Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-11-06
An Interesting Letter From Old Abe.


Although we are not certain that the follow
ing letter was intended for publication, yet as it
will doubtless be interesting to many of our rea-
ders, we venture to lay it before them. We have
divided it into sections, with appropriate head
lines so that the reader can perceive at glance
the subjects considered and discussed in it.
WASHINGTON City Oct, 27th 1861.
Friend CAaJley.-I ought to have answered
your last letter to ere this, but have been SO
busy in attending to official business since then,
that had not time to DO so-but as this is Sun
day, and Mrs Abe and tie children have gone
to church. 1 have the White House all to myself
and therefore few leisure hours my disposal,
which will devote to writing to you. l contin-
ue to receive the Democrat and Sentinel regularly,
and of course peruse it carefully every week.
That long story which you recently published
about the 90 Beechnut Farm" interested me very
much. With regard to politics, your course since
my inauguration has been all that had right to
expect. You were a little severe on me about
the suspension of the privilege Of the writ of hG-
be,ls corpus, but probably not any more so than
deserved. I knew l took wrong step in that
matter, but it was all the fault of Ed Bates and
both crazy abolitionists. and are constantly Civ
ing me had advice. But there is no use in crying
over split milk. Having publicly asserted my
right to suspend the writ and boldly exercised it
on several occasionsi wouldn't look well to lack
out now. If should DO 50, people would say
l was weak in the knees, and between you and
l Charley, that is what likes to have
said concerning him. either behind his back or
to his face. You acted the man towards me in
the Fremont controversy, for which am CRATE
ful. In fact the only support ] received in that
matter, was from Democratic newspapers
What bowling old Horace Greely and his pack
kept up for a while about it had good mind
at one time TO suspend the Tribune, and send
old Horace to F ort La Fayette. If had done
so, there would have been some loud talking aud
rough swearing in the abolition camp about it.
The, would have at once become eloquent with
regard to the right Of per sonal liberty, and the
press. 1t is all right as long as l arrest 10 one
on the charge of treason but Democrats, but il
would be all wrong, if 1 should once begin tc
arrest and imprison aboitionss. Charley, you
know, CT if you don't you ought 20 know, that
there is a vast difference between tweedledum
and tweedledee. | used to be an abolitionist
myself-but since my Inauguration, have be
come thoroughly Disguised with the fra ternity
and between you and 1 and the sign post. re-
gard them as the meanest pack of unanointeC
vag -abonds on the face of Gods earth.
Old Abe's Sen Bob.
My son Bob the other day told me, when
wrote to you to ask you whether, if he SHOULD
happen to visit Ebensburg during the coming
winter, you would be kind enough to take hin
oRt to Monkbarns and introduce him to the pret
ty school mistress lie is a great adlnirer O
pretty ladies. and is quite bean. lie is a very
PROMISING youth, and although say it myself
tn at oughtn't to say it. is really handso me-
But he couldn't well be otherwise, seeing whC
his parents are. His mother is a handsome wo
man and so am |,
Old A5e on has gay to Washington City. 4
kissed by ladies at almost eUery station. chere
upon Mrs Abs muttereth TO herself about i'm
pasde1lt hussys and telieth old Abe he ought IL
be ashamed Of himself,
Speaking of the ladies recalls to my mind al
incident which happened to me, while on m.
way last February, from Illinois to this place
and which | may as well tell you. At almos
every station at which the train stopped, all tn,
pretty young ladies who had assembled to se
.he President, would rush forward and kiss
This l was told had been an established Gus
tom on similar occasions for years, and did no
therefore, object TO it. To tell you the truth
Charley, rather liked it. But if I liked it
soon discovered that Mrs Abe who accompanied
me, didn't. On turning towards her after ON,
OF these scenes, perceived her looking daggers
At mo. and could hear her muttering to herself