Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-06-08


'if was true that he told Stephens, Hun
ter, and Campbell a storyY why yes
he replied, manifesting some surprise, 'bu
has il leaked out2 was in hopes nothinG
would be said about it, lest some over seDsi
tive people should imagine there was de
greo of levity in the intercourse betweer
u.s." He then went on to relate the cir
cumstances which called it out. You see,
said he, I'VE had reached and we're discuss
ing the Slavery question. Mr.. Stephens
siid, substa atially, that the slaves, always
accustomed to an overseer, and to work
upon compusiop, suddenly freed, as they
would be if the South should consent tc
peace on the basis Of the Emancipation
Proclamation would precipitate not. only
themselves but the entire Southern society
into rremedibe ruin No work would he
done, nothing would be cultivated, and
both blacks aud whites would stdJUeW Said
the President, II waited for Seward to an.
swer that argument, but as he was silent, |
at length said: Mr.. Stephens, you ought to
know great deal better about this matter
than 1, for you have always lived under the
system. can only say in reply to your
statement of the case that it reminds mo of
man out in Illinois by the name of Case,
who undertook few years ago to raise a
very large herd of hogs. 1t was q great
trouble to feed them, and how to get around
this was puzzle to him. At length he
hit on the plan of planting an immense
field of potatoes, and, when they were suf
ficiently grown, he turned the whole herd
into the field, and let them have full swing,
thus saving not only the labor Of feeding
the hogs, but also that Of digging the pc
tatees Charmed with his sagacity, he
stood one day leaning against the fence
counting his hogs, when a neiglrbor came
along. "Well, well,' said he, Mr. Case,
this is all very fine. Your hegs are doing
very we'll just now, but you know out here
in Illinois the frost comes early, and the
ground freezes for a foot deep. Then what
are they going to doH This was view of
| the matter Mr.. Case had not taken into &C.
count. Butchering time for hogs was away
on in December or January9 He scratch
ed his head, and at length stammered,
We'll, il may come pretty hard on their
snouts, but don't see but that it will be
root hog or die J." He did not tell me
that either of the Commissioner" made
any reply to this way of putting things"
1t is very evident that there was little more
argument necessary on one side of the ques-
at least
Shortly after the opening of Congress last
winter my friend the Hon. Mr.. Shannon,
from California, made the customary call at
the White House. la the conversation
that ensued, Mr.. Shannon said, "Mr. Pres
ident, met an old friend Of yours in Cali
fornia last summer, Mr.. G, who
had good deal to say Of your Springfield
life. -" "Ah ~ returned Mr.. Lincoln, 81 am
glad to hear Of him. g. used to be dry
fellow in those days." he continued. "For
a time he was Secretary of State. One day
during the legislative vacation, meek, Ca
daverous-lookng man, with white neck
cloth, introduced himself 10 him at his Of
lice, and, stating that he had been inform
ed that Mr. U. had the letting Of the hall of
representatives, he wished to secure It, if
possible, for course of lectures he desired
said the Secretary, what is to be the sub
jsct of your lectures?' Certainly" was
the reply, with very solemn expression of
countenace. ''The course | wish to deliver
is ou the second coming of our Lord |" ut
is OF no use," said Z. ''If you will take my
advice. you will not waste your time in this
city 1t is my private opinion that, if the
Lord has been in Springfield once, he will
never come the second time"
One bright morning, last May, the Sun
day-school children Of the city Of Washing
ten, marching in procession on "anDiver-
sary" day, passed in review through the
portco on the North side of the White
House. The President stood at the open
window above the door, responding with
smile and bow to the lusty cheers of the
little folks as they passed. Hon. Mr.. Odel,
! always wide awake when Sunday-school
children are around, with one or tive other
gentlemen, stood by his side as joined the
group. 1t was beautiful sight; the rosy
checked boys and girls, in their Sundays
best, with banners and flowers, all intent
upon seeing the President, and, as they
caught sight of his tall figure, cheering as
if their very lives depended upon it After
pleasant remarks about face that now and
then struck him, Mr.. Lincoln said, II
heard story last night about Daniel Web
ster when lad, which was new to me, and
it has been running in my head all the
morning, when quite young at school,
Daniel was one day guilty of gross viola
ton of the rules He was detected in the
act, and called up by the teacher for pun
ishment This was to be the old fashioned
ferruliHg' of the hand. His hands happen
ed to be very dirty. Knowing this, on his
way to the teachers desk he spit upon the
palm of his right hand, wiping it off upon
the side of his pantaloons. "Give me your
hand, sir, " said the teacher, very sternly.-
Out went the right hand, partly cleansed. =
Tho teacher looked.at it a moment, and said,
Daniel, if you will find another hand in
this school room as filthy as that, / will let
you off this time'' Instantly from behind
his back came the left hand. Here it is,
sir" was the ready reply. THAT will do"
said the teacher, Tor this time; you can
take your seat, sir l''
One day | took couple of friends, from
New York, up stairs, who wished to be in
troduced to the President. 1t was after the
hour Tor business calls, and We found him
alone, and, for once, at leisure. Soon after
the introduction one of my friends took oc-
easion to indorse, very decidedly, the Pres
ident's Proclamation, which had been Sc
verely censured by many friends of the Ad-
ministration. Mr.. SIS approval touch
ed hlr. Lincoln, He said, with great deal
OF emphasis, and with an expression of
countenance shall never forget, when a
man is sincerely pendent for his misdeeds,
and gives satisfactory evidence of the same,
he can safely be pardoned, and there is no
exception to the rule i' ,g
Shortly afterward, he told US this story of