The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-04
MIR LincOIn'S Ideas About the Crisis.

4 correspondent of the Philadelp phia Eve
ming Bulletin visited the President elect at
at Springfield, ILL.,, on the l4th. and reports
the following conversation, which indicates
that Mr. Lincoln takes calm and hopeful
view of the present aspect of public affairs:
"One of the party asked him If he had any
news from the South. No he replied: i
have no, vet read the dispatches in the morn
ing papers But he added, i think. from
ali can learn. that things have reached their
worst point in the South. and they are likely
to mend in the future. .lf it be true. as re-
ported. that the South Caroiinians do not in
tend to resist the collection of the revenue.
after they ordan secession, there need be no
collision with the federal government. The
union may still be preserved. The greatest
Inconvenience will arise from the want of fe-
deral courts; as. with the present feeling.
Judges, marshals, and other officers coulc not
be obtained On this point MIR Lincoln
but adding that his mind was made up 10
how it should be overcome. His tone and
language were moderate. good humored, and
kind toward the South. He then went on II
speak of the charges made by the South a
rainst the North, remarking that they were
so indefinite that they could not be regarded
as sound. If they were we'll defined they
could b. fairly and successfully met. But
thev are so vague that they cannot be long
maintained by reasoning men. even IN the
southern states. Afterwards he spoke of the
course pusued by certain republican newspa-
usrs at the North. which | need not name. in
replying TO threats o: secession from southern
states, hN saving. Let thea secclc; We do
not want them This tone, he remarked.
wa, having Il had effect in some OF the bofd r
states. especially in Missouri. where there
was danger tilt it nigh; ali,nate some OF
the best trienis of the cause. II il were per-
sisted in In Missouri aud some other states
where repuhlicanism has just hegun TO grow,
and where there is still Il strong pro-Slavery
party to contend with. there can be no advan-
tage in taunting and bantvrng the South.
Leading republicans from those states had
urged him TO use his influence with the jour
nals referred to, and induce them to alter
their present tone towards the South. He
did not say he had promised to do this, and
only gathered from his manner and lam
guase that he would prefer to see the banter
ing abandoned. There was no caution given
in regard to keeping his remarks private
and as he knew my professional position and
vet gave no such caution, there can be no
violation of confidence in publishing this yer,
brief sketch of his remarks, emitting, of
course, many things, but giving their general
tone with fidelity. The only reservation ht
made was when he was expressing his views
of affairs in the South. He said he had ar
rived at them after much study and thought
they were his views at the present time. bu,
of course liable to be modified by his more
mature judgment after further information
and further study of the progress of events
Having thus discussed public affairs fol
some time, Mr. Lincoln then changed the cor
versation, making pleasant illusions to lnci-
. dents of his recent visit to Chicago. The In
, quiry was then made whether he expected tc
leave Springfield again before his departure
for Washington. i think not was the re-
ply; i shall have good deal to do here be-
tween this and the middle of February, when
expect to start for Washington. don't
want to 20 before the middle of February
because expect they will drive me insane
after get there, and want to keep tolerably
p sane, at least until after the inauguration =
In answer to question as to which route he
, would take to the East, he said he had moi
; thought on the subject. l ventured to re-
commend the route by Pittsburgh and Phil