Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-10-12
rhurlom Weed and Mrs. Lincoln.

mems as follows upon her behaviour in
this matter:
1--WE have never approached question
with half the sorrow tina, this one aVak-
ems. To yindicaie, shield, and protect
"Heayen's best !i(I 10 man" is grateful
duty while 10 even reprove, and much
more 10 assail a woman, is painful, and,
if without perfect justification, unmanly.
If the American Congress, or the
American people, have failed TO meet the
2ecuniary expectations Of Mr.. Linco!n's
widow, il is because that parsonage failed,
during his life and since bis death, 10 in
spire either with respect or confidence.
They should not, therefore, be subjected
10 the reproach, or rest under the imputa-
ton Of ingralitude. Had Mrs. Lincoln,
while in power, borne herself becoming
~. the suggestion Of a Lincoln fund, by
voluntary contributions, would have been
promptly responded to. The national
heart was warm. 1t gushsd out in liberal
endowments 10 Grant and Farrsgur 1t
would as cheerfully have met the appeal
in favor OF Mrs. Lincoln if it had not in
luitively closed and chilled.
In her conversations. Mrs. Lincoln is
represented as bitterly dsnouncng Secre-
tary Seward, for which, Of course, there
i. no warrant or excuse, for he wrongs
no man, and much less is he capable OF
injustice, wrong, or even unkindness 20
woman.
Bot we happen TO know-Ihe late
Caleb b. Smith, then Secretary Of the
Interior, being our inlormant-a fact
which incensed Mrs. Lincoln against Mr..
Mr.. Seward. The President gave the
Prince Napoleon dinner, for which Mrs.
Lincoln sent 10 the Secretary Of the In
terror for payment bill of some 5000.
This demand, though wholly illegal,
coming from the Presidents wife, en-
barrassed the Secretary, who called upon
the Secretary Of State for advice, where
he learned that Mr.. Seward had also dned
the Prince, having The same number Of
guests, and giving them duplicate Of the
dinner at the White House In fact, Mr..
SewaId ordered both dinners from the
same restaurant, and, by his own bill,
knew the cost of each. For what Mr..
Seward paid 1900, Mrs. Lincoln demand
ed 5000. But whether three or nine
hundred, the claim was alike illegal, and
could no, be paid. For this, however,
Mrs. Lincoln qusrreled with Secretaries
Smith and Seward. This amount, how
ever, was subsequently, covered up in
/ gardeners account, but occasioned scan
ds, which respect for Mr.. Lincoln meas.
urabIy suppressed.
Though Mr.. Lincoln left an estate
which enabled his family 10 live quite
as comfortably as they had ever lived,
Congress and the people would have
promptly and cheerfuly provided munif-
Gently for them, if Mrs. Lincoln herself
with every advantage that high position
gave her, had made friends or inspired
respect. And this last exhibition proves
how inslinclvely right the popular esti-
mate Of her character was.
The fact for which Mrs. Lincoln seeks
large publicity-namely, that she received
precenls valued at S24 900, is pregnant
and suggestive one-suggestivc, at least,
of offices and contracts, unless the more
charitable construction is reached through
The assumption that they were express
sions Of regard and friendship But II is
not known that the wife Of any other
President, however eslimable, was so
loaded with shawls, laces, furs, diamonds,
rings, &c.
Mrs. Lincoln's propensity TO sell things
was manifested early, and before any re-
cessiiy was (oreseen. II our information
is reliable, eleven of Mr.. Lincoln's new
linen shirts were sold almost before the
remains, which were shrouded in the
twelfth, had started for that "bourne from
whence no traveller returns"
Individually we are obliged to Mrs.
Lincoln for an expression Of her iIlwilI.
1t is pleasant 10 remember that we were
always out Of favor in that quarter. And
it is equally pleasant to remember that we
possessed the friendship and confidence
Of Mr.. Lincoln 10 the last hour OF biz life,
without paying court. as others did, to
Mrs. Lincoln, and in spite Of her constant
efforts 10 disturb Our relations.
This Notifying revelation will go
abroad, and, as is natural, the press OF
Europe will make the most Of it in dePre.
eating the ngratilude OF our Government,
and the want Of Iiberalily in the Ameri-
can people. This consideration alone
constants US TO discharge the unpleasant
duty Of showing that neither the Govern
ment nor the people are Justly obnoxious
10 these accusations.
From the New York Herald, 4th
DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORK UNAIDED
Mrs. LincoIn's appeals TO her so-cslIed
friends have been made in vain. The
men who gave her valuable presents in
her hour OF success, merely for the est.
nation in which they held her husband,
now, IN her hour OF trial, refuse 10 relieve
her from comparative want. The poor
lady by this time has discovered the
amount Of honor, honesty, or disnieresi-
edness TO be found in the place-hUnlers
=. II i