Litchfield enquirer., 1860-07-19
Editorial Correspondence of the Utica Morning
 Herald. AN EVENING WITH ABRAHAM
 LINCOLN,
SPRINGFIELD. TIL. June 26. 1880

the footsteps of distinguished men. Nothing was further from my thoughts four days age than visit to Abraham Lincoln. Nothing seemed more impossible than that I should ever-before or after his election to the Presi dency-join the great mob of those who should "pay him their respects" But meet ing personal and political friend of MT Lincoln, few days since, he said, " You New Workers don't know our glorious stand ard bearer. You think him mere rough diamonds slamwhanging stump-speaker, who lacks the ease and polish of Q wel-bred gentleman. I want you to go and see him ito come in contact with tue man-to talk with his neighbors then go home and tell your people why we in the West so much so much love and honor him." l coufess I had an ardent desire to see the man, and I readily surrendered to the argument of my friend. Armed with a strong letter of re- commendation, was soon en route for Spring field. Leaving Chicago by the Illinois Cen tral Railroad, passed over country unsur- passed in fertility of soil, and smiling iu the promise of bounteous harvest. As went South found the corn almost ready to tas- sel out, and the wheat ready for the sickle. Indeed, many fields were almost cut.
 Ten hours of dusty riding in Q sun that had all the fierceness of the dog-days, brought me to Springfield, Q commonplace, sprawl ing sort of town, covering ten times as much ground as it ought. and remarkable chiefly for having no central visible business. After vainly searching for hack, and finally set ting down to the conclusion that all the world hereabouts were pedestrians, I set out to visit the future President of the United States, in the truly democratic style of going a-foot and unattended by any guide save my own wits. had but little difficulty in find.
 ing the place of my destination. A modest looking two-story brown frame house, with the name A. Lincoln" on the door-platc, told me that my pilgramage was ended. l was met ut the door by servant, who ush- cred me into the parlor, and carried my note to Mir. Lincoln, who was upstairs The house was neatly, without being extravagantly flrn- ished An air of quiet refinement pervaded the place. You would have known instantly that she who presided over that modest household was true type of the American lady. There were flowers upon the tables; there were pictures upon the walls The adornments were few but chastely appropri- ate; everything was in it's place, and minis. tered to the general effect. The hand of the domestic artist was everywhere visible. Tue thought that involuntarily blossomed into speech was: "What pleasant homo Abe Lincoln has!"
 Presently heard footsteps on the stairs, and n tall, narrow, angular gentleman, with a proiusion of wiry hair, :" lying around loose' about his head, and pair of eyes that seem- cd to say, make yourself at homc," and forehead remarkably broad and capacious, and arms that were somewhat too long and ank for Q statue of Apollo, made his appear ance. The lips were full of character, the nose strongly aquilne, the cheek bones high and prominent and the whole face indicative at once of goodness and rcsoluteness. In rc. pose, it had something of rigidity, but when in play it was one of the most eloquent have ever seen. None of his pictures do him the slightest justice. His presence is corn- manding-his manners winning to a marked degree. After you have beon five minutes in his company, you cease to think that hc is ei- ther lomcly or awkward. You recognize in him hgl,-toned, unassuming, chivalrous- minded gentleman, fully posted in all the amenities of social life, and sustained by the infallible monitor Of common sense.
 He approached, and extended his hand and gave mine such grasp as only warm hearted man knows how to give. He sat down beside me on the sofa and commenced talking about political affairs in my own state with knowledge of details that sur prised me. l found that he was more con. versant with some of our party performances in Oneida Co. than l could have desired, and made some pointed allusions to the great Congressional struggle--wbich resulted in the election of Mr. Conkling in 1858. l asked him if he was not very much bored with calls and correspondence. He replied that he liked to sec Lis friends, and as to the letters, he took care not to answer them He referred, playfulIy, to the various Cat tempts spon his life," and the poor success that attended them. His greatest grievance were the artists he tried in vain to recog. nizc himself in some "Abral,am LiDcolps" of the pictorials.
 asked him if he had continued his pro- fessionaI business since his nomination. He said he had attempted it, but pitied his cIi- eHts, He had been arguing a case the day before, but said the demands of his position made him an indifferent lawyer. He spoke with great freedom of corruption in high places. He regarded it as the bane Of our American politics and said he could not re- spect, either as man or politician, one who bribed ostwas bribed He said he was glad to know the people Of Illinois had not yet learned the art of being yenal. The whole expense Of his campaign with Douglas did not exceed few hundred dollars ] wish the thousands of people in my own State who Ioatbe corrupt practices, could have heard Mir, Lincoln's indignant denunciation of venality in high places. ] can now an- dersta,.d how the epitbet of "A~nest Ara- ham Lincoln" has come to be so universal Iy applied to him by the great West.
 l He related many pleasant incidents cop- neeted with his contests with Douglas. He told me that he spoke in all sixty-four times nine or ten times face to face with his antao. onist. His estimate of the Little Giant" is generous. He comedies to him great har. dihood, pertinacity, and magnetic power. Of all men he has seen, says MT. L., he has the most audaeity in maintaining an unten- able position. Thus, in endeaTorin9 to re- eoneile Popular Sovereignty and the Dred Scott decision, his argument, stripped of sophlStrY, is "It is legal to exnel slavery