Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-01-25
INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH MR..
LINCOLN.


A correspondent of the ST. Louis Democrat
gives a very readable account of an interview
he recently had with the President elect, from
which we make the following extract
chose rather to be a listener than a talker.
and paid careful attention both to Mr.. L mat
ter and manner and although he seemed to
talk without regard to the fact of his being
the President elect, yet it was discoverable
that he chose his words and framed his SEN
tences with deliberaton, and with discre-
ton becoming his high position.
He was asked. "Do you think the Missouri
compromise line ought to be restored :" He
replied that although the recent presidential
election was verdict Of the people in favor
Of freedom in all the territories, yet PERSONAL
ly he would be willing, for the sake Of the
Union, to divide the territory we now own by
that line, if, in the judgment Of the nation it
would save the union and restore harmony
But whether the acquisition Of territory here
after would not reopen the question and re-
new the strife, was question to be thought
of and in some way provided against
He had been inquired of whether he intend
ed to recommed the repeal of the ant-fugitive
slave laws of the States. He replied that he
had never read one of them, but if they we're
of the character ascribed to them by southern
men, they certainly ought to be repealed
Whether, as the President of the United
States, he ought to interfere with the state
legislation by Presidential recommendation,
required more thought than he had yet given
the subject. He had also been asked if he
intended to interfere or recommend an inter-
ference with slavery or the right of holding
slaves in the dock-yards and arsenals of the
United States. His reply was Indeed, sir,
the subject has not entered my mind" He
was inquired of whether he intended to rec
ommend the abolition of slavery in the District
Of Columbia, to which he replied Upon my
word. | have not given the subject thought"
A gentleman present said to him "N ell, Mr..
Lincoln, suppose these difficulties should not
be settled before you are inaugurated, what
will you do - He replied with smile
WELL suppose l will have to run the ma
chine as find it"
In speaking on the subject of a compromise,
he said at was sometimes better for man
to pay debt he did not owe, or to lose de-
mand which was just one, than to go to law
about it; but then, in compromising our
difficulties, he would regret to see the victors
put in the attitude Of the vanquished, and the
yanqushed in the place of the yictors." He
would not contribute to any such compromise
that.
was very favorably impressed with Mr..
Lincoln. His unsophsticated frankness, his
directness, the clear good sense which per-
yades what he says, are ready passports to
the confidence of any one who is honest him
self The basis Of his moral character is his
strong sense of justice, and his invincible firm
ness in adhering to what he believes to be
right and Just. His intellectual strength man
ifestly lies in clear aud undesirable good
sense rather than in what are termed brilliant
talents, while his intellectual power no doubt
lies in a capacity Of stating his propositions
aud maintaining them in language remarkable
for its perspicuity and unelouded clearness.
No one could be long with Mr.. Lincoln
whilst engaged in earnest conversation upon
important topics, as he was during the writer's
presence with him-without being well satis-
fed that in the great qualities of moderation,
wisdom and frmness, he is well endowed,
aud that the country may safely rely upon her
chosen executive for their due exercise in the
midst of whatever perlls may assail her. 1t
was dscernible in the course of Mr.. L. con-
ycrsauon that he duly appreciates the difficult
ties which threaten his incoming administra-
ton also, that he regarded himself as gross
ly misrepresented and misunderstood at the
South Nor did he conceal, what mani
testify an invincible conviction Of his honesty
and intelligent mind that il the South would
only give him fair trial. they would find their
constitutional rights as safe under his admins
tration as they had ever been under the ad-
ministrntion of any President.
will close by saying, what have undoubt-
ed authority for, that Mr.. Lincoln has no
newspaper organ in Springfield, and that he
is no more responsible for what those papers
have said in regard to his purposes or plans
than he is for the outgivings Of other journals.