Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1881 — ABRAHAM LINCOLN. [ARTICLE]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Unpublished Chapters of His Public Life —A Talk wit £ His Friend and Biographer, Ward B. Lamon. The Denver Tribune of a recent date contains a letter from Boulder, Col., giving the substance of an interview with Ward B. Lamon, the former Jaw Sanner and biographer of Lincoln, ome of the facts, now for the first time published, are of an intensely interesting nature. The correspondent

says: I gather from Col. Lamon some facts regarding the appointment of Edwjn M. Stanton to the office of the secretary of war by Mr. Lincoln, which has never been published. In order to make the histoiy of this appointment complete in all its meanings and bearings it will b 6 necessary to go back to 1858,when Abraham Lincoln was practicing law in Springfield, 111., and Edwin M. Stanton was at the head of his profession in Cincinnati. The celebrated McCormick’s reaper and mower case was before the United States court in Cincinnati. Stanton was retained as the counsel-in-chief in the case for McCormick, with T. D. Lincoln, of Cincinnati, and Aoraham Lincoln, of Illinois—Lincoln having been McCormick’s attorney in Chicago. When Lincoln arrived in’Cineinnati the trial, he called upon Stanton, who treated him iff so rude and so impolite a manner, that he went to McCormick and informed him that he should have to withdraw as his counsel in the case, stating hi? reasons therefor. McCormick begged him to remain, and went to Stanton to talk about the matter. Lincoln was in an adjoining room where their conversation occurred, and with his own ears heard Stanton say that the “could not associate with such a damned gawky, long-armed ape as tbat; if he could not have a man who was a gentleman in appearance he would himself abandon the case;” When McCormick returned to Lincoln the latter refunded him his SSOO retainer’s fee, peremptorily declining to keep itp and returned to Urbana, 111., where court was then in session, and related tbe facts and his mortification to his friend Lamon and others, as an excuse for his unexpected return. After this event Mr. Lincoln never met Stanton till the events which will now be related brought them together, though it is certain that Mr. Lincoln never forgot the gratuitous insifit. When Mason and Slidell, as Commissioners of the confederacy to England, were captured (Bth of November, 1881) on the English mail vessel Trent, there was, it will be remembered, great exultation among loyal people all over the country, in which Lincoln, Chase, Blair, Sumner and the rest shared. But Mr. Seward, Lincoln’s secretary of State, shook his head and expressed fears of grave complications with England. All remember the signal danger that the government escaped through Mr. Seward’s diplomacy. By December Mr. Lincoln aud his cabinet were in a state of alarm because of the danger of a war with England. Mr. Chase one day came to the President and told him that Edwin M. Stanton, who had been attorney general under Buchanan, had talked with him on the subject of the troubles with Great Britain, and had expressed the opinion that the action of the American government in arresting Mason and Slidell was right and could be sustained by international law. The president told Mr. Chase that Mr. Stanton did not like him and had treated him rudely on one occasion, but that if Mr. Chase thought Mr. Stanton would meet him he would be glad to have him so so, and give his views on the subject. In au hpur Mr. Chase had Mr. Stanton in Mr. Lincoln’s presence. Mr. Lincoln expressed his gratification of hearing of Mr. Stantpn’s views, and isked him to repeat them to hitaself. Mr. Stanton proceeded to a discussion of the case and the laws bearing thereon, Mr. Lincoln listening attentively. Mr. Lincoln expressed his thanks, and asked Mr. Stanton to put his opinions in writing, which he promised to do by 10 o’clock next morning. The opinion was brought at the appointed time. Mr. Lincoln read it and filed it, and then said: “Mr. Stanton, this a time of war, and you are as much interested in sustaining the government as myself or any other man. This is no time to consider party issues. The life of the nation is in danger. I need tbe best counselors around me. I have every confidence in your judgment, and have concluded to ask you to become one of my counselors. The office of secretary of war will be vacant, and I want you to accept the portfolio. Will you do it?” Stanton was amazed, and said: “Why, Mr. President, you take me by surprise! This is an embarrassing auestion. But if you will give me a ay or two to consider I will give you an answer.” The next day nut one he called on the president and signified his intention to accapt. On the 13th day of January, 1862, the portfolio of secretary of war was placed in his bands.

Joshua F.Speed was one of Lincoln’s oldest and most confidential friends in his youncer days, and their friendship continued through all trials. After the capitulation of General Lee.’s army Speed came from his home in Louisville, Ky., to visit Mr. Lincoln, and while in Washington was invited to an informal meeting of the cabinet. The question of the disposition of Jefferson Davis and other prominent confederates after they should be captured was discussed, each member of the cabinet giving his opinion, most of them for banging the traitors or some severe punishment. Lincoln said nothing. Finally Mr. Speed, addressing the president, said: “now, Mr. Lincoln, you have invited me here, and this seems to be a free fight. I have heard, the opinion of your ministers and would like to hear yours.” “Well, Josh,” 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 own size holding a coon by the string. I asked him what he had and what he

was doing. He says: “It’s a coon. Dad cotebed six and killed all but this poor little cuss. Dad told me to hold him until he came back, and I'm afraid be’s going to kill this one, too. And,. oh, Abe, I do wish he’< get away. ‘Well, why don’t you let him get away?’ 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 gel away it will be all right. But if we should catch them and I should let them go, dad would give me helL.” At one time Lincoln penned a message to congress recommending the appropriation of a very large sum for

would lay down their arms and acquiesce in the abolition of slavery. It was illy received by the cabinet, only one member favoring it, and the president chucked it into a pigeon-hole, where it ever remained. While Gen. Grant was besieging Richmond, Gen. Sherman sent the following curious message to Lincoln: "I am informed, if the thing is pressed, Gen. Grant can capture Richmond.” Lincoln immediately sent the following by wire to Grant: “I am informed by Gen. Sherman that if the thing is pressed you can capture Richmond. Let the thing be pressed.” While the slow and apparently unsuccessful seige of Vicksburg was being conducted by General Grant a great hue and cry was raised about his incompetency, and a pressure, almost irresistible, was brought to bear upon Mr. Lincoln to remove him and substitute another general iu his place. Everybody around Lincoln even Washburne. Grant’s best friend, concluded that Grant would have to be removed to satisfy the general desire. Lincoln was about to yield to the pressure, but at this juncture T. Lyle Dickey, now chief justice of Illinois, who was on General Grant’s staff, came to Washin g ton and called upon the president. Lincoln mentioned to Dickey the universal dissatisfaction about Grant, and asked Dickey for his opinion of him. Dickey related to him the circumstances of the battle of Pittsburg Land-

ing, and Grant’s maneuvers and splendid generalship on that memorable occasion. He told how little confidence he felt in Grant previous to that time, and expressed the admiration that his achievements there had aroused for General Grant as a commander, and advised Mr. Lincoln not to remove him from command of the army in front of Vicksbug. Grant had sromised Lincoln to capture Vicksjurg by the 4th of July, and Dickey said it would surely be done, and further expressed his belief that Grant was the greatest general of the age. After this Ben Wade and the others continued to press for Grant’s removal. But he told them of Dickey’s opinion and of his own faith in Dickey, to whom he had himself always looked as his model of a lawyer, and that on Dickey’s assurance he should continue Grant in command.' On the 4th of July, 1863, Gen. Grant planted the victorous banner of the Union over the forts at Vickburg.