The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-11-02
anecdotes of Lincoln.
From Carpeuter's six Months in the White HOu-e"
HOW HE BORE ABUSE.

From Csrpeuter's '-SiK Months in the White HOu-e"
HOW HE BORE ABUSE.
The president was once speaking of an
ATTACK made ON him by the committee on
the conduct of the war, for certain al
legged blunder, or something worse, In the
Southwest-ihe matter involved being one
which had fallen directly under the OBJ
serraiiun of the officer TO whom he was
talking, who possessed Official evidence
completely upsetiing all the conclusions of
the committee Might ii not be well
for me- queried The officer, ito SET this
matter right in a letter 10 some paper,
stating the facts a. they actually trans
pired - .'Oh, no" replied the president,
'tat least not now. If were to try TO
read, much less answer all the attacks
made ON me, this shop might as well be
closed for any other business. j do the
very best know how-ihe very best |
can and mean 10 keep doing So until
the end. If the end brings me out wrong,
ten angels swearing | was right would
make no difference"
1T Il TIE PEOPLES BUSINESS"
In August, 1864. the prospects OF the
L mon party, In reference 10 the presiden-
tial election. became very gloomy. A
friend. the private secretary of one of the
cabinet ministers, who spent few days
in New York AT tins juneture, returned
70 Washington with - disoouraging an
account o; the political situation, that al
ter hearing ii the secretary told him TO 60
10 the White house and repeat 1t TO the
president My friend said that be found
Mr.. Lincoln alone, looking more than US
ually sad and careworn. Upon hearing
the statement he walked two or three
times In silence Returning, he sand with
"rim elrneStneSs of tone and manner:
"Wcll, cannot run the political machine;
have enough on NV hands without that.
1t l. the peoples bu.iness-the election Is
in their hands. Ii they turn their backs
to the fire. and get scorched in the rear,
they'll find they have got 10 SIT on the
blister
LET EN- wRlGGLE-
pom the appearance of what was
known aS the Wade and Davis manifes-
to- subsequent TO his denomination, an
intimate friend and supporter, who was
very indignant that such a document
should have been set forth Just previous
10 the presidential election, took occasion
10 animadyert very severely upon the
course that prompted IL III Is not worth
iretting about, said the president; 1T re-
minds me of AN old acquaintance, who,
having SON of scientific turn bought him
a microscope The boy went around ex-
perimeniing with his glass upon every
thing that came IN his WAY One day,
AT the dinner table, his father took up 4
piece of cheese. Don't eat that, father,
said tie boy 1t Is full of wrigglers,'
NY SON replied the old gentleman, tax
lng al the same time huge bite, let EN-
wri.gle, can stand it if they can
DRAW 1T DOWN.
Among the numerous delegations which
thronyed Washington in the early part of
the war was one from New York, which
urged very sircnuou>ly the sending OF a
fleet io the southern cities-Charleston
Mobile and Savannah-with the object OF
drawing off the rebal army from Wash
ington- Mr. Lincoln sald the project re-
minded him of the case OF a girl In New
Salem, who was greatl Y troubled with a
singing in her head Various remedies
were suggested by the neighbOrs, but moth
ing tried afforded any relief. At last a
man came along-a common sense sort OF
man. vino was asked TO prescribe for
the difficulty. After due inquiry and ex-
animation. he said the cure was simple.
What Is 1t - was the anxious question.
Make plaster of psalm-tunes and apply
6 il to her feet, and draw the singing down, -
was the reloinder-
His UNwILIINGSESS TO RETAIATE.
There are not found wanting assertion:
; that he showed criminal indifference to
the sufferings Of our prisoners at Libby,
: Andersonville and other places; and IN
1 proof of tins ii Is stated that there Is no
record Of his ever alluding 10 the subject
# in any of his public addresses or messages,
e The questions involved in the suspension
4 of the exchange of prisoners are difficult
4 of decision. Whoever was the cause O
: this, certainly has ieartnl responsibility
: That IL was the presidents fault, do moi
II believe When the reports in an auihen
# tie form first reached Washington, of tht
n sufierings Of the Union prisoners, know
he was greatly excited and overcome by
II them lie Was told that justice demand
: ed stern retaliation. He said TO hl
: friend, Mr.. Odell, with the deepest emo
Il tion: Il can never, never starre mel
IF like that, Whatever others may say ol
DO, never can and never vii, bs seees