Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-11-20

and the old people were asked for their consent. They
were afraid OF the power of the lion, with his loog and
sharp claws and his tusks, and they said to bin We
can have no oil lection to 30 respectable a personaze %
you, but our daughter IL fral and delicate, and we hope
that you will submit to have your claws cut off and your
tusks drawn, because they might do very serious injury
70 her. The lion submitted, being very much In love.
His claws were cut of aud his tusks drawn, and they
took clubs and then knocked him on the head laugh
tH1
l replied, I think, about in substance this-that Il was
An eIceediDgly iniersstng ~anecdots, and very sppsopos,
but not ~altogether Q satisfactory answer 10 me, aud then
said to him, "Mr. Lincoln, this 70 me, sir, Ia the most
serious and all absorbing Gutject that has ever engaged
ny attention as . public man. l dspreeats and look
with horror upon 4 fraticidl var. l look At the irju.
~ that Il II TO do, not only to my osn secliou-thlt
know Il TO DO desolated and drenohei In blood-butI
think Of the iIjurJ that Il 10 TO do the cause OF human
iy itself, aud | appeal to you. apart from thess tests
TO lend US your Aid and continuance In avertnga CO
lamity like that"
Before be replied, Mr.. Rives, Of Virgins, got up. We
had before that convsssd siting in q semi.circls around
the President; but hr. Ryes rosa from his chair, and
With = dignity and clog fence that l have seldom heard
surpassed In the coute OF my life. he sPpes!ed to him.
1 could not pretend 10 give even the substance Of his
speech; but / remember that he told him that he was
then = very old mar; that there never had been = thrOb
OF his heart that was not In favor of the perpetuAtion Of
the Uniol that he came there With q hops aud . wish
t, perpotuate Il, and that all his efforts had been eIsrted
10 endeavo'!ng 70 procure slch guarantees a. would per.
pe:u.ie il; but that he desired TO say to him-and he said
il with q trembling voioe-in order that hs might know,
and not say thereafter that he was not fully warned, that
he agreed with every word I had said with regard 20 the
horrors Of this anticipated war, and thu. il be did resort
to coercion Virginia would leave the Union and join the
seeding States NAY, sir" he said. ''sd as I AN, and
dearly ~ | have loved his Usiso, in THAI svsafI 70
With all ny heart and soul" (HsAr, bssh) ,
Mr.. Lincoln Jumped up from hs chair. - hr. Rivsd
VA san iiug, advanced one step 70 ward him, and ssld
"hr. Rives, Mr.. Rivss, If Virginia will stay In l will
withdraw the troops from Fort Sumter
Mr.. Rivs stepped back and said, "hr. Ps,idsnt |
have no authority TO spssk for Virginia, / An one Of
the humblssl Of her sons but if you sill guarantees 70
do that, il will b one Of The sisest things you have
ever done. Do that, and give Us guarantees, and ! can
only promise you that Whatever iDhasrcs | possess shall
bs eIsrtsd 70 promote The Uaiou aud 70 restore IL 10
What il VA" We then, oil Of ", GOT up and we're
standing. vas on the outer circle.
He said WELL g~sntsusn, | have bfen wondering
very much whether, if NJ. Douglass or Mr.. Bell had
been elected President, you would have dared 70 talk 70
him as freely a. you have to me-"
/ did not hear the answer, but ] AN told tba. hr.
Guthrie answered. him aboutin this ssy I'M. President,
if General Washington occupied the seat that you viii
soon gil, and Il had been necessary 70 tax % him ~ We
have TO YOU to save such Q Uaion ~ this, / for one
shon'd talk to him IS We have 10 you" Hear, hsAr.)-
That closed the conversation.