Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-26
- Eennn. M Enl.nhnna.

EDITOR LEADER One would naturally
conclude upon reading the proceedings at
Baltimore, that the delegates Of the ode
mocracyn were for the time being empower
ed to use the entire measure Of "Democrat-
ic' blackguardism and democratic" mis-
representation but perusal of their party
papers is only necessary to dispel such an
illusion. They seem 10 have determined
upon denying to Mr.. Lincoln every attribute
inconsistent with their own nature; and it
is quite evident they are not wanting in ma
terial for prosecuting such awarfare, On
the day the nominations were made at Chic
ago, hastily prepared, and contributed to
your paper, sketch Of Mr.. Lineoln's action
in the trial Of a youth named Armstrong, on
charge of murder, in the State of Illinois.
The case transpired under my immediate OBJ
servation, and the generous conduct and elo-
quent appeal Of the great lawyer, at the time
a stranger to me, made such an impression
upon my mind, that the whole scene is now
stamped as vividly upon my memory as
though it occurred but yesterday gave it
in an unyarnished style, divested of all 'sen-
sation" colors. But the fact that it showed
Mr.. Lincoln in the light of one who was ac-
tuated by noble motives and generous i'm
pulses, was sufficient to call down upon it
the excavations Of the harmonious 'DemOo-
racy"-harmoniou in nothing save their
instructive purpose Of defamation. Among
those who have attacked the article alluded
to is one who represents himself as a citiz-
en- Of Petersburgh, Menard county, Illinois,
and whose effusiOn appears in the Chicago
Times He charges that ''gave vent TO q
pack of lies" and then goes on to recount
some of the particulars of a trial which he
says took place at Petersburgh, Menard Co.,
in which he assigns to Mr.. Lincoln the part
of q volunteer attorney, Though he says he
did not volunteer ''by letter'-an important
point y assisted by other counsel-to whom,
Of course, he gives the lions share Of the
praise-and reluctantly confesses that sue
cessful defense was made by Mr.. Lincoln
and his colleague. | can only thank this
ounbiassedn writer, as he calls himself for
revealing the fact that our candidate has
twice as least volunteered his aid TO the un-
fortunate; for the trial Of which / spoke
transpired in another court from that which
he has designated. It occurred in Boards
town, Cass county, (lllinois), in the spring of
1858. The murder was committed in Mason
county, and the accused resided in Menard
county. The venue was changed from the
Mason to the Cass Circuit Court, and Mr.. Lin
coin managed the case without aid from other
counsel, although the Public Prosecutor was
assisted by distinguished lawyer ofMacOmb
county.
The writer travels ont of his way to make
a fling at Mr.. Lincoln's temperance habits
saying that, if his 'memory serves" him, at
the time the verdict was rendered in the
case tried at Petersburgh, "he and the attorney
referred to were in a saloon taking glass Of
their favorite beverage-lager." If the ''un-
biased mans amemOry serves" him, he
viii recollect that a large portion Of the
thunder of Illinois second-rate politicians
against Mr. Lincoln has for years been based
upon what they denominate his "ultra tenn
perance principles and habits
Speaking Of the mother of the accused in
the case of which he was pleased to inform
Us, this unbiased" writer says: 'The old
lady probably knows that there is God and
that is about all. The venom of his mali
cious nature must have been pretty well
stirred up when he digressed from his sub
ject to cast such low abuse upon a harmless
old woman. ID.
Cleveland, June %, 1860.