Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-09-05

ana is not too proud to sit down upon his door
steps In his shirt sleeves, and chat with his
helghoors. have always been Democrat
put am almost inclined to go for Lincoln. y
'sWill the split in the Democratic party prove
OF any service to Lincoln in illinois 2" eyes,
sir. Egypt is almost wiped out as Democrat
| ic stronghold, and with scarcely hope to e.
iect Douglas to the Presidency there are ma
ny who will, from State pride, vote for Lin
coin, as they think there is good chance for
his election.''
We called upon Mr.. Lincoln at his residence
last evening,and were readily admitted. There
were present Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Judd, the
latter the wife of the Republican candidate
ior Governor in the State the Hon. E. B.
Washburne, member of Congress from the Ga
lena district, and Lincoln's two little home
ooys. The ladies were especially gracious
and entertaining, while sold Abe'' and your
correspondent took chair together and talk
ed upon almost every topic now attracting the
attention of the public. We have conversed
with many gentlemen in prominent political
positions, but to Abraham Lincoln must we
accord the palm of frankness. He had no
disguises. The subject of Southern slavery
was touched upon, and Mr.. Lincoln emphati-
cally declared that it was his principle not to
touch it where it exists, but to prevent its
spread into Territory now free. He spoke of
slavery as an institution that did not meet the
universal sanction of the Southern people.
s'Public opinion is not always private opin-
ion," he said; and instancing Lamartine's ac-
count of the execution of Louis XVI, where
in it appeared that although the leading revo-
lutionists were publicly obliged to declare in
favor of that deed, they were privately oppos-
ed to it. He said that it was the same with
many people in the South they were obliged
to sustain slavery, although they secretly alb
horred the institution. He would protect the
South in its institutions as they exist, and
Il <lnkC I, ~
position of the Republicans in regard to sla-
very. The Southern mind he said, was labor
ing under the deluSion that the Republicans
were to lIberate the slaves, who were to ap-
ply firebrands to the fields and dwellings of
their masters, massacre old and young and
produce state of general anarchy and blood
shed in the South. He swept this assumption
away by decisive denial of its correctness.
He said he would like to go South and talk
to the Southerners on this topic, were it not
that the minds of some were infamed a.
gainst him that they would not listen to his
reasoning, but, on the other hand, might be
inclined to infiict Lynch law upon his person
should he appear among them. He had, he
said, on one occasion been invited to go into
Kentucky and revisit some of the scenes with
whose history his father in his lifetime had
been identified. On asking by letter whether
Judge Lynch would be present, he received
no response; and he therefore came to the
conclusion that the invitation was trap laid
by some designing person to inveigle him into
slave State for the the purpose of doing vio-
lence to his person. The conversation was
lively and occasionally interspersed with some
brillian ut flashes of wit and good nature from
the Kentucky lady, his wife.
Mr.. Lincolns personal appearance has so
often been described in the newspaper prints
that it is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon
it here but as 4 great deal has been said about
npliDpSS / w fyyn fbafl
score; if only for the purpose of enlisting the
attention Of the ladies North and South. Men
OF the Vest may care for personal beauty in a
woman, but in a man beauty constitutes very
small claim upon their regard. But Lincoln
is not an ugly man. His features may appear
rugged to the casual observer, but when en-
gagged in earnest and interesting conversation |
they assume an aspect at once pleasing and
engaging. Many men called handsome by bellies |
lack expression in their features when in con- |
versation, whereas the man of genius tele- |
graphs his mind to others not only by his lam |
guage, but by the masculine charm of facial |
expression. Else how could Mr.. Lincoln have |
courted or welded so charming a young lady |
as she whose realm is now his domestic hearth? |
If Lincoln ever gets into the White House. |
you may be bound for it there will be thous-
ands of beauties from all parts of the country |
who will acknowledge that the pictures and |
the prints have sadly belied him. and that his |
cheek bones are not so large, that his mouth is
not so big, that his figure is not so lank las they
have been led to imagine, and that altogether
he is not far from being tall, good-looking,
middle aged gentleman, who has offices at his
disposal.
Among all the candidates for the Presidency
Of the United States now in the field, Abraham
Lincoln, of Illinois, seems to be regarded by
the people here as the only one who presents
The appearance, emphatically and literally, of
the man of the people. Without ostentation,
without reserve, without any of those exquis-
tely polite attentions one finds in the man of
he world, and especially in the aspiring pol
tician, nurtured in the patrician atmosphere
Of Washington, Lincoln both looks the man,
acts the gentleman, and mirrors at once the
leenness of the astute statesman and the firm
less of the rigid executive officer. The peo-
Die say they have long wanted Presiden.
rec from the corrupt influences which a long
official residence at the seat of government is
to entail; and from what l have
heard and seen, within the space of few
months, majority of the people of the North,
ind not few at the South, satisfied that
n Lincoln they have found a man who comes
nearer to a representation of their ideas in
his respect than any other named candidate.
President Harrison and Taylor-good men in
heir own way-dd not, it is true, vegetate in
he hotbed of Washington political influences;
,ut, unfortunately, they both soon withered
md died under them, after brief occupancy
If the Presidential chair. Harrison and Tay-
or were old and one was superannuated be-
ore he assumed the reins of government, and
he other became so shortly after he did.
lincoln is in the prime OF life and vigor-as
trong, 1.-THE and energetic as almost any pub
ic man of his age, and showing in his fea-
ures, his movements and manners his intel
ect, his knowledge of law, government and
he organic rules that sway men and found
ystems, evidences that cannot be easily swer-
'ed from purpose he conceiyes to be just to
lis countrymen. That's what his friends say.