crutch and carbine, + and on both hands crept up to the spot to espy the incendiary and shoot + him dead. His eyes were lustrous with fever, and swelled and rolled in + terrible beauty, while his teeth were fixed, and he wore the expression of + one in the calmness before frenzy. In vain he peered, with vengeance in + his look; the blaze that made him visible concealed his enemy. A second he + turned glaring at the fire, as if to leap upon it and extinguish it, but + it had made such headway that he dismissed the thought. As calmly as upon + the battle-field a veteran stands amidst the hail of ball and shell and + plunging iron, Booth turned and pushed for the door, carbine in poise, and + the last resolve of death, which we name despair, set on his high, + bloodless forehead. + </p> + <p> + "'Just then Sergeant Boston Corbett fired through a crevice and shot Booth + in the neck. He was carried out of the barn and laid upon the grass, and + there died about four hours afterward. Before his misguided soul passed + into the silence of death he whispered something which Lieutenant Baker + bent down to hear. "Tell mother I die for my country," he said, faintly. + Reviving a moment later he re peated the words, and added, "I thought I + did for the best." + </p> + <p> + "His days of hiding and fleeing from his pursuers had left him pale, + haggard, dirty, and unkempt. He had cut off his mustache and cropped his + hair close to his head, and he and Harold both wore the Confederate gray + uniform.' + </p> + <p> + "Booth's body was taken to Washington, and a post mortem examination of it + held on board the monitor "Montauk," and on the night of the 27th of April + it was given in charge of two men in a rowboat, who, it is claimed, + disposed of it in secrecy—how, none but themselves know. Numerous + stories have been told of the final resting-place of that hated dead man. + Whoever knows the truth of it tells it not. + </p> + <p> + "Sergeant Corbett, who shot Booth, fired without orders. The last + instructions given by Colonel Baker to Colonel Conger and Lieutenant Baker + were: 'Don't shoot Booth, but take him alive.' Corbett was something of a + fanatic, and for a breach of discipline had once been court-martialled and + sentenced to be shot. The order, however, was not executed, but he had + been drummed out of the regiment. He belonged to Company L of the + Sixteenth New York Cavalry. He was English by birth, but was brought up in + this country, and learned the trade of hat finisher. While living in + Boston he Joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. Never having been + baptized, he was at a loss to know what name to adopt, but after making it + a subject of prayer he took the name of Boston, in honor of the place of + his conversion. He was ever undisciplined and erratic. He is said to be + living in Kansas, and draws a pension from the Government. + </p> + <p> + "Five of the conspirators were tried, and four, Payne, Harold, Atzerodt + and Mrs. Surratt, were hanged. Dr. Mudd was sent to the Dry Tortugas for a + period of years, and there did such good work among the yellow-fever + sufferers during an epidemic that he was pardoned and returned to this + country. He died only about two years ago at his home in Maryland, near + Washington. John Surratt fled to Italy, and there entered the Papal + guards. He was discovered by Archbishop Hughes, and by the courtesy of the + Italian government, though the extradition laws did not cover his case, + was delivered over to the United States for trial. At his first trial the + jury hung; at the second, in which Edwards Pierrepont was the Government + counsel, Surratt got off on the plea of limitations. He undertook to + lecture, and began at Rockville, Md. The Evening Star, of Washington, + reported the lecture, which was widely copied, and was of such a feeble + character that it killed him as a lecturer. He went to Baltimore, where, + it is said, he still lives. Spangler, the scene-shifter, who was an + accomplice of Booth, was sent to the Dry Tortugas, served out his term and + died about ten years ago. McLoughlin, who was arrested because of his + acquaintance with the conspirators, was sent to the Dry Tortugas and there + died. + </p> + <p> + "Ford's Theatre was never played in after that memorable night. Ten or + twelve days after the assassination Ford attempted to open it, but Stanton + prevented it, and the Government bought the theatre for $100,000, and + converted it into a medical museum. Ford was a Southern sympathizer. He + ran two theatres until four years ago, one in Washington and one in + Baltimore. Alison Naylor, the livery man who let Booth have his horse, + still lives in Washington. Major Rathbone, who was in the box with Lincoln + when he was shot, died within the last four years. Stewart, the man who + jumped on the stage to follow Booth, and announced to the audience that he + had escaped through the alley, died lately. Strange, but very few persons + can now be found who were at the theatre that night. Laura Keene died a + few years ago. + </p> + <p> + Booth the assassin was the third son of the eminent English tragedian + Junius Brutus Booth, and the brother of the equally renowned Edwin Booth. + He was only twenty-six years old when he figured as the chief actor in + this horrible drama. He began his dramatic career as John Wilkes, and as a + stock actor gained a fair reputation, but had not achieved any special + success. He had played chiefly in the South and West, and but a few times + in New York. Some time before the assassination of Lincoln he had + abandoned his profession on account of a bronchial affection. Those who + knew him and saw him on that fatal Friday say that he was restless, like + one who, consciously or unconsciously, was overshadowed by some awful + fate. + </p> + <p> + He knew that the President and his party intended to be present at Ford's + theatre in the evening, and he asked an acquaintance if he should attend + the performance, remarking that if he did he would see some unusually fine + acting. He was a handsome man. His eyes were large and dark, his hair dark + and inclined to curl, his features finely moulded, his form tall, and his + address pleasing. + </p> + <p> + Frederick Stone, counsel for Harold after Booth's death, is authority for + the statement that the occasion for Lincoln's assassination was the + sentiment expressed by the President in a speech delivered from the steps + of the White House on the night of April 11, when he said: "If universal + amnesty is granted to the insurgents I cannot see how I can avoid exacting + in return universal suffrage, or at least suffrage on the basis of + intelligence and military service." Booth was standing before Mr. Lincoln + on the outskirts of the crowd. "That means nigger citizenship," he said to + Harold by his side. "Now, by God! I'll put him through." But whatever may + have been the incentive, Booth seemed to crave the reprehensible fame that + attaches to a bold and dramatically wicked deed. He may, it is true, have + been mentally unhinged, but, whether sane or senseless, he made for + himself an infamous and endless notoriety when he murdered the patient, + forbearing man who had directed our ship of state through the most + tempestuous waters it ever encountered. + </p> + <p> + In the death of Lincoln the South, prostrate and bleeding, lost a friend; + and his unholy taking-off at the very hour of the assured supremacy of the + Union cause ran the iron into the heart of the North. His sun went down + suddenly, and whelmed the country in a darkness which was felt by every + heart; but far up the clouds sprang apart, and soon the golden light, + flooding the heavens with radiance, illuminated every uncovered brow with + the hope of a fair to-morrow. His name will ever be the watchword of + liberty. His work is finished, and sealed forever with the veneration + given to the blood of martyrs. Yesterday a man reviled and abused, a + target for the shafts of malice and hatred: to-day an apostle. Yesterday a + power: to-day a prestige, sacred, irresistible. The life and the tragic + death of Mr. Lincoln mark an epoch in history from which dates the + unqualified annunciation by the American people of the greatest truth in + the bible of republicanism—the very keystone of that arch of human + rights which is destined to overshadow and remodel every government upon + the earth. The glorious brightness of that upper world, as it welcomed his + faint and bleeding spirit, broke through upon the earth at his exit—it + was the dawn of a day growing brighter as the grand army of freedom + follows in the march of time. + </p> + <p> + Lincoln's place in history will be fixed—aside from his personal + characteristics—by the events and results of the war. As a great + political leader who quelled a rebellion of eight millions of people, + liberated four millions of slaves, and demonstrated to the world the + ability of the people to maintain a government of themselves, by + themselves, for themselves, he will assuredly occupy no insignificant + place. + </p> + <p> + To accomplish the great work of preserving the Union cost the land a great + price. Generations of Americans yet unborn, and humanity everywhere, for + years to come will mourn the horrors and sacrifices of the first civil war + in the United States; but above the blood of its victims, above the bones + of its dead, above the ashes of desolate hearths, will arise the colossal + figure of Abraham Lincoln as the most acceptable sacrifice offered by the + nineteenth century in expiation of the great crime of the seventeenth. + Above all the anguish and tears of that immense hecatomb will appear the + shade of Lincoln as the symbol of hope and of pardon. + </p> + <p> + This is the true lesson of Lincoln's life: real and enduring greatness, + that will survive the corrosion and abrasion of time, of change, and of + progress, must rest upon character. In certain brilliant and what is + understood to be most desirable endowments how many Americans have + surpassed him. Yet how he looms above them all! Not eloquence, nor logic, + nor grasp of thought; not statesmanship, nor power of command, nor + courage; not any nor all of these have made him what he is, but these, in + the degree in which he possessed them, conjoined to those qualities + comprised in the term character, have given him his fame—have made + him for all time to come the great American, the grand, central figure in + American—perhaps the world's—history. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + The substance of this chapter I delivered in the form of a lecture to a + Springfield audience in 1866. W. H. H. