Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-13
rDwApD R,Trs OK MIR. LINCOLN.

kbh Ahp ID ~ - w I-A'' Aa'-'
The following tribute 70 Mr.. Lincoln, from
ex.Att5rney General Bate, appears in the ST.
Louis papers
ST.. LOUIS April 90 1863.
To 0. D. FuLEY. ESQ, and the other Gentlemen
his Associates
sir-When received the letter with which
YOU latch honO.ed me, felt d strIn g lnchAa'
tiOn ~ comply with your request TO deliver an
Grafton upon tho character and puOHc services
OF Abr ham Lincoln at such time and place as
might su nv co NenIcnC But cOuIu not
DO uumiadiul Of the peculiar diIcuties OF the
subject, especially 20 QUE " had beeu Glossy
as,Ucil lied with PRESIDENT Lincoln Tor nearly the
who.e of nia fret term, ana IN the most trying
times OF our cOuntg's history. II you mai de'
81 gu 10 hear fro me IN regard ONLY 10 the char
cter Of Mr. Lincoln, the task would have been
easy and 10 NE a Id or OF Iove Tor think 1
k. oT 4. i appreciate that character, in its beau.
ull simplicity OF ruth aud Kindness aud IN lts
strougtl and goodness. | knew hlm Tor many
wears Oh terms vi tue most pleasant social cour'
t,sy Our conmu lily L Up.nloa upDl political
Questions drew US more closely together, and
produced Il mutual ieCIng Oi ltspe-t ma coul'
| uracr, which has never been suuLen. ! COuI.
d sell with delight upon the beautiful traits OF
! MS character 10th oil heart aud Hlnd 10. can
confidently declare that ! have never associated
with a more bland aud umigb.e gentleman u ID
! have never Auonn man o. QuicAer perception
o. higher appreciated Of truth and Justice. /
| have !.u lwu many men moro learned IN books
| III IN Mr Lin eUIu, but not one whose mind could
more readily perez We the uuth OF TACT or "a
ufnciple OF more clearly state It In language or
| mo- o certainly prove II 10y .ogcal argument
| e. jut. my irien s you ask Tor an Grafton, not
| on lis character only but also on his pubic ser
wees How can III t great subject be, justly and
disc Intimately, compressed int The narrow space
| oi an CraiOn / dare not undertake a task 20
arluJus ia itself and so dclica IN the ands OF
| Que Of his own political family. dis public ser
vices are. tsyE oven with thy fabric of our his
/ tory fyr tue last four years an epoch abOunding
| with the most startling .ctS perlJC Ia which
| the events Of gea are Gro ded INTO months.
| He was wise andg Cd and lei il suffice that,
| hv Lis wisd m and virtue, he has saved the ma
! ton. He has uuelled the most formidable insur.
racfian that ever rose against good Govern.
meut aud a free and happy people oh tat il
lltple4scd God TO spare his lie Tor tue good Vi
| n suis-,ng matt n uut be cou.d &c comp lsh his
glorious purpose 10 Tehabil ate tie ehatte e.
Union % restore n the people peace. order and
| lsw and 10 Ciye 20 L., guilty and RAJ ed States
jsti integral members Of the nat on repOsc and
safety, with the hope Of returning lerity and
veal j..
81 pray YOU, my friends, excuse me. Aside
from d reason above assigned, the state OF my
health forbid my cOmpi nee. During tlc .a-I
half Of winter and all the spung, thus far. | an
go afflicted in my taToat aad lu-gs tina; dare
not attempt 10 speak in public.
d" With The greatest respect | remain, gentle
men z 4tsfll y your friend,
EDWARD BATES"