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could.

"We are loyal, Sir." Abraham the Just was right. "Yes, Sir, and so are the men who Anybody could go and tell his story, but stand up in front of Richmond, to be shot he had to look to it that he made out a at, but they don't come here to plague good case, especially if he was after govme." ernment money.

"We don't wish to worry you, Mr. President."

Contrast Between the Two.

Mr. William C. Bryant's paper, the Evening Post, says,-An officer of the

"No, I know what you want-you are turning, or trying to turn me into a justice of the peace, to put your claims United States Army, whose authority in through. There are a hundred thousand men in the country, every one of them as

Patience tried too far.

such a case we can not question, gives leave to publish the following account of what he heard Jefferson Davis say just before the breaking out of the war:

I heard Mr. Davis utter the following words in a southern town where he delivered an address in November, 1860. I did not hear the whole speech, only the words quoted, as I passed by the crowd of listeners:

"What! coerce a sovereign State! attempt to deprive us of our most inestimable rights! Let Mr. Lincoln try it, or Mr. Douglas either, and we will hang them higher than Haman, and the only difference I should make would be that [humorously] as Mr. Lincoln is considerably taller than Mr. Douglas, we should have to build his gibbet [standing on his toes and reaching up his hand] a leetle higher than that for Douglas."

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During the trial of the assassins of good as you are, who have just such bills President Lincoln, one of the witnesses as you present; and you care nothing of was Mr. Lewis F. Bates, for several years what becomes of them, so you get your residing in Charlotte, N. C., and agent of money." the Adams Express Company, in that "We think our claim just, Mr. Presi- place. He testified that Jeff. Davis

dent."

"Yes, but you know you can't prove what is in this paper by all the people in the United States, and you want me to prove it for you by writing my name on the back of it; yes, in plain words you wish me to lie for you that you may get your money. I shall not do it."

stopped at his house on the 19th of April, and made a speech from the steps. Davis received and read a dispatch from General Breckinridge, dated Greensborough, April 19th, as follows:

"President Lincoln was assassinated in the theatre on the night of the 14th. Secretary Seward's house was entered

The visitor stood a moment, as if dizzy the same night, and he was repeatedly and undecided; but gathering up slowly, stabbed, and is probably mortally woundretired to digest his repulse as best he ed."

Witness said that after reading the dis- ident replied calmly, in the words which patch to the crowd, Davis stated, "If it he had adopted in his last Inaugural Adwere to be done, it were better it were dress, "Judge not that ye be not judged." well done." The day after, Breckinridge And when pressed again, by the remark and Davis conversed in the house of wit- that the sight of Libby Prison made it ness on the subject of the assassination. impossible to pardon him, the President Breckinridge remarked to Davis that he repeated twice over those same words,

Jefferson Davis.

regretted it very much-it was unfortunate for the people of the South, at that time. Davis replied, "Well, General, I don't know that if it were to be done at all it were better it were well done, and if the same were done to Andy Johnson, the beast, and Secretary Stanton, the job would then be complete."

Mr. J. Courtney, telegraph operator, testified that the dispatch in question passed over the wires; and Mr. Bates's testimony was unimpeached.

In contrast with the above, it is refreshing to cite the animus of clemency and good will which ever characterized the acts and declarations of the murdered President.

revealing unmistakably the generous sentiments of his heart. Indeed, so disposed was the amiable President to extenuate, or forget, the crimes of even the most active conspirators, civil and military, against the life of the nation, that, on this point, a breach seemed imminent between him and many of his best friends, if not the majority, who elevated him to office. But now that he is dead, the spirit of mercy that actuated him, gives fragrance to his memory. In the words of another -his great Exemplar-Mr. Lincoln might well say of his enemies, "They hated me without a cause."

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Disappointed Expectations.

In the year 1854, a conversation took place at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, between Jefferson Davis and Professor Jewett, in the course of which Davis predicted that the Union would soon be divided into two republics.

"Where will the division or boundary line be?" interrogated Prof. Jewett. "The line separating the slave and free states," answered Mr. Davis.

"Then," said the professor, "you expect to claim the national capital."

"Of course," was the reply, "and this very Smithsonian Institute will be within the southern republic."

"But," asked Prof. J., "how will you bring about such a division of the country? Do you think the free states will agree to it without a resort to arms?"