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + SOON after the death of Mr. Lincoln Dr. J. G. Holland came out to Illinois + from his home in Massachusetts to gather up materials for a life of the + dead President. The gentleman spent several days with me, and I gave him + all the assistance that lay in my power. I was much pleased with him, and + awaited with not a little interest the appearance of his book. I felt sure + that even after my long and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Lincoln I never + fully knew and understood him, and I therefore wondered what sort of a + description Dr. Holland, after interviewing Lincoln's old-time friends, + would make of his individual characteristics. When the book appeared he + said this: "The writer has conversed with multitudes of men who claimed to + know Mr. Lincoln intimately: yet there are not two of the whole number who + agree in their estimate of him. The fact was that he rarely showed more + than one aspect of himself to one man. He opened himself to men in + different directions. To illustrate the effect of the peculiarity of Mr. + Lincoln's intercourse with men it may be said that men who knew him + through all his professional and political life offered opinions as + diametrically opposite to these, viz.: that he was a very ambitious man, + and that he was without a particle of ambition; that he was one of the + saddest men that ever lived, and that he was one of the jolliest men that + ever lived; that he was very religious, but that he was not a Christian; + that he was a Christian, but did not know it; that he was so far from + being a religious man or a Christian that 'the less said upon that subject + the better;' that he was the most cunning man in America, and that he had + not a particle of cunning in him; that he had the strongest personal + attachments, and that he had no personal attachments at all—only a + general good feeling towards everybody; that he was a man of indomitable + will, and that he was a man almost without a will; that he was a tyrant, + and that he was the softest-hearted, most brotherly man that ever lived; + that he was remarkable for his pure-mindedness, and that he was the + foulest in his jests and stories of any man in the country; that he was a + witty man, and that he was only a retailer of the wit of others; that his + apparent candor and fairness were only apparent, and that they were as + real as his head and his hands; that he was a boor, and that he was in all + respects a gentleman; that he was a leader of the people, and that he was + always led by the people; that he was cool and impassive, and that he was + susceptible of the strongest passions. It is only by tracing these + separate streams of impression back to their fountain that we are able to + arrive at anything like a competent comprehension of the man, or to learn + why he came to be held in such various estimation. Men caught only + separate aspects of his character—only the fragments that were + called into exhibition by their own qualities." + </p> + <p> + Dr. Holland had only found what Lincoln's friends had always experienced + in their relations with him—that he was a man of many moods and many + sides. He never revealed himself entirely to any one man, and therefore he + will always to a certain extent remain enveloped in doubt. Even those who + were with him through long years of hard study and under constantly + varying circumstances can hardly say they knew him through and through. I + always believed I could read him as thoroughly as any man, and yet he was + so different in many respects from any other one I ever met before or + since his time that I cannot say I comprehended him. In this chapter I + give my recollection of his individual characteristics as they occur to + me, and allow the world to form its own opinion. If my recollection of the + man destroys any other person's ideal, I cannot help it. By a faithful and + lifelike description of Lincoln the man, and a study of his peculiar and + personal traits, perhaps some of the apparent contradictions met with by + Dr. Holland will have melted from sight. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln was six feet four inches high, and when he left the city of + his home for Washington was fifty-one years old, having good health and no + gray hairs, or but few, on his head. He was thin, wiry, sinewy, raw-boned; + thin through the breast to the back, and narrow across the shoulders; + standing he leaned forward—was what may be called stoop-shouldered, + inclining to the consumptive by build. His usual weight was one hundred + and eighty pounds. His organization—rather his structure and + functions—worked slowly. + </p> + <p> + His blood had to run a long distance from his heart to the extremities of + his frame, and his nerve force had to travel through dry ground a long + distance before his muscles were obedient to his will. His structure was + loose and leathery; his body was shrunk and shrivelled; he had dark skin, + dark hair, and looked woe-struck. The whole man, body and mind, worked + slowly, as if it needed oiling. Physically he was a very powerful man, + lifting with ease four hundred, and in one case six hundred, pounds. His + mind was like his body, and worked slowly but strongly. Hence there was + very little bodily or mental wear and tear in him. This peculiarity in his + construction gave him great advantage over other men in public life. No + man in America—scarcely a man in the world—could have stood + what Lincoln did in Washington and survived through more than one term of + the Presidency. + </p> + <p> + When he walked he moved cautiously but firmly; his long arms and giant + hands swung down by his side. He walked with even tread, the inner sides + of his feet being parallel. He put the whole foot flat down on the ground + at once, not landing on the heel; he likewise lifted his foot all at once, + not rising from the toe, and hence he had no spring to his walk. His walk + was undulatory—catching and pocketing tire, weariness, and pain, all + up and down his person, and thus preventing them from locating. The first + impression of a stranger, or a man who did not observe closely, was that + his walk implied shrewdness and cunning—that he was a tricky man; + but, in reality, it was the walk of caution and firmness. In sitting down + on a common chair he was no taller than ordinary men. His legs and arms + were abnormally, unnaturally long, and in undue proportion to the + remainder of his body. It was only when he stood up that he loomed above + other men. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln's head was long, and tall from the base of the brain and from + the eyebrows. His head ran backwards, his forehead rising as it ran back + at a low angle, like Clay's, and unlike Webster's, which was almost + perpendicular. The size of his hat measured at the hatter's block was + seven and one-eighth, his head being, from ear to ear, six and one-half + inches, and from the front to the back of the brain eight inches. Thus + measured it was not below the medium size. His forehead was narrow but + high; his hair was dark, almost black, and lay floating where his fingers + or the winds left it, piled up at random. His cheek-bones were high, + sharp, and prominent; his jaws were long and up-curved; his nose was + large, long, blunt, and a little awry towards the right eye; his chin was + sharp and upcurved; his eyebrows cropped out like a huge rock on the brow + of a hill; his long, sallow face was wrinkled and dry, with a hair here + and there on the surface; his cheeks were leathery; his ears were large, + and ran out almost at right angles from his head, caused partly by heavy + hats and partly by nature; his lower lip was thick, hanging, and + undercurved, while his chin reached for the lip upcurved; his neck was + neat and trim, his head being well balanced on it; there was the lone mole + on the right cheek, and Adam's apple on his throat. + </p> + <p> + Thus stood, walked, acted, and looked Abraham Lincoln. He was not a pretty + man by any means, nor was he an ugly one; he was a homely man, careless of + his looks, plain-looking and plain-acting. He had no pomp, display, or + dignity, so-called. He appeared simple in his carriage and bearing. He was + a sad-looking man; his melancholy dripped from him as he walked. His + apparent gloom impressed his friends,* and created sympathy for him—one + means of his great success. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Lincoln's melancholy never failed to impress any man who ever saw or + knew him. The perpetual look of sadness was his most prominent feature. + The cause of this peculiar condition was a matter of frequent discussion + among his friends. John T. Stuart said it was due to his abnormal + digestion. His liver failed to work properly—did not secrete bile—and + his bowels were equally as inactive. "I used to advise him to take + blue-mass pills," related Stuart, "and he did take them before he went + to Washington, and for five months while he was President, but when I + came on to Congress he told me he had ceased, using them because they + made him cross." The reader can hardly realize the extent of this + peculiar tendency to gloom. One of Lincoln's colleagues in the + Legislature of Illinois is authority for the statement coming from + Lincoln himself that this "mental depression became so intense at times + he never dared carry a pocket knife." Two things greatly intensified his + characteristic sadness: one was the endless succession of troubles in + his domestic life, which he had to bear in silence; and the other was + unquestionably the knowledge of his own obscure and lowly origin. The + recollection of these things burned a deep impress on his sensitive + soul. As to the cause of this morbid condition my idea has always been + that it was occult, and could not be explained by any course of + observation and reasoning. It was ingrained, and, being ingrained, could + not be reduced to rule, or the cause arrayed. It was necessarily + hereditary, but whether it came down from a long line of ancestors and + far back, or was simply the reproduction of the saddened life of Nancy + Hanks, cannot well be determined. At any rate it was part of his nature, + and could no more be shaken off than he could part with his brains. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He was gloomy, abstracted, and joyous—rather humorous—by + turns; but I do not think he knew what real joy was for many years. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln sometimes walked our streets cheerily, he was not always + gloomy, and then it was that on meeting a friend he greeted him with plain + "Howd'y?" clasping his hand in both of his own, and gave him a hearty + soul-welcome. On a winter's morning he might be seen stalking towards the + market-house, basket on arm, his old gray shawl wrapped around his neck, + his little boy Willie or Tad running along at his heels asking a thousand + boyish questions, which his father, in deep abstraction, neither heeded + nor heard.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "I lived next door to the Lincolns for many years, knew the family + well. Mr. Lincoln used to come to our house, his feet encased in a pair + of loose slippers, and with an old, faded pair of trousers fastened with + one suspender. He frequently came to our house for milk. Our rooms were + low, and he said one day,'Jim, you'll have to lift your loft a little + higher; I can't straighten out under it very well.' To my wife, who was + short of stature, he used to say that little people had some advantages: + they required less 'wood and wool to make them comfortable.' In his yard + Lincoln had but little shrubbery. He once planted some rose bushes, to + which he called my attention, but soon neglected them altogether. He + never planted any vines or fruit trees, seemed to have no fondness for + such things. At one time, yielding to my suggestion, he undertook to + keep a garden in the rear part of his yard, but one season's experience + sufficed to cure him of all desire for another. He kept his own horse, + fed and curried it when at home; he also fed and milked his own cow, and + sawed his own wood. Mr. Lincoln and his wife agreed moderately well. + Frequently Mrs. Lincoln's temper would get the better of her. If she + became furious, as she often did, her husband tried to pay no attention + to her. He would sometimes laugh at her, but generally he would pick up + one of the children and walk off. I have heard her say that if Mr. + Lincoln had remained at home more she could have loved him better. One + day while Mr. Lincoln was absent— he had gone to Chicago to try a + suit in the United States Court—his wife and I formed a conspiracy + to take off the roof and raise his house. It was originally a frame + structure one story and a half high. When Lincoln returned he met a + gentleman on the sidewalk and, looking at his own house and manifesting + great surprise, inquired: 'Stranger, can you tell me where Lincoln + lives?' The gentleman gave him the necessary information, and Lincoln + gravely entered his own premises."