Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-18


praising speech of the Democratic cam
didats for Attorney General Of New
York
Mr.. Lincoln and Hon. Robert Dale
& or ~ oven.
Mr.. +. B Carpenter, in bis q personal
Impressions and rseollections of AbrA-
ham Lincoln" makes the following
reference to 40 intsrview between the
late laueuted President and Hon. Robert
Dale Owen, Of this State:
Some weeks prior TO the issue Of the
Presidents message for 1868, to which
was appended, it will be remembered,
the proclamation of amnesty, the Hon
Robert Dale Oven visited Washington.
Calling npon the President, one Satur.
day morning, be said 30 him that be
desired very much 10 secure 81 hour OF
his time, as he had 3 matter upon which
be had expended considerable thought
10 1ay before him. may hay here that
H. had been un1eratood In certain
quarters that the President was con-
templatipg at this time the issue of an
amnesty proclamation. Knowing nothing
Of Mr.. Ovens purpose, be said 10 him:
=" You ace how it 10 this incoming: there
are many visitors waiting; cant yon
come. ~ tomorrow morning7 / shall
be alone theE; and, If Jon have no sern-
Piles upon the subject, j can give you as
much time rs you wish
Mr. Owen assured him 81 his raadi.
ness 10 come at ary hour most convent.
ent, and 10 clock vas named Pune
lual to the appointment, the hour found
Mr.. Owen nc the house A repeated
summons AZ lie belibrought no response
and be at length pushed opened the door
and walked IeiEurely up the stairs TO The
reception room. Neither servant nor
secretary was 10 be seen Presently Mr.
Lincoln passed through the ball to bis
Office, and OIL was still again. Looking
vaiDly for servant 70 announce bis
name, Mr. 0wsu finally went 10 the Office
door, aud knocked s
Really. said he, Mr.. President,
owe you "a apology for coming ia upon
yon Ia this unceremoniofa way, bar 4
have for some time been waiting the ap.
pesrAnes Of servant"
Oh, was the good natnred reply,
the boys are al ont this morning. I
have been expecting you; come ia aud
sit down"
proceeding directly to the sabjsoi be
had in hand, at the same time unfolding
o manuscript Of large proportions, Mr.
Owen said:
~ have q paper here. Mr. President,
that. ] have prepared With niue care,
which wish to read to you
Mr.. Lincoln glanced at toe formidable
document--really much less volumi nous
than il appeared, being very closely
wfitten--and then. hall uuconsciously
relapsing into IN attitude aud expression
OF resignation to chat BE evidently con.
| sidered an afflicl,on which could not we'll
be avoided, signifed his readiness 10 lis
ten. The article was a very carefully
prepared digest Of historical precedents
In relation to the subject Of amnesty 10
connection with treason and rebellion
It anallzed En ylish and Continental his.
tory. and viewed deliberately the action
Of President Washington in reference to
Shey's and the subsequent Z" whisky" re-
bellion.
/" Tread but two or three paaes,r said
OWEAf Wutu M&NH tAlHEVAu AMHunNQ
an erect posture, leaning slightly for
werd, and, 6xing bis eyes iutsntiy upon
me, seemed wholly absorbed IN the CON
tents of The manuscript Frequently
he would break in npon me with: Was
that SOP Please read that paragraph
again, &c. When at length / came TO
WashingtoE's proclamation to those en-.
gagged In the whisky rebellion, be inter-
rupted me with: Wha', did Washing
ton issue q proclamation of amnestyT
Here ii 10, sir, was the reply Well,
Inevsr knew that, he rejOinsd; and 90
on through"
Upon conclusion OF the manuscript.
Mr. Lincoln said Mr.. Oven, ia that
for-mef'
Certainly, sir" said Mr.. O., handing
him the roll II understood that you
we're considering this subject, and
thought review Of this kind might be
interesting to you"
II "There 10 good deal of hard work in
that document" continued Mr.. Lincoln
may ask how long you we're prepar-
ing itT'
sIsaAbout three months; but then / have
more leisure for such work than you,
Mr. President"
g Mr.. Lincoln took the manuscript, and,
folding il up carefully, arose and laid il
away in the npigeon hole" marked 90"
10 bis desk Returning to his chair, be
.aAid.
"Mr. Owen, il is dus 20 you that l
should say tkst yoa have conferred
very essential service, both upon me aud
upon the country, by the preparation OF
this paper IL contains that which il
was exceedingly important that should
know, but which, il left to myself I
never should have known, because
have not the time necessary for sach an
examination of authorities as review
Of this kind involves And want to
say, secondly, if had the time, could
not have done the work so we'll as you
have done il"
This frank and generous AvowAI-so
'unliae what might be expected, under
similar circumstances, from most public
meu-was exceedingly chsracteristic Of
Mr. Lincoln.
B@r A young lady in Brooklyn, after