It is well known that, at the very moment of his assassination, he was occupied by thoughts and plans of both lenity and pardon. He was never harsh, even in speaking of Jefferson Davis; and, only "Sir," said Jefferson Davis, in his sena few days before his end, when one who tentious manner, "the North will never was privileged to speak to him in that fight us on that occasion. There will be way, said, "Do not allow him to escape no bloodshed. When the South says she the law-he must be hanged," the Pres- will secede, and become a distinct nation

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ality, the North will be glad to let us go, manner. He then addressed the audience and that peaceably. It will be a bloodless in terms as follows: revolution."

Alas!

Comment on Mr. Sloanaker's "Beautiful

Portrait."

The genial spirit of the lamented President, which relieved him amidst the toils and anxieties of his dangerous and difficult station, will linger long, in many characteristic anecdotes, to soften in a measure the horror of his death, and mingle light with the dark mourning for his loss to the country he preserved. A significant incident, in illustration of this, is related by a friend of the late President, who happened to be present at the White House the day after the renomination of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency. Various political organizations called 'to pay their respects to him. Among the rest was the Philadelphia delegation. The chairman of that body, in presenting one of the members, said

"Mr. President, this is Mr. A. B. Sloanaker, of the second district of our State; a most active and earnest friend of yours and of the cause. He has, among other things, been good enough to paint and present to our league rooms a most beautiful portrait of yourself."

"Fellow citizens: It is proper when freemen assemble for the discussion of important public interests, that everything should be done decently and in order. I have been informed that part of the business to be transacted on the present occasion is the assassination of the individual who now has the honor of addressing you.

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I beg respectfully to propose that this be the first business in order. Therefore, if any man has come here to-night for the purpose indicated, I do not say to him let him

Mr. Lincoln took Mr. Sloanaker's hand in his, and with an earnest cordiality, shook it kindly, saying with a merry speak, but let him shoot."

voice

Here he paused, with his right hand on "I presume, Sir, in painting your beauhis pistol and the other holding open his tiful portrait, you took your idea of me from my principles, and not from my per-veyed the assembly. After a pause of half coat, while with his eyes he blandly sur

son."

a minute, he resumed :

"Gentlemen, it appears that I have been misinformed. I will now proceed to address you on the subject that has called us together."

Attending to Business in Regular Order. Andrew Johnson was once announced to speak in Nashville, on one of the exciting| questions of the day; and loud threats were uttered that, if he dared to appear, Reward of a Speech after Fifteen Years from he should not leave the hall alive. At the appointed hour he ascended the platform, In an interesting conversation between and, advancing to the desk, laid his pistol President Lincoln and Rev. Dr. M'Clinupon it, with the most quiet unconcern of tock-as given in a public address by the

its Delivery.

When she was gone, Mr. Lincoln sat down, crossed his legs, locked his hands over his knees, and commenced to laugh— this being his favorite attitude when much amused.

latter, Dr. M'C. asked the President if | debts. You must appeal to the courts in there was any truth in the rumor, at that regular order." time quite prevalent, of the removal of Mr. Dayton, American Minister at the French Court, and, if there was, he, Dr. M'C., would like the privilege of discussing the matter a little. President Lincoln said: "As to discussing the matter I have no objection, but as to his removal I have no such idea." He then went on to speak of his reason for appointing Mr. Dayton, and said:

"What odd kinds of people come in to see me," he said; "and what odd ideas they must have about my office! Would you believe, Major, that the old lady who has just left, came in here to get from me "When I was a member of Congress, an order for stopping the pay of a Treas in 1846-7, after the close of the Mexican ury clerk, who owes her a board bill of war, a treaty was made, and opposed by about seventy dollars!" (And the PresiDaniel Webster. After Daniel Webster dent rocked himself backward and forsat down, William L. Dayton arose and ward, and appeared intensely amused.) made a speech that covered every point "She may have come in here a loyal wothat Webster had made. I had been in the man," continued Mr. Lincoln, “but I'll be habit of regarding Webster as the greatest bound she has gone away believing that and most eloquent of men, until Mr. Day- the worst pictures of me in the Richmond ton made that speech (and then with a press only lack truth in not being half peculiar humor that belongs to all great black and bad enough." natures, Mr. Lincoln added): It may be because Mr. Dayton was on my side that I thought it was a great speech; and one of my first thoughts after my election was that William L. Dayton should occupy one of the best appointments I could give him."

This anecdote shows how tenaciously Mr. Lincoln clung to men he believed to be reliable, remembering that speech and its maker fifteen years.