—Statement, James Gourly, + February 9, 1866. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + If a friend met or passed him, and he awoke from his reverie, something + would remind him of a story he had heard in Indiana, and tell it he would, + and there was no alternative but to listen. + </p> + <p> + Thus, I repeat, stood and walked and talked this singular man. He was odd, + but when that gray eye and that face and those features were lit up by the + inward soul in fires of emotion, then it was that all those apparently + ugly features sprang into organs of beauty or disappeared in the sea of + inspiration that often flooded his face. Sometimes it appeared as if + Lincoln's soul was fresh from its Creator. + </p> + <p> + I have asked the friends and foes of Mr. Lincoln alike what they thought + of his perceptions. One gentleman of unquestioned ability and free from + all partiality or prejudice said, "Mr. Lincoln's perceptions were slow, a + little perverted, if not somewhat distorted and diseased." If the meaning + of this is that Mr. Lincoln saw things from a peculiar angle of his being, + and from this was susceptible to nature's impulses, and that he so + expressed himself, then I have no objection to what is said. + </p> + <p> + Otherwise I dissent. Mr. Lincoln's perceptions were slow, cold, clear, and + exact. Everything came to him in its precise shape and color. To some men + the world of matter and of man comes ornamented with beauty, life, and + action; and hence more or less false and inexact. No lurking illusion or + other error, false in itself and clad for the moment in robes of splendor, + ever passed undetected or unchallenged over the threshold of his mind—that + point which divides vision from the realm and home of thought. Names to + him were nothing, and titles naught—assumption always standing back + abashed at his cold, intellectual glare. Neither his perceptions nor + intellectual vision were perverted, distorted, or diseased. He saw all + things through a perfect mental lens. There was no diffraction or + refraction there. He was not impulsive, fanciful, or imaginative; but + cold, calm, and precise. He threw his whole mental light around the + object, and, after a time, substance and quality stood apart, form and + color took their appropriate places, and all was clear and exact in his + mind. His fault, if any, was that he saw things less than they really + were; less beautiful and more frigid. He crushed the unreal, the inexact, + the hollow, and the sham. He saw things in rigidity rather than in vital + action. He saw what no man could dispute, but he failed to see what might + have been seen. + </p> + <p> + To some minds the world is all life, a soul beneath the material; but to + Mr. Lincoln no life was individual that did not manifest itself to him. + His mind was his standard. His mental action was deliberate, and he was + pitiless and persistent in pursuit of the truth. No error went undetected, + no falsehood unexposed, if he once was aroused in search of the truth. The + true peculiarity of Mr. Lincoln has not been seen by his various + biographers; or, if seen, they have failed wofully to give it that + importance which it deserves. Newton beheld the law of the universe in the + fall of an apple from a tree to the ground; Owen saw the animal in its + claw; Spencer saw evolution in the growth of a seed; and Shakespeare saw + human nature in the laugh of a man. Nature was suggestive to all these + men. Mr. Lincoln no less saw philosophy in a story and an object lesson in + a joke. His was a new and original position, one which was always + suggesting something to him. The world and man, principles and facts, all + were full of suggestions to his susceptible soul. They continually put him + in mind of something. His ideas were odd and original for the reason that + he was a peculiar and original creation himself. + </p> + <p> + His power in the association of ideas was as great as his memory was + tenacious and strong. His language indicated oddity and originality of + vision as well as expression. Words and language are but the counterparts + of the idea—the other half of the idea; they are but the stinging, + hot, leaden bullets that drop from the mould; in a rifle, with powder + stuffed behind them and fire applied, they are an embodied force + resistlessly pursuing their object. In the search for words Mr. Lincoln + was often at a loss. He was often perplexed to give proper expression to + his ideas; first, because he was not master of the English language; and + secondly, because there were, in the vast store of words, so few that + contained the exact coloring, power, and shape of his ideas. This will + account for the frequent resort by him to the use of stories, maxims, and + jokes in which to clothe his ideas, that they might be comprehended. So + true was this peculiar mental vision of his that, though mankind has been + gathering, arranging, and classifying facts for thousands of years, + Lincoln's peculiar standpoint could give him no advantage over other men's + labor. Hence he tore down to their deepest foundations all arrangements of + facts, and constructed new ones to govern himself. He was compelled from + his peculiar mental organization to do this. His labor was great and + continuous. + </p> + <p> + The truth about Mr. Lincoln is that he read less and thought more than any + man in his sphere in America. No man can put his finger on any great book + written in the last or present century that he read thoroughly. When young + he read the Bible, and when of age he read Shakespeare; but, though he + often quoted from both, he never read either one through. He is + acknowledged now to have been a great man, but the question is what made + him great. I repeat, that he read less and thought more than any man of + his standing in America, if not in the world. He possessed originality and + power of thought in an eminent degree. Besides his well established + reputation for caution, he was concentrated in his thoughts and had great + continuity of reflection. In everything he was patient and enduring. These + are some of the grounds of his wonderful success. + </p> + <p> + Not only were nature, man, and principle suggestive to Mr. Lincoln, not + only had he accurate and exact perceptions, but he was causative; his + mind, apparently with an automatic movement, ran back behind facts, + principles, and all things to their origin and first cause—to that + point where forces act at once as effect and cause. He would stop in the + street and analyze a machine. He would whittle a thing to a point, and + then count the numberless inclined planes and their pitch making the + point. Mastering and defining this, he would then cut that point back and + get a broad transverse section of his pine-stick, and peel and define + that. Clocks, omnibuses, language, paddle-wheels, and idioms never escaped + his observation and analysis. Before he could form an idea of anything, + before he would express his opinion on a subject, he must know its origin + and history in substance and quality, in magnitude and gravity. He must + know it inside and outside, upside and downside. He searched and + comprehended his own mind and nature thoroughly, as I have often heard him + say. He must analyze a sensation, an idea, and run back in its history to + its origin, and purpose. He was remorseless in his analysis of facts and + principles. When all these exhaustive processes had been gone through with + he could form an idea and express it; but no sooner. He had no faith, and + no respect for "say so's," come though they might from tradition or + authority. Thus everything had to run through the crucible, and be tested + by the fires of his analytic mind; and when at last he did speak, his + utterances rang out with the clear and keen ring of gold upon the counters + of the understanding. He reasoned logically through analogy and + comparison. All opponents dreaded his originality of idea, his + condensation, definition, and force of expression; and woe be to the man + who hugged to his bosom a secret error if Lincoln got on the chase of it. + I repeat, woe to him! Time could hide the error in no nook or corner of + space in which he would not detect and expose it. + </p> + <p> + Though gifted with accurate and acute perception, though a profound + thinker as well as analyzer, still Lincoln's judgment on many and minor + matters was oftentimes childish. By the word judgment I do not mean what + mental philosophers would call the exercise of reason, will—understanding; + but I use the term in its popular sense. I refer to that capacity or power + which decides on the fitness, the harmony, or, if you will, the beauty and + appropriateness of things. I have always thought, and sometimes said, + Lincoln lacked this quality in his mental structure. He was on the alert + if a principle was involved or a man's rights at stake in a transaction; + but he never could see the harm in wearing a sack-coat instead of a + swallowtail to an evening party, nor could he realize the offense of + telling a vulgar yarn if a preacher happened to be present.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * Sometime in 1857 a lady reader or elocutionist came to Springfield and + gave a public reading in a hall immediately north of the State House. As + lady lecturers were then rare birds, a very large crowd greeted her. + Among other things she recited "Nothing to Wear," a piece in which is + described the perplexities that beset "Miss Flora McFlimsey" in her + efforts to appear fashionable. In the midst of one stanza, in which no + effort is made to say anything particularly amusing, and during the + reading of which the audience manifested the most respectful silence and + attention, some one in the rear seats burst out into a loud, coarse + laugh—a sudden and explosive guffaw. It startled the speaker and + audience, and kindled a storm of unsuppressed laughter and applause. + Everyone looked back to ascertain the cause of the demonstration, and + was greatly surprised to find that it was Mr. Lincoln. He blushed and + squirmed with the awkward diffidence of a schoolboy. What prompted him + to laugh no one was able to explain. He was doubtless wrapped up in a + brown study, and, recalling some amusing episode, indulged in laughter + without realizing his surroundings. The experience mortified him + greatly. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + As already expressed, Mr. Lincoln had no faith. In order to believe, he + must see and feel, and thrust his hand into the place. He must taste, + smell, and handle before he had faith or even belief. Such a mind + manifestly must have its time. His forte and power lay in digging out for + himself and securing for his mind its own food, to be assimilated unto + itself. Thus, in time he would form opinions and conclusions that no human + power could overthrow. They were as irresistible as the rush of a flood; + as convincing as logic embodied in mathematics. And yet the question + arises: "Had Mr. Lincoln great, good common-sense?" A variety of opinions + suggest themselves in answer to this. If the true test is that a man shall + judge the rush and whirl of human actions and transactions as wisely and + accurately as though indefinite time and proper conditions were at his + disposal, then I am compelled to follow the logic of things and admit that + he had no great stock of common-sense; but if, on the other hand, the time + and conditions were ripe, his common-sense was in every case equal to the + emergency. He knew himself, and never trusted his dollar or his fame in + casual opinions—never acted hastily or prematurely on great matters. