Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1882 — What Lincoln Said to Joshua Speed. [ARTICLE]

What Lincoln Said to Joshua Speed.

. JfwhHG T-Mnwid was one of Lincoln ’« oldest and most confidential friends Id his youiMwr days, and their friendship ccSsinueo through all trials. | jftter the capitulation of General Lee’e frwnv Sheed came from his home in T_Sftigvilte,' Ky., to visit Mr. Lincoln, and while* in Washington was invited to ap frfTovftal meeting of the Cabinet. Thequestion of the disposition of Jefferson Davis and other prominent ConJtederateS, after they should be captured, was discussed," each member of the Cabinet giving his opinion, most of them for hanging the traitors, or some severe pnniHhmp.nL Lincoln said nothing. Finally, Mr. Speed, addressing the Prescient, said: “Now, Mr. Lincoln, you have invited me here, and this seems to be a free fight I have heard the opinlon of your ministers, and would like to hear yours." “ Well, Jacob,” replied Lincoln, “ that reminds me of a story. When I was a boy, in Indiana, I went to a neighbor’s house one morning and found a boy, of my size, holding a coon by a string. I asked him what he had ana what he was doing. He says : ‘lt is a coon. Dad cotah six last night, and killed all but ♦his poor little cuss. Dad told me to hold him until hs came back, and I’m afraid he’s going to kill this one, too. And, oh, Abe I I do wish he would get away.’ ‘Well, why don’t you let him loose?’ ‘That would not be right, and if I let him go, dad would give me hell; but if he would get away himself, it would be all right’ Now.” said Mr. ■Lincoln, “if Jeff. Davis and those other fellows will only get away, it will be all right, but if we should catch them, and I should let them go, dad would give me hell."