This led to a somewhat general conversation, in which surprise was expressed that the President did not adopt the plan in vogue at all military head-quarters, under which every applicant to see the General commanding had to be filtered through a sieve of officers-assistant Adjutant Generals, and so forth,-who allowed none in to take up the General's time, save such as they were satisfied had business of sufficient importance, and which could be transacted in no other manner than by a personal interview. Colonel Halpine re

"Public Opinion Baths." Colonel Halpine, one of General Hal-markedleck's staff, relates that once, on what was called "a public day"—when Mr. Lincoln received all applicants in their turn-the first thing he saw on being ushered into the President's chamber by Major Hay, was Mr. Lincoln bowing an elderly lady out of the door, the President's remarks to her being, as she still lingered and appeared reluctant to go,—

"Of every hundred people who come to see the General-in-chief daily, not ten have any sufficient business with him, nor are they admitted. On being asked to explain for what purpose they desire to see him, and stating it, it is found in nine cases out of ten, that the business properly belongs to some one or other of the subordinate bureaux. They are then referred, as the case may be, "I am really very sorry, madam; very to the quartermaster, commissary, medical, sorry. But your own good sense must tell adjutant general, or other departments, you that I am not here to collect small with an assurance that-even if they saw

the General-in-chief-he could do nothing my perceptions of responsibility and duty. more for them than give them the same It would never do for a President to have direction. With these points courteously guards with drawn sabres at his door, as explained, they go away quite content, if he fancied he were, or were trying to although refused admittance." be, or were assuming to be, an emperor."

"Ah, yes,” replied Mr. Lincoln, gravely -and his words on this matter are import

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That original phrase of the President's, public opinion baths," is not likely ever ant as illustrating a rule of his action, to be forgotten. and to some extent, perhaps, the essential

coln's Desk.

ly representative character of his mind Pamphlet of Jokes in the Corner of Mr. Linand of his administration-" ah, yes! such things do very well for you military peo- In a corner of his desk, Mr. Lincoln ple, with your arbitrary rule, and in your was accustomed to keep a copy of some camps. But the office of President is humorous work, and it was frequently his essentially a civil one, and the affair is habit, when greatly fatigued, annoyed, or very different. For myself, I feel-though depressed, to take this up and read a chapthe tax on my time is heavy-that no ter, with great relief. The Saturday behours of my day are better employed than fore he left Washington to go to the front, those which thus bring me again within just previous to the capture of Richmond, the direct contact and atmosphere of the had been a very hard day with him. The average of our whole people. Men mov- pressure of office-seekers was greater at ing only in an official circle are apt to be- that juncture than ever before, and he was come merely official-not to say arbitrary almost worn out. Among the callers that -in their ideas, and are apter and apter, evening, was a party composed of a senawith each passing day, to forget that they tor, a representative, an ex-lieutenant govonly hold power in a representative capac-ernor of a western State, and several priity. Now this is all wrong. I go into vate citizens. They had business of great these promiscuous receptions of all who importance, involving the necessity of the claim to have business with me, twice each President's examination of voluminous week, and every applicant for audience has documents. Pushing everything aside, he to take his turn, as if waiting to be shaved said to one of the party— in a barber's shop. Many of the matters brought to my notice are utterly frivolous, but others are of more or less importance, and all serve to renew in me a clearer and the President, "who has been writing a more vivid image of that great popular series of letters in the newspapers under assemblage out of which I sprang, and to the signature of Petroleum V. Nasby. which at the end of two years I must re- Some one sent me a pamphlet collection turn. I tell you, Major," he said,-ap- of them the other day. I am going to pearing at this point to recollect that Hal- write to 'Petroleum' to come down here, pine was in the room, for the former part and I intend to tell him if he will commuof these remarks had been made with half-nicate his talent to me, I will swap places shut eyes, as if in soliloquy-"I tell you with him!" Thereupon he arose, went to that I call these receptions my public opin- a drawer in his desk, and, taking out the ion baths for I have little time to read "letters," he sat down and read one to the the papers and gather public opinion that company, finding in their enjoyment of it way; and though they may not be pleas- the temporary excitement and relief which ant in all their particulars, the effect, as a another man, perhaps, would have found whole, is renovating and invigorating to in a glass of grog! The instant he had

“Have you seen the Nasby papers?"
"No, I have not-who is Nasby?"
"There is a chap out in Ohio," returned

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