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln believed that the great leading law of human nature is motive. + He reasoned all ideas of a disinterested action out of my mind. I used to + hold that an action could be pure, disinterested, and wholly free from + selfishness; but he divested me of that delusion. His idea was that all + human actions were caused by motives, and that at the bottom of these + motives was self. He defied me to act without motive and unselfishly; and + when I did the act and told him of it, he analyzed and sifted it to the + last grain. After he had concluded, I could not avoid the admission that + he had demonstrated the absolute selfishness of the entire act. Although a + profound analyzer of the laws of human nature he could form no just + construction of the motives of the particular individual. He knew but + little of the play of the features as seen in the "human face divine." He + could not distinguish between the paleness of anger and the crimson tint + of modesty. In determining what each play of the features indicated he was + pitiably weak. + </p> + <p> + The great predominating elements of Mr. Lincoln's peculiar character were: + first, his great capacity and power of reason; second, his conscience and + his excellent understanding; third, an exalted idea of the sense of right + and equity; fourth, his intense veneration of the true and the good. His + conscience, his heart and all the faculties and qualities of his mind + bowed submissively to the despotism of his reason. He lived and acted from + the standard of reason—that throne of logic, home of principle—the + realm of Deity in man. It is from this point Mr. Lincoln must be viewed. + Not only was he cautious, patient, and enduring; not only had he + concentration and great continuity of thought; but he had profound + analytical power. His vision was clear, and he was emphatically the master + of statement. His pursuit of the truth, as before mentioned, was + indefatigable. He reasoned from well-chosen principles with such + clearness, force, and directness that the tallest intellects in the land + bowed to him. He was the strongest man I ever saw, looking at him from the + elevated standpoint of reason and logic. He came down from that height + with irresistible and crashing force. His Cooper Institute and other + printed speeches will prove this; but his speeches before the courts—especially + the Supreme Court of Illinois—if they had been preserved, would + demonstrate it still more plainly. Here he demanded time to think and + prepare. The office of reason is to determine the truth. Truth is the + power of reason, and Lincoln loved truth for its own sake. It was to him + reason's food. + </p> + <p> + Conscience, the second great quality of Mr. Lincoln's character, is that + faculty which induces in us love of the just. Its real office is justice; + right and equity are its correlatives. As a court, it is in session + continuously; it decides all acts at all times. Mr. Lincoln had a deep, + broad, living conscience. His reason, however, was the real judge; it told + him what was true or false, and therefore good or bad, right or wrong, + just or unjust, and his conscience echoed back the decision. His + conscience ruled his heart; he was always just before he was generous. It + cannot be said of any mortal that he was always absolutely just. Neither + was Lincoln always just; but his general life was. It follows that if Mr. + Lincoln had great reason and great conscience he must have been an honest + man; and so he was. He was rightfully entitled to the appellation "Honest + Abe." Honesty was his polar star. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln also had a good understanding; that is, the faculty that + comprehends the exact state of things and determines their relations, near + or remote. The understanding does not necessarily enquire for the reason + of things. While Lincoln was odd and original, while he lived out of + himself and by himself, and while he could absorb but little from others, + yet a reading of his speeches, messages, and letters satisfies us that he + had good understanding. But the strongest point in his make-up was the + knowledge he had of himself; he comprehended and understood his own + capacity—what he did and why he did it—better perhaps than any + man of his day. He had a wider and deeper comprehension of his + environments, of the political conditions especially, than men who were + more learned or had had the benefits of a more thorough training. + </p> + <p> + He was a very sensitive man,—modest to the point of diffidence,—and + often hid himself in the masses to prevent the discovery of his identity. + He was not indifferent, however, to approbation and public opinion. He had + no disgusting egotism and no pompous pride, no aristocracy, no + haughtiness, no vanity. Merging together the qualities of his nature he + was a meek, quiet, unobtrusive gentleman. + </p> + <p> + As many contradictory opinions prevail in reference to Mr. Lincoln's heart + and humanity as on the question of his judgment. As many persons perhaps + contend that he was cold and obdurate as that he was warm and + affectionate. The first thing the world met in contact with him was his + head and conscience; after that he exposed the tender side of his nature—his + heart, subject at all times to his exalted sense of right and equity, + namely his conscience. In proportion as he held his conscience subject to + his head, he held his heart subject to his head and conscience. His + humanity had to defer to his sense of justice and, the eternal right. His + heart was the lowest of these organs, if we may call them such—the + weakest of the three. Some men have reversed this order and characterized + his heart as his ruling organ. This estimate of Mr. Lincoln endows him + with love regardless of truth, justice, and right. The question still is, + was Lincoln cold and heartless, or warm and affectionate? Can a man be all + heart, all head, and all conscience? Some of these are masters over the + others, some will be dominant, ruling with imperial sway, and thus giving + character to the man. What, in the first place, do we mean by a + warm-hearted man? Is it one who goes out of himself and reaches for others + spontaneously, seeking to correct some abuse to mankind because of a deep + love for humanity, apart from equity and truth, and who does what he does + for love's sake? If so, Mr. Lincoln was a cold man. If a man, woman, or + child approached him, and the prayer of such an one was granted, that + itself was not evidence of his love. The African was enslaved and deprived + of his rights; a principle was violated in doing so. Rights imply + obligations as well as duties. Mr. Lincoln was President; he was in a + position that made it his duty, through his sense of right, his love of + principle, the constitutional obligations imposed upon him by the oath of + office, to strike the blow against slavery. But did he do it for love? He + has himself answered the question "I would not free the slaves if I could + preserve the Union without it." When he freed the slaves there was no + heart in the act. This argument can be used against his too enthusiastic + friends. + </p> + <p> + In general terms his life was cold—at least characterized by what + many persons would deem great indifference. He had, however, a strong + latent capacity to love: but the object must first come in the guise of a + principle, next it must be right and true—then it was lovely in his + sight. He loved humanity when it was oppressed—an abstract love—as + against the concrete love centered in an individual. He rarely used terms + of endearment, and yet he was proverbially tender and gentle. He gave the + key-note to his own character when he said: "With malice towards none, + with charity for all." In proportion to his want of deep, intense love he + had 110 hate and bore no malice. His charity for an imperfect man was as + broad as his devotion to principle was enduring. + </p> + <p> + "But was not Mr. Lincoln a man of great humanity?" asks a friend at my + elbow; to which I reply, "Has not that question been answered already?" + Let us suppose it has not. We must understand each other. What is meant by + his humanity? Is it meant that he had much of human nature in him? If so, + I grant that he was a man of humanity. If, in the event of the above + definition being unsatisfactory or untrue, it is meant that he was tender + and kind, then I again agree. But if the inference is that he would + sacrifice truth or right in the slightest degree for the love of a friend, + then he was neither tender nor kind; nor did he have any humanity. The law + of human nature is such that it cannot be all head, all conscience, and + all heart in one person at the same time. Our Maker so constituted things + that, where God through reason blazed the way, we might boldly walk + therein. The glory of Mr. Lincoln's power lay in the just and magnificent + equipoise of head, conscience, and heart; and here his fame must rest or + not at all. + </p> + <p> + Not only were Mr. Lincoln's perceptions good; not only was nature + suggestive to him; not only was he original and strong; not only had he + great reason, good understanding; not only did he love the true and the + good—the eternal right; not only was he tender and sympathetic and + kind;—but, in due proportion and in legitimate subordination, he had + a glorious combination of them all. Through his perceptions—the + suggestiveness of nature, his originality and strength; through his + magnificent reason, his understanding, his conscience, his tenderness, + quick sympathy, his heart; he approximated as nearly as human nature and + the imperfections of man would permit to an embodiment of the great moral + principle, "Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you." + </p> + <p> + Of Mr. Lincoln's will-power there are two opinions also: one that he + lacked any will; the other that he was all will. Both these contradictory + views have their vehement and honest champions. For the great underlying + principles of mind in man he had great respect. He loved the true first, + the right second, and the good last. His mind struggled for truth, and his + soul reached out for substances. He cared not for forms, ways, methods—the + non-substantial things of this world. He could not, by reason of his + structure and mental organization, care anything about them. He did not + have an intense care for any particular or individual man—the + dollar, property, rank, orders, manners, or similar things; neither did he + have any avarice or other like vice in his nature. He detested somewhat + all technical rules in law, philosophy, and other sciences—mere + forms everywhere—because they were, as a general thing, founded on + arbitrary thoughts and ideas, and not on reason, truth, and the right. + These things seemed to him lacking in substance, and he disregarded them + because they cramped the originality of his genius. What suited a little + narrow, critical mind did not suit Mr. Lincoln any more than a child's + clothes would fit his father's body. Generally he took no interest in town + affairs or local elections; he attended no meetings that pertained to + local interests. He did not care—because by reason of his nature he + could not—who succeeded to the presidency of this or that society or + railroad company; who made the most money; who was going to Philadelphia, + and what were the costs of such a trip; who was going to be married; who + among his friends got this office or that—who was elected street + commissioner Or health inspector. No principle of truth, right, or justice + being involved in any of these things he could not be moved by them.* + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * A bitter, malignant fool who always had opposed Lincoln and his + friends, and had lost no opportunity to abuse them, induced Lincoln to + go to the Governor of Illinois and recommend him for an important office + in the State Militia. There being no principle at stake Lincoln could + not refuse the request. When his friends heard of it they were furious + in their denunciation of his action. It mortified him greatly to learn + that he had displeased them. "And yet," he said, a few days later, + dwelling on the matter to me in the office, "I couldn't well refuse the + little the fellow asked of me." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He could not understand why men struggled so desperately for the little + glory or lesser salary the small offices afforded. He made this remark to + me one day in Washington: "If ever this free people—this Government—is + utterly demoralized, it will come from this human struggle for office—a + way to live without work." It puzzled him a good deal, he said, to get at + the root of this dreaded disease, which spread like contagion during the + nation's death struggle. + </p> + <p> + Because he could not feel a deep interest in the things referred to, nor + manifest the same interest in those who were engaged in the popular + scramble, he was called indifferent—nay, ungrateful—to his + friends. This estimate of the man was a very unjust as well as unfair one. + Mr. Lincoln loved his friends with commendable loyalty: in many cases he + clung to them tenaciously, like iron to iron welded; and yet, because he + could not be actively aroused, nor enter into the spirit of their anxiety + for office, he was called ungrateful. But he was not so. He may have + seemed passive and lacking in interest; he may not have measured his + friendly duties by the applicant's hot desire; but yet he was never + ungrateful. Neither was he a selfish man. He would never have performed an + act, even to promote himself to the Presidency, if by that act any human + being was wronged. If it is said that he preferred Abraham Lincoln to + anyone else in the pursuit of his ambition, and that because of this he + was a selfish man, then I can see no impropriety in the charge. Under the + same conditions we should all be equally guilty. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0011" id="linkimage-0011"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/354.jpg" alt="Statue 354 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Remembering that Mr. Lincoln's mind moved logically, slowly, and + cautiously, the question of his will and its power is easily solved. + Although he cared but little for simple facts, rules, and methods, he did + care for the truth and right of principle. In debate he courteously + granted all the forms and non-essential things to his opponent. Sometimes + he yielded nine points out of ten. The nine he brushed aside as husks or + rubbish; but the tenth, being a question of substance, he clung to with + all his might. On the underlying principles of truth and justice his will + was as firm as steel and as tenacious as iron. It was as solid, real, and + vital as an idea on which the world turns. He scorned to support or adopt + an untrue position, in proportion as his conscience prevented him from + doing an unjust thing. Ask him to sacrifice in the slightest degree his + convictions of truth*—as he was asked to do when he made his + "house-divided-against-itself speech"—and his soul would have + exclaimed with indignant scorn, "The world perish first!" + </p> + <p> + Such was Lincoln's will. Because on one line of questions—the + non-essential—he was pliable, and on the other he was as immovable + as the rocks, have arisen the contradictory notions prevalent regarding + him. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + * "Mr. Lincoln seems to me too true and honest a man to have his eulogy + written, and I have no taste for writing eulogies. I am sure that, if he + were alive, he would feel that the exact truth regarding himself was far + more worthy of himself and of his biographer than any flattering + picture. I loved the man as he was, with his rugged features, his + coarse, rebellious hair, his sad, dreamy eyes; and I love to see him, + and I hope to describe him, as he was, and not otherwise."—Robert + Dale Owen, January 22, 1867, MS. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + It only remains to say that he was inflexible and unbending in human + transactions when it was necessary to be so, and not otherwise. At one + moment he was pliable and expansive as gentle air; at the next as + tenacious and unyielding as gravity itself. + </p> + <p> + Thus I have traced Mr. Lincoln through his perceptions, his + suggestiveness, his judgment, and his four predominant qualities: powers + of reason, understanding, conscience, and heart. In the grand review of + his peculiar characteristics, nothing creates such an impressive effect as + his love of the truth. It looms up over everything else. His life is proof + of the assertion that he never yielded in his fundamental conception of + truth to any man for any end. + </p> + <p> + All the follies and wrong Mr. Lincoln ever fell into or committed sprang + out of these weak points: the want of intuitive judgment; the lack of + quick, sagacious knowledge of the play and meaning of men's features as + written on the face; the want of the sense of propriety of things; his + tenderness and mercy; and lastly, his unsuspecting nature. He was deeply + and sincerely honest himself, and assumed that others were so. He never + suspected men; and hence in dealing with them he was easily imposed upon. + </p> + <p> + All the wise and good things Mr. Lincoln ever did sprang out of his great + reason, his conscience, his understanding, his heart, his love of the + truth, the right, and the good. I am speaking now of his particular and + individual faculties and qualities, not of their combination or the result + of any combinations. Run out these qualities and faculties abstractly, and + see what they produce. For instance, a tender heart, a strong reason, a + broad under standing, an exalted conscience, a love of the true and the + good must, proportioned reasonably and applied practically, produce a man + of great power and great humanity. + </p> + <p> + As illustrative of a combination in Mr. Lincoln's organization, it may be + said that his eloquence lay in the strength of his logical faculty, his + supreme power of reasoning, his great understanding, and his love of + principle; in his clear and accurate vision; in his cool and masterly + statement of principles around which the issues gather; and in the + statement of those issues and the grouping of the facts that are to carry + conviction to the minds of men of every grade of intelligence. He was so + clear that he could not be misunderstood or long misrepresented. He stood + square and bolt upright to his convictions, and anyone who listened to him + would be convinced that he formed his thoughts and utterances by them. His + mind was not exactly a wide, broad, generalizing, and comprehensive mind, + nor yet a versatile, quick, and subtle one, bounding here and there as + emergencies demanded; but it was deep, enduring, strong, like a majestic + machine running in deep iron grooves with heavy flanges on its wheels. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lincoln himself was a very sensitive man, and hence, in dealing with + others, he avoided wounding their hearts or puncturing their sensibility. + He was unusually considerate of the feelings of other men, regardless of + their rank, condition, or station. At first sight he struck one with his + plainness, simplicity of manner, sincerity, candor, and truthfulness. He + had no double interests and no overwhelming dignity with which to chill + the air around his visitor. He was always easy of approach and thoroughly + democratic. He seemed to throw a charm around every man who ever met him. + To be in his presence was a pleasure, and no man ever left his company + with injured feelings unless most richly deserved. + </p> + <p> + The universal testimony, "He is an honest man," gave him a firm hold on + the masses, and they trusted him with a blind religious faith. His sad, + melancholy face excited their sympathy, and when the dark days came it was + their heart-strings that entwined and sustained him. Sympathy, we are + told, is one of the strongest and noblest incentives to human action. With + the sympathy and love of the people to sustain him, Lincoln had unlimited + power over them; he threw an invisible and weightless harness over them, + and drove them through disaster and desperation to final victory. The + trust and worship by the people of Lincoln were the result of his simple + character. He held himself not aloof from the masses. He became one of + them. They feared together, they struggled together, they hoped together; + thus melted and moulded into one, they became one in thought, one in will, + one in action. If Lincoln cautiously awaited the full development of the + last fact in the great drama before he acted, when longer waiting would be + a crime, he knew that the people were determinedly at his back. Thus, when + a blow was struck, it came with the unerring aim and power of a bolt from + heaven. A natural king—not ruling men, but leading them along the + drifts and trends of their own tendencies, always keeping in mind the + consent of the governed, he developed what the future historian will call + the sublimest order of conservative statesmanship. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0012" id="linkimage-0012"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/361.jpg" alt="Lincoln Monument, Springfield 361 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Whatever of life, vigor, force, and power of eloquence his peculiar + qualities gave him; whatever there was in a fair, manly, honest, and + impartial administration of justice under law to all men at all times; + whatever there was in a strong will in the right governed by tenderness + and mercy; whatever there was in toil and sublime patience; whatever there + was in these things or a wise combination of them, Lincoln is justly + entitled to in making up the impartial verdict of history. These limit and + define him as a statesman, as an orator, as an executive of the nation, + and as a man. They developed in all the walks of his life; they were his + law; they were his nature, they were Abraham Lincoln. + </p> + <p> + This long, bony, sad man floated down the Sangamon river in a frail canoe + in the spring of 1831. Like a piece of driftwood he lodged at last, + without a history, strange, penniless, and alone. In sight of the capital + of Illinois, in the fatigue of daily toil he struggled for the necessaries + of life. Thirty years later this same peculiar man left the Sangamon + river, backed by friends, by power, by the patriotic prayers of millions + of people, to be the ruler of the greatest nation in the world. + </p> + <p> + As the leader of a brave people in their desperate struggle for national + existence, Abraham Lincoln will always be an interesting historical + character. + </p> + <p> + His strong, honest, sagacious, and noble life will always possess a + peculiar charm. Had it not been for his conservative statesmanship, his + supreme confidence in the wisdom of the people, his extreme care in + groping his way among facts and before ideas, this nation might have been + two governments to-day. The low and feeble circulation of his blood; his + healthful irritability, which responded so slowly to the effects of + stimuli; the strength of his herculean frame; his peculiar organism, + conserving its force; his sublime patience; his wonderful endurance; his + great hand and heart, saved this country from division, when division + meant its irreparable ruin. + </p> + <p> + The central figure of our national history, the sublime type of our + civilization, posterity, with the record of his career and actions before + it, will decree that, whether Providence so ordained it or not, Abraham + Lincoln was the man for the hour. