Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-10-26
MISCELLANEOUS.

AN INTERESTING EXPLANATION AND BITTER
REBUKE.

AN INTERESTING EXPLANATION AND a BITTER
REBUKE.
Thurlow Weed writes in the New York
Commercial Ideertiser as follows, under the
head of Outrageous Mcndacity," which
will be read with great interest in connection
with certain developments concerning Mrs.
Lincoln's wardrobe -
We have never approached a question
with half the sorrow that this one awakens.
To vindicatc, shield and protect "Hcavcns
best gift to man" is grateful duty, while
to even reprovc, and much more to assail
q woman, is painful, and.if without per-
feet justification, unmanly.
Ii the American people have failed to
meet the pccuniary expectations of Mr.. Lin
coins widow, it is because that parsonage
failed, during his life and since his death,
to inspire either with respect or confidence
They should not, therefore, be subjected to
the reproach, or rest under the imputation
of ingratitudc. Had Mrs. Lincoln, while in
power, borne herself bccomingly, the sug-
gestion of u Lincoln fund, by voluntary con-
tributions, would have been promptly re-
sponded to. The national heart was warm.
1t gushed out in liberal cndowmcnts for
Gran. and Farragut. 1t would as cheerfully
| have met the appeal in favor Of Mrs. Lin
coin if it had not intuitively closed and
chilled.
In her conversations Mrs. Lincoln is rep
resented as bitterly denouncing Secretary
Seward, for which, of course, there is no
warrant or excuse, for he wrongs no man,
and much less is he capable of injustice,
wrong, or even unkindncss, to women.
But we happen to know-thc late Caleb
S. Smith, then Secretary of the interior, be-
ing our informant-a fact which incensed
Mrs. Lincoln against Mr.. Seward. The Pre-
sidcnt gave the Prince Napoleon dinner,
for which Mrs. Lincoln sent to the Secretary
| of the Interior for payment bill of some
5000. This demand, though wholly illegal
coming from the Presidents wife ,embarrass-
cd the Secretary, who called upon the Sccre-
tary OF State for advice, where he learned that
| Mr.SewaId had also dincd the Prince, having
the same number of guests, and giving them
a duplicate of the dinner at the White
House. In fact, Mr.. Seward ordered botL
dinners from the restaurant, and, by his OWE
blu, knew the cost of each. For what Mr.
Seward paid $500, Mrs. Lincoln demanded
5000. But whether three or nine hundred
the claim was alike illegal and could not be
paid. For this, however, Mrs Lincoln GUAR
relied with the Secretaries Smith and Sew
ard. This amount, however, was subsc
qucntly covered up in the gardeners account
but occasioncd scandal, which respect fo
Mr.. Lincoln measurably suppressed.
Though Mr.. Lincoln left an estate whicl
enabled his family to live as comfortably n
they ever lived, Congress and the peopl
would have promptly and chccrfully provi
dcd munificently for them if Mrs. Lincoln
herself, with every advantage that high po
sition gave her, had made friends or inspired
respect. And this last exhibition proves how
instinctivcly right the popular estimate o
her character was.
The fact for which Mrs. Lincoln seek
large publicity, namely, that she received
presents valued at $4,000, is pregnan
and suggestive ne-suggestivc, at least, o
Offices and contracts, unless the moro char
; table construction is reached through tn
assumption that they were expressions @
regard and friendship. But is not know
/. , that the wife Of any other President, howeve
: estimable, was so loaded with shawls, laceE
furs, diamonds, etc.
Mrs.Lincolns propensity to sell things wa
manifested carly, and before any necessit
was forcseen. Ii our information is reliable
eleven of Mr. Lincoln's new linen shirts wer
sold almost before the remains, which wei
shroudcd in the twelfth, had started fC
that "bouIne from whence no traveller T,
!; turns"
l Individually, We arc obliged to Mrs. Lir
coin for an expression of her ill-will.
q is pleasant to remember that quarter. An
i it is equally pleasant to remember that "
= possessed the friendship and confidence {
|, Mr.. Lincoln to the last hour of his life will
out paying court, as Others did, to Mr.
l Lincoln, and in spite of her constant cffor
,, to disturb our relations.
g This mortifying revelation will go abroat
n and, as is natural, the press of Europe wi
IS make the most of it, in doprecating the il
gratitude of our government and want {
q, liberality in the American people. Th
D. consideration alone constrains US to di
k charge the unpleasant duty of showing th'
neither the government nor the people u
d justly obnoxious to these accusations.