Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-18
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Personal Impressions and RecOI-
lectiOns.

lectiOns.
The Independent publishes the following
account, by Mr.. Carpenter, of an inter
view between the President and Robert
Dale Owen:
Punctual to the appointment, the hour
found Mr.. Owen at the White House. A
repeated summons at the bell brought no
response, and he at length pushed open
the door aud walked leisurely up the stairs
to the reception room. Neither servant
nor secretary was to be seen. Presently
Mr.. Lincoln passed through the hall to
his Office, and all was still again. Look
ing vainly for a servant to announce his
name, Mr.. Owen finally went to the Office
door, and knocked.
'Really," said he, "Mr. President, 1 owe
you an apology for coming in upon youin
this unceremonious way; but l have for
some time been waiting the appearance of
d servant"
ooh" was the good natured reply, the
boys are all out this morning. 1 have been
expecting you; come in and sit down."
Proceeding directly to the subject chad
on hand, at the same time unfolding a
manuscript Of largeproportions, Mr.. Owen
said:
~ have a paper here, Mr.. President, I
have prepared with some care, which l
wish to read to you"
Mr.. Lincoln glanced at the formidable
document, (really much less YoluminOus
than it appeared, being very e~Oarsely writ
ten,) and then, half unconsiously relapsing
into an attitude and expression of resign
alton to what he evidently considered an
infiiction which could not well be avoided;
signiied his readiness to listen.
The article was a very carefully-pre-
pared digest of historical precedents in
relation to the subject of amnesty in con-
nee ion with treason and rebellion. It
analysed English and continental history
and reviewed deliberately also the action
of President Washington in reference TO
Shays and the subsequent "whiskey" 9
lad read but two or three pages"
"a when Mr.. Linco.i u as
Tuned an erect posture, leaning SlishtHy
onward, and, fixing his eyes iDs~~y upon
ne, seemed wholly absorbed in the GU
ients of the manuscript FREQUENTLY he
would break in upon me with: "Was that
or "Please read that paragraph agafhF
&c. When at length l came to Washing
6n's proclamation to those engaged III
he whiskey rebellion, he interrupted me
With aWhat, did Washington issue a
PROCLAMATION of anmestyI"
Here it is; SIR was the reply. Wen, L
lever knew that he rejoined; and SO on
trough"
Upon the conclusion Of the manuscript,
Mr.. Lincoln said: "Mr. Owen, is that for
ne ?"
aCertainly. sir" said Nj. o., harding
i'm the roll. II understood that you :,
we're considering the subject and thought
review of this kind might be interesting
0 you" 4
There is a good deal of hard work in
document continued Mr.. Lincoln ;
may l ask how long you were preparing
t?"
@About three months; but then l have
nore leisure for such II work than you,
dr. President" n
Mr.. Lincoln took the manuscript, and, (,
it up carefully, arose, and laid it
way in the "pigeon-hole' marked 20" in
us desk. Returning to his chair, he said:
Mr.. Owen, 1t is due to you that l should
ay that you have conferred a very essen !
ial service, both upon me and upon the
ountry, by the preparation of this paper.
t contains that which it was exceedingly !
Important that 1 should know, but which, :
f left to myself 1 never should have
-nown, because 1 have not the time r1eees- 5
airy for such an examination of authOrt I
les as a review of their kind involves.
And 1 want TO say, secondly, if L had the ]
ime, 1 could not have done the work so
veil as you have done it. I
This frank and generous avOwal-so |
mike what might have been expected, ,
nder similar circumstances, from most {
ublic men-was exceedingly character +
stic of Mr.. Lincoln. +