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_APPE" id="link2H_APPE"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + APPENDIX. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + UNPUBLISHED FAMILY LETTERS. + </h2> + <p> + The following letters by Mr. Lincoln to his relatives were at one time + placed in my hands. As they have never before been published entire I have + thought proper to append them here. They are only interesting as showing + Mr. Lincoln's affection for his father and step-mother, and as specimens + of the good, sound sense with which he approached every undertaking. The + list opens with a letter to his father written from Washington while a + member of Congress: + </p> + <p> + "Washington, Dec. 24, 1848. + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Father: + </p> + <p> + "Your letter of the 7th was received night before last. I very cheerfully + send you the twenty dollars, which sum you say is necessary to save your + land from sale. It is singular that you should have forgotten a judgment + against you—and it is more singular that the plaintiff should have + let you forget it so long, particularly as I suppose you have always had + property enough to satisfy a judgment of that amount. Before you pay it, + it would be well to be sure you have not paid, or at least that you cannot + prove you have paid it. + </p> + <p> + "Give my love to Mother and all the Connections. + </p> + <p> + "Affectionately, your son, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + His step-brother, John D. Johnston, for whom Mr. Lincoln always exhibited + the affection of a real brother, was the recipient of many letters. Some + of them were commonplace, but between the lines of each much good, homely + philosophy may be read. Johnston, whom I knew, was exactly what his + distinguished step-brother charged—an idler. In every emergency he + seemed to fall back on Lincoln for assistance. The aid generally came, but + with it always some plain but sensible suggestion. The series opens as + follows: + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, Feb. 23,1850. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Brother: + </p> + <p> + "Your letter about a mail contract was received yesterday. I have made out + a bid for you at $120, guaranteed it myself, got our P. M. here to certify + it, and send it on. Your former letter, concerning some man's claim for a + pension, was also received. I had the claim examined by those who are + practised in such matters, and they decide he cannot get a pension. + </p> + <p> + "As you make no mention of it, I suppose you had not learned that we lost + our little boy. He was sick fifteen days, and died in the morning of the + first day of this month. It was not our first, but our second child. We + miss him very much. + </p> + <p> + "Your Brother, in haste, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + "To John D. Johnston." + </p> + <p> + Following is another, which, however, bears no date: + </p> + <p> + "Dear Johnston: + </p> + <p> + "Your request for eighty dollars I do not think it best to comply with + now. At the various times when I have helped you a little you have said to + me, 'We can get along very well now,' but in a very short time I find you + in the same difficulty again. Now this can only happen by some defect in + your conduct. What that defect is, I think I know. You are not <i>lazy</i>, + and still you are an <i>idler</i>. I doubt whether, since I saw you, you + have done a good whole day's work in any one day. You do not very much + dislike to work, and still you do not work much, merely because it does + not seem to you that you could get much for it. This habit of uselessly + wasting time is the whole difficulty; and it is vastly important to you, + and still more so to your children, that you should break the habit. It is + more important to them because they have longer to live, and can keep out + of an idle habit, before they are in it, easier than they can get out + after they are in. + </p> + <p> + "You are in need of some ready money, and what I propose is that you shall + go to work 'tooth and nail' for somebody who will give you money for it. + Let father and your boys take charge of things at home, prepare for a + crop, and make the crop, and you go to work for the best money wages, or + in discharge of any debt you owe, that you can get,—and to secure + you a fair reward for your labor, I now promise you that for every dollar + you will, between this and the first of next May, get for your own labor, + either in money or as your own indebtedness, I will then give you one + other dollar. By this, if you hire yourself at ten dollars a month, from + me you will get ten more, making twenty dollars a month for your work. In + this I do not mean you shall go off to St. Louis, or the lead mines, or + the gold mines in California, but I mean for you to go at it for the best + wages you can get close to home in Coles County. Now if you will do this, + you will be soon out of debt, and, what is better, you will have a habit + that will keep you from getting in debt again. But if I should now clear + you out, next year you would be just as deep in as ever. You say you would + give your place in heaven for $70 or $80. Then you value your place in + heaven very cheap, for I am sure you can, with the offer I make, get the + seventy or eighty dollars for four or five months' work. + </p> + <p> + "You say, if I will furnish you the money, you will deed me the land, and + if you don't pay the money back you will deliver possession. Nonsense! If + you can't now live with the land, how will you then live without it? You + have always been kind to me, and I do not mean to be unkind to you. On the + contrary, if you will but follow my advice, you will find it worth more + than eight times eighty dollars to you. + </p> + <p> + "Affectionately, + </p> + <p> + "Your brother, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + The following, written when the limit of Thomas Lincoln's life seemed + rapidly approaching, shows in what esteem his son held the relation that + existed between them: + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, Jan y 12, 1851. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Brother: + </p> + <p> + "On the day before yesterday I received a letter from Harriett, written at + Greenup. She says she has just returned from your house; and that Father + is very low, and will hardly recover. She also says that you have written + me two letters; and that although you do not expect me to come now, you + wonder that I do not write. I received both your letters, and although I + have not answered them, it is not because I have forgotten them, or [not] + been interested about them, but because it appeared to me I could write + nothing which could do any good. You already know I desire that neither + Father or Mother shall be in want of any comfort either in health or + sickness while they live; and I feel sure you have not failed to use my + name, if necessary, to procure a doctor, or anything else for Father in + his present sickness. My business is such that I could hardly leave home + now, if it were not, as it is, that my own wife is sick a-bed (it is a + case of baby-sickness, and I suppose is not dangerous). I sincerely hope + Father may yet recover his health; but at all events tell him to remember + to call upon and confide in our great, and good, and merciful Maker, who + will not turn away from him in any extremity. He notes the fall of a + sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our heads; and He will not forget the + dying man who puts his trust in Him. Say to him that if we could meet now + it is doubtful whether it would not be more painful than pleasant; but + that if it be his lot to go now he will soon have a joyous meeting with + many loved ones gone before, and where the rest of us, through the help of + God, hope ere long to join them. + </p> + <p> + "Write me again when you receive this. + </p> + <p> + "Affectionately, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + Lincoln's mentor-like interest in his step-mother and his shiftless and + almost unfortunate step-brother was in no wise diminished by the death of + his father. He writes: + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, Aug. 31,1851. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Brother: + </p> + <p> + "Inclosed is the deed for the land. We are all well, and have nothing in + the way of news. We have had no cholera here for about two weeks. + </p> + <p> + "Give my love to all, and especially to Mother. + </p> + <p> + "Yours as ever, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + No more practical or kindly-earnest advice could have been given than + this: + </p> + <p> + "Shelbyville, Nov. 4, 1851. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Brother: + </p> + <p> + "When I came into Charleston day before yesterday I learned that you are + anxious to sell the land where you live, and move to Missouri. I have been + thinking of this ever since, and cannot but think such a notion is utterly + foolish. What can you do in Missouri better than here? Is the land richer? + Can you there, any more than here, raise corn and wheat and oats without + work? Will anybody there, any more than here, do your work for you? If you + intend to go to work, there is no better place than right where you are; + if you do not intend to go to work you cannot get along anywhere. + Squirming and crawling about from place to place can do no good. You have + raised no crop this year, and what you really want is to sell the land, + get the money and spend it. Part with the land you have, and, my life upon + it, you will never after own a spot big enough to bury you in. Half you + will get for the land you spend in moving to Missouri, and the other half + you will eat and drink and wear out, and no foot of land will be bought. + Now I feel it is my duty to have no hand in such a piece of foolery. I + feel that it is so even on your own account, and particularly on Mother's + account. The eastern forty acres I intend to keep for Mother while she + lives; if you will not cultivate it, it will rent for enough to support + her; at least it will rent for something. Her dower in the other two + forties she can let you have, and no thanks to me. + </p> + <p> + "Now do not misunderstand this letter. I do not write it in any + unkindness. I write it in order, if possible, to get you to face the + truth, which truth is, you are destitute because you have idled away all + your time. Your thousand pretences for not getting along better are all + nonsense; they deceive nobody but yourself. Go to work is the only cure + for your case. + </p> + <p> + "A word for Mother: Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live with him. + If I were you I would try it awhile. If you get tired of it (as I think + you will not) you can return to your own home. Chapman feels very kindly + to you; and I have no doubt he will make your situation very pleasant. + </p> + <p> + "Sincerely your son, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + The list closes with this one written by Lincoln while on the circuit: + </p> + <p> + "Shelbyville, Nov. 9, 1851. