Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-08-18

the successorship Mr.. Lincoln, without con- 4
sultation or advice, so far as could ever learn,
sent into the Senate the name of Ex-Gov. Todd,
of Ohio, the afternoon of the day Mr.. Chase /
resigned This nomination was not popular, and
great relief was experienced the next morning,
when il was announced that Gov. Todd had de-
clned the position. Mr. Lincoln passed an anx-
ious night. He received the telegram from Gov.
Todd declining the nomination in the evening
Retiring he lay awake some hours canvassing
in his mind the merits Of various public men
At length he settled upon the HOn. VIM. P. Fes-
eenden, and soon after fell asleep. The next
morning he went to his office and wrote the nom
nation John Hay, the Assistant Private Sec
rotary, had taken il from the President, on his
way to the Senate, when he encountered Senator
Fessenden upon the threshold Of the door of the
ROOM As Chairman of the Finance Committee.
he also had passed an anxious night, and called
thus early 10 consult with the President. and
offer some suggestions. After few moments
conversation Mr.. Lincoln turned TO him with
smile, and said : 81 am obliged to you. Fes-
sender, but the fact is, | have just sent your
own name to the Senate for Secretary of the
Treasury. Hay had just received the nomina
ton from my hand as you entered.' Mr.. Fessen-
den was taken completely by surprise, and, very
much agitated, protested his inability to accept
no other consideration, made it impossible. Mr..
Lincoln would not accept the refusal as final.
He very Justly felt that, with Mr.. fessenden's
experience and known ability at the head of tho;
finance committee, his acceptance would 90 f IT
towards re establishing feeling Of security. He
svid TO him very earnestly: Fessenden. the
Lord has not deserted me thus far, and he is not
going 10 now-you must accept" ~ They sspa-
rated-the Senator in great anxiety of mind.
Throughout the day Mr.. lincoln urged almt ST
all who called, TO go and see Mr.. Pessenien, and
press upon him the duty of accepting. Among
these was delegation of New York Bankers,
whom | had the honor Of introducing to the Pres
ident In the name Of the banking community,
they expressed their satisfaction st the nomiua-
ton. This was especially CRAFTY ing to him, and
in the strongest mann er, he entreated them 10
'.see Mr.. Fessenden, and assure HIM of their
support"
Mr.. LINCOLN AMI SECRETARY STATION.
Entering the Presidents room about eleven
O'Clock one evening, found him alone, seated
at the long Office table. with large pile Of
military commissions before him. which he was
signing one by one. Sitting down beside him,
he remarked, 81 do not, as you see, pretend to
read over these documents. | see that Stanton
has signed them, so conclude they are all
rcdl Il portion VI one
beginning with the name Of the individual,
- = is hereby appointed adiutsnt-gen-
eral, with the rank of captain. sc. L. NJ.
Stanton, Secretary War" There" said he,
appeuding his own signature IN the opposite
| corner "that fixes him OUT Thus We went
| on chatting and writing, until he had finished
the lot then, rising from his chair, he stretch
ed himself and ssid, ''Well, | have got that
! job .husksd out - now guess will go over to
| the War Department, and see if there is any
news" At his request. walked over with him,
and recollect thinking on the way how exposed
! he was 10 the danger Of assassination by taking
that walk alone so late at highland yet il was
his common prsctIce-often so late as one and
! two o'clock in the morning
During the battles of the Wilderness" last
summer, for three nights he did not close his
! eyes in sleep, Much of the time he was enough
TO excite sympathy in the hardest heart. At
/ length the clouds lifted, and the sunshine came
out. He greeted friend with the words, " 1t
| is sill right. Grant is making his points -
! About this time We were talking one day Of
the operations of the army, and | asked him
how General Grant impressed him, as compared
| With other commanders. Said he, The great
! thing about Grant is his persistence. He will
never give up 30 long as there is chance in the
| world - How perfectly the result Of the cam
| psign INDICATED this judgment is now the most
! glorious page in our history
Raymond's - Life of Abraham Lincoln"
contains some new material in the shape Of
anecdotes Of the late President, of which we
extract the following
Mr.. Lincoln often gave clearness and force
10 his ideas by pertinent anecdotes and illustrs-
I tons drawn from daily life. Within a month
after HIS first accession TO office, when the South
was threatening civil war, and armies of office
seekers were besieging him in the Executive
\ Manson he SAID TO the writer of these pages
that be wished he could get time TO attend to the
| Southern Question be thought he knew what
was wanted, and believed he could do something
towards quoting the rising discomfort but
the office-seekers demanded all his time IL
am said he, like so busy in letting
rooms in one end Of his house. that be can't
stop TO put out the IRE that is burning the 9TH
err Two or three years later. when the people
had made HIM candidate for reelection, the
same friend spoke TO him Of q member of his
Cabinet who was a candidate also. Mr.. Lincoln
sad he did not concern himself much about
that Ii Was very important to him and the
country that the department over which his
rival presided should be administered with Wig
or and eigy. and whatever would stimulate
the Secretary 10 such action would do good. r
- said he, you were brought up on farm.
were you mott Then you know what ehin-fy
is My brother and l. he added, were once
plougbing corn on Kentucky farm, ! driving
the horse and be holding plough The horse
was lazy but on one occasion rushed across the
field so that I, with my long legs. could scarcely
keep pace with him. On reaching the end of
the furrrow, found an enormous chin fy fas-
tened upon him. and knocked him off My
brother asked me what did that for. | told
didn't want the old horse bitten in that way
Why said my brother. that, all that made
him CO. Now said Mr.. Lincoln, IF Mr.. -
has presidential ehin5fy biting him, I'm not
going TO knock it off, if it will only make his
department CO.