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Brother: + </p> + <p> + ''When I wrote you before, I had not received your letter. I still think + as I did; but if the land can be sold so that I get three hundred dollars + to put to interest for Mother, I will not object if she does not. But + before I will make a deed, the money must be had, or secured beyond all + doubt at ten per cent. + </p> + <p> + "As to Abraham, I do not want him on my own account; but I understand he + wants to live with me so that he can go to school and get a fair start in + the world, which I very much wish him to have. When I reach home, if I can + make it convenient to take, I will take him, provided there is no mistake + between us as to the object and terms of my taking him. + </p> + <p> + "In haste, as ever, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AN INCIDENT ON THE CIRCUIT. + </h2> + <p> + "In the spring term of the Tazewell County Court in 1847, which at that + time was held in the village of Tremont, I was detained as a witness an + entire week. Lincoln was employed in several suits, and among them was one + of Case <i>vs.</i> Snow Bros. The Snow Bros., as appeared in evidence (who + were both minors), had purchased from an old Mr. Case what was then called + a "prairie team," consisting of two or three yoke of oxen and prairie + plow, giving therefor their joint note for some two hundred dollars; but + when pay-day came refused to pay, pleading the minor act. The note was + placed in Lincoln's hands for collection. The suit was called and a jury + impanelled. The Snow Bros, did not deny the note, but pleaded through + their counsel that they were minors, and that Mr. Case knew they were at + the time of the contract and conveyance. All this was admitted by Mr. + Lincoln, with his peculiar phrase, 'Yes, gentlemen, I reckon that's so.' + The minor act was read and its validity admitted in the same manner. The + counsel of the defendants were permitted without question to state all + these things to the jury, and to show by the statute that these minors + could not be held responsible for their contract. By this time you may + well suppose that I began to be uneasy. 'What!' thought I, 'this good old + man, who confided in these boys, to be wronged in this way, and even his + counsel, Mr. Lincoln, to submit in silence!' I looked at the court, Judge + Treat, but could read nothing in his calm and dignified demeanor. Just + then, Mr. Lincoln slowly got up, and in his strange, half-erect attitude + and clear, quiet accent began: '<i>Gentlemen of the Jury</i>, are you + willing to allow these boys to begin life with this shame and disgrace + attached to their character? If you are, I am not. The best judge of human + character that ever wrote has left these immortal words for all of us to + ponder: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Good name in man or woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of + their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash;'tis something, nothing; + 'Twas mine,'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that + filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And + makes me poor indeed."' + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + "Then rising to his full height, and looking upon the defendants with the + compassion of a brother, his long right arm extended toward the opposing + counsel, he continued: 'Gentlemen of the jury, these poor innocent boys + would never have attempted this low villany had it not been for the advice + of these lawyers.' Then for a few minutes he showed how even the noble + science of law may be prostituted. With a scathing rebuke to those who + thus belittle their profession, he concluded: 'And now, gentlemen, you + have it in <i>your</i> power to set these boys right before the world.' He + plead for the young men only; I think he did not mention his client's + name. The jury, without leaving their seats, decided that the defendants + must pay the debt; and the latter, after hearing Lincoln, were as willing + to pay it as the jury were determined they should. I think the entire + argument lasted not above five minutes."—<i>George W. Minier</i>, + statement, Apr. 10, 1882. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LINCOLN'S FELLOW LAWYERS. + </h2> + <p> + Among Lincoln's colleagues at the Springfield bar, after his re-entry into + politics in 1854, and until his elevation to the Presidency, were, John T. + Stuart, Stephen T. Logan, John A. McClernand, Benjamin S. Edwards, David + Logan, E. B. Herndon, W. I. Ferguson, James H. Matheney, C. C. Brown, N. + M. Broadwell, Charles W. Keyes, John E. Rosette, C. S. Zane, J. C. + Conkling, Shelby M. Cullom, and G. W. Shutt. There were others, notably + John M. Palmer and Richard J. Oglesby, who came in occasionally from other + counties and tried suits with and against us, but they never became + members of our bar, strictly speaking, till after the war had closed.—W. + H. H. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE TRUCE WITH DOUGLAS.—TESTIMONY OF IRWIN. + </h2> + <p> + "The conversation took place in the office of Lincoln & Herndon, in + the presence of P. L. Harrison, William H. Herndon, Pascal Enos, and + myself. It originated in this way: After the debate at Springfield on the + 4th and 5th of October, 1854, William Jayne, John Cassiday, Pascal Enos, + the writer, and others whose names I do not now remember, filled out and + signed a written request to Lincoln to follow Douglas until he 'ran him + into his hole' or made him halloo 'Enough,' and that day Lincoln was + giving in his report. He said that the next morning after the Peoria + debate Douglas came to him and flattered him that he knew more on the + question of Territorial organization in this government than all the + Senate of the United States, and called his mind to the trouble the latter + had given him. He added that Lincoln had already given him more trouble + than all the opposition in the Senate, and then proposed to Lincoln that + if he (Lincoln) would go home and not follow him, he (Douglas) would go to + no more of his appointments, would make no more speeches, and would go + home and remain silent during the rest of the campaign. Lincoln did not + make another speech till after the election."—B. F, Irwin's + statement, Feb. 8, 1866, unpublished MS. + </p> + <p> + See ante pp. 368-369. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BLOOMINGTON CONVENTION. + </h2> + <p> + Following is a copy of the call to select delegates to the Bloomington + Convention held May 29, 1856, when the Republican party in Illinois came + into existence. It will be remembered that I signed Lincoln's name under + instructions from him by telegraph. The original document I gave several + years ago to a friend in Boston, Mass.: + </p> + <p> + "We, the undersigned, citizens of Sangamon County, who are opposed to the + repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the present administration, and who + are in favor of restoring to the general government the policy of + Washington and Jefferson, would suggest the propriety of a County + Convention, to be held in the city of Springfield on Saturday, the 24th + day of May, at 2 o'clock, p. M., to appoint delegates to the Bloomington + Convention. + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln, + </p> + <p> + "W. H. Herndon and others." + </p> + <p> + The decided stand Lincoln took in this instance, and his speech in the + Convention, undoubtedly paved the way for his leadership in the Republican + party.—W. H. H. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AN OFFICE DISCUSSION—LINCOLN'S IDEA OF WAR. + </h2> + <p> + One morning in 1859, Lincoln and I, impressed with the probability of war + between the two sections of the country, were discussing the subject in + the office. "The position taken by the advocates of State Sovereignty," + remarked Lincoln, "always reminds me of the fellow who contended that the + proper place for the big kettle was inside of the little one." To me, war + seemed inevitable, but when I came to view the matter squarely, I feared a + difficulty the North would have in controlling the various classes of + people and shades of sentiment, so as to make them an effective force in + case of war: I feared the lack of some great head and heart to lead us + onward. Lincoln had great confidence in the masses, believing that, when + they were brought face to face with the reality of the conflict, all + differences would disappear, and that they would be merged into one. To + illustrate his idea he made use of this figure: "Go to the river bank with + a coarse sieve and fill it with gravel. After a vigorous shaking you will + observe that the small pebbles and sand have sunk from view and fallen to + the ground. The next larger in size, unable to slip between the wires, + will still be found within the sieve. By thorough and repeated shakings + you will find that, of the pebbles still left in the sieve, the largest + ones will have risen to the top. Now," he continued, "if, as you say, war + is inevitable and will shake the country from centre to circumference, you + will find that the little men will fall out of view in the shaking. The + masses will rest on some solid foundation, and the big men will have + climbed to the top. Of these latter, one greater than all the rest will + leap forth armed and equipped—the people's leader in the conflict." + Little did I realize the strength of the masses when united and fighting + for a common purpose; and much less did I dream that the great leader soon + to be tried was at that very moment touching my elbow!—W. H. H. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LINCOLN AND THE KNOW-NOTHINGS. + </h2> + <p> + Among other things used against Lincoln in the campaign of 1860 was the + charge that he had been a member of a Know-Nothing lodge. When the charge + was laid at his door he wrote the following letter to one of his + confidential political friends. I copy from the original MS.: + </p> + <p> + [Confidential.] + </p> + <p> + "Springfield, Ills., July 21, 1860. + </p> + <p> + "Hon. A. Jonas. + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Sir: + </p> + <p> + "Yours of the 20th is received. I suppose as good, or even better, men + than I may have been in American or Know-Nothing lodges; but, in point of + fact, I never was in one, at Quincy or elsewhere. I was never in Quincy + but one day and two nights while Know-Nothing lodges were in existence, + and you were with me that day and both those nights. I had never been + there before in my life; and never afterwards, till the joint debate with + Douglas in 1858. It was in 1854, when I spoke in some hall there, and + after the speaking you, with others, took me to an oyster saloon, passed + an hour there, and you walked with me to, and parted with me at, the + Quincy House quite late at night. I left by stage for Naples before + daylight in the morning, having come in by the same route after dark the + evening previous to the speaking, when I found you waiting at the Quincy + House to meet me. A few days after I was there, Richardson, as I + understood, started the same story about my having been in a Know-Nothing + lodge. When I heard of the charge, as I did soon after, I taxed my + recollection for some incident which could have suggested it; and I + remembered that, on parting with you the last night, I went to the office + of the Hotel to take my stage passage for the morning, was told that no + stage office for that line was kept there, and that I must see the driver + before retiring, to insure his calling for me in the morning; and a + servant was sent with me to find the driver, who, after taking me a square + or two, stopped me, and stepped perhaps a dozen steps farther, and in my + hearing called to some one, who answered him, apparently from the upper + part of a building, and promised to call with the stage for me at the + Quincy House. I returned and went to bed, and before day the stage called + and took me. This is all. + </p> + <p> + "That I never was in a Know-Nothing lodge in Quincy I should expect could + be easily proved by respectable men who were always in the lodges, and + never saw me there. An affidavit of one or two such would put the matter + at rest. + </p> + <p> + "And now, a word of caution. Our adversaries think they can gain a point + if they could force me to openly deny the charge, by which some degree of + offence would be given to the Americans. For this reason it must not + publicly appear that I am paying any attention to the charge, + </p> + <p> + "Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + "A. Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LINCOLN'S VIEWS ON THE RIGHTS OF SUFFRAGE. + </h2> + <p> + At one time, while holding the office of attorney for the city of + Springfield, I had a case in the Supreme Court, which involved the + validity or constitutionality of a law regulating the matter of voting. + Although a city case, it really abridged the right of suffrage. Being + Lincoln's partner I wanted him to assist me in arguing the questions + involved. He declined to do so, saying: "I am opposed to the limitation or + lessening of the right of suffrage; if anything, I am in favor of its + extension or enlargement. I want to lift men up—to broaden rather + than contract their privileges."—W. H. H. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BURIAL OF THE ASSASSIN BOOTH. + </h2> + <p> + "Upon reaching Washington with the body of Booth—having come up the + Potomac—it was at once removed from the tug-boat to a gun-boat that + lay at the dock at the Navy Yard, where it remained about thirty-six + hours. It was there examined by the Surgeon-General and staff and other + officers, and identified by half a score of persons who had known him + well. Toward evening of the second day Gen. L. C. Baker, then chief of the + 'Detective Bureau of the War Department,' received orders from Secretary + of War Stanton to dispose of the body. Stanton said, 'Put it where it will + not be disturbed until Gabriel blows his last trumpet.' I was ordered to + assist him. The body was placed in a row-boat, and, taking with us one + trusty man to manage the boat, we quietly floated down the river. Crowds + of people all along the shore were watching us. For a blind we took with + us a heavy ball and chain, and it was soon going from lip to lip that we + were about to sink the body in the Potomac. Darkness soon came on, + completely concealing our movements, and under its cover we pulled slowly + back to the old Penitentiary, which during the war was used as an arsenal. + The body was then lifted from the boat and carried through a door opening + on the river front. Under the stone floor of what had been a prison cell a + shallow grave was dug, and the body, with the United States blanket for a + 'winding-sheet,' was there interred. There also it remained till Booth's + accomplices were hanged. It was then taken up and buried with his + companions in crime. I have since learned that the remains were again + disinterred and given to his friends, and that they now rest in the family + burial-place in Baltimore, Md."—From MS. of L. B. Baker, late Lieut. + and A. Q. M. 1st D. C. Cav. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN BY A COLLEAGUE AT THE BAR. + </h2> + <p> + "The weird and melancholy association of eloquence and poetry had a strong + fascination for Mr. Lincoln's mind. Tasteful composition, either of prose + or poetry, which faithfully contrasted the realities of eternity with the + unstable and fickle fortunes of time, made a strong impression on his + mind. In the indulgence of this melancholy taste it is related of him that + the poem, 'Immortality,' he knew by rote and appreciated very highly. He + had a strange liking for the verses, and they bear a just resemblance to + his fortune. Mr. Lincoln, at the time of his assassination, was encircled + by a halo of immortal glory such as had never before graced the brow of + mortal man. He had driven treason from its capital city, had slept in the + palace of its once proud and defiant, but now vanquished leader, and had + saved his country and its accrued glories of three-quarters of a century + from destruction. He rode, not with the haughty and imperious brow of an + ancient conqueror, but with the placid complacency of a pure patriot, + through the streets of the political Babylon of modern times. He had + ridden over battlefields immortal in history, when, in power at least, he + was the leader. Having assured the misguided citizens of the South that he + meant them no harm beyond a determination to maintain the government, he + returned buoyant with hope to the Executive Mansion where for four long + years he had been held, as it were, a prisoner. + </p> + <p> + "Weary with the stories of state, he goes to seek the relaxation of + amusement at the theatre; sees the gay crowd as he passes in; is cheered + and graciously smiled upon by fair women and brave men; beholds the + gorgeous paraphernalia of the stage, the brilliantly lighted scene, the + arched ceiling, with its grotesque and inimitable figuring to heighten the + effect and make the occasion one of unalloyed pleasure. The hearts of the + people beat in unison with his over a redeemed and ransomed land. A pause + in the play—a faint pistol shot is heard. No one knows its + significance save the hellish few who are in the plot. A wild shriek, such + as murder wrings from the heart of woman, follows: the proud form of Mr. + Lincoln has sunk in death. The scene is changed to a wild confusion such + as no poet can describe, no painter delineate. Well might the murdered + have said and oft repeated: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Tis the wink of an eye,'tis the draught of a breath, From the blossom + of health to the paleness of death, From the gilded saloon to the bier + and the shroud,— Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + [From a speech by Hon. Lawrence Weldon, at a bar-meeting held in the + United States Court at Springfield, Ills., in June, 1865.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LINCOLN AT FORT MONROE. + </h2> + <p> + An interesting recollection of Lincoln comes from the pen of Colonel + LeGrand B. Cannon, of New York. One cannot fail to be impressed with the + strength of the side-light thrown by these reminiscences on a life as + peculiar, in some respects, as it was grand and unique in others: + </p> + <p> + "It was my great good fortune," relates Colonel Cannon, "to know something + of Mr. Lincoln distinct from his official life. Intensely in earnest I + entered the service at the opening of the Rebellion as a staff officer in + the regular army and was assigned to the Department of Virginia, with + headquarters at Fort Monroe. Major-General Wool was in command of the + Department, and I was honored by him as his chief of-staff, and enjoyed + his entire confidence. It was the only gate open for communication with + the rebel government, and General Wool was the agent for such intercourse. + </p> + <p> + "In the early stages of the war there was a want of harmony between the + army and navy about us which seriously embarrassed military operations, + resulting in the President and Secretaries Chase and Stanton coming to + Fort Monroe to adjust matters. Domestic comforts were limited at + headquarters, and the President occupied my room. I was (in accordance + with military etiquette) assigned to him as 'Aide-in-Waiting' and + Secretary. Although I had frequently met the President as 'Bearer of + Dispatches,' I was not a little prejudiced, and a good deal irritated, at + the levity which he was charged with indulging in. In grave matters, + jesting and frolicking seemed to me shocking, with such vital matters at + stake, and I confess to thinking of Nero. + </p> + <p> + "But all this changed when I came to know him; and I very soon discerned + that he had a sad nature; but that, although a terrible burden, his + sadness did not originate in his great official responsibilities. I had + heard that his home was not pleasant, but did not know that there was more + beyond it. + </p> + <p> + "The day after Mr. Lincoln came to us he said to me: 'I suppose you have + neither a Bible nor a copy of Shakespeare here?' I replied that I had a + Bible, and the General had Shakespeare, and that the latter never missed a + night without reading it. 'Won't he lend it to me?' inquired the + President. I answered, 'Yes,' and, of course, obtained it for him. + </p> + <p> + "The day following he read by himself in one of my offices, two hours or + more, entirely alone, I being engaged in a connecting room on duty. He + finally interrupted me, inviting me to rest while he would read to me. He + read from <i>Macbeth, Lear</i>, and finally. <i>King John</i>. In reading + the passage where Constance bewails to the King the loss of her child, I + noticed that his voice trembled and he was deeply moved. Laying the book + on the table he said: + </p> + <p> + "'Did you ever dream of a lost friend and feel that you were having a + sweet communion with that friend, and yet a consciousness that it was not + a reality?' + </p> + <p> + "'Yes,' I replied, 'I think almost any one may have had such an + experience.' + </p> + <p> + "'So do I,' he mused; 'I dream of my dead boy, Willie, again and again.' + </p> + <p> + "I shall never forget the sigh nor the look of sorrow that accompanied + this expression. He was utterly overcome; his great frame shook, and, + bowing down on the table, he wept as only such a man in the breaking down + of a great sorrow could weep. It is needless to say that I wept in + sympathy, and quietly left the room that he might recover without + restraint. + </p> + <p> + "Lincoln never again referred to his boy, but he made me feel that he had + given me a sacred confidence, and he ever after treated me with a + tenderness and regard that won my love. + </p> + <p> + "Again, some days later, I had been absent on a reconnoissance, and + returned late in the afternoon. I was in my room dressing for dinner + (which was a very formal affair, as, besides the Administration, we had, + almost daily, distinguished foreigners to dine) when the President came + in. Seeing me in full uniform he said: + </p> + <p> + "'Why, Colonel, you're fixing up mighty fine. Suppose you lend me your + comb and brush, and I'll put on a few touches, too.' + </p> + <p> + "I handed the desired articles to him and he toyed with the comb awhile + and then laid it down, exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + "'This thing will never get through my hair. Now, if you have such a thing + as they comb a horse's tail with, I believe I can use it.' After a merry + laugh, he continued: 'By the way, I can tell you a good story about my + hair. When I was nominated, at Chicago, an enterprising fellow thought + that a great many people would like to see how Abe Lincoln looked, and, as + I had not long before sat for a photograph, this fellow having seen it, + rushed over and bought the negative. He at once got out no end of + wood-cuts, and, so active was their circulation, they were selling in all + parts of the country. Soon after they reached Springfield I heard a boy + crying them for sale on the streets. 'Here's your likeness of Abe + Lincoln!' he shouted. + </p> + <p> + "'Buy one; price only two shillings! Will look a good deal better when he + gets his hair combed!'" + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 2 (of 2), by +William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VOLUME 2 (OF 2) *** + +***** This file should be named 38484-h.htm or 38484-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/4/8/38484/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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