The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-03-14
"reminiscences Of Mr.. Lincoln.

| The correspondent Of the New York
Tribune, who has been visiting Spring
1 field, Illinois, sends that paper an ac-
count Of conversation with Mr.. Lin
coins law partner, giving some new
phases Of the martyred Presidents char
| acter. We make the following extracts
The most remarkable episode Of Hern-
don's conversation-which am repeat
ing by memory, only-relates to Mr..
Lincoln's Presidential aspirations. In
common With most people. I have con.
cluded that this great honor came to Mr..
Lincoln without paving, as unexpected
~ it was unsolicited, and to him a stag
gering piece OF luck. like lottery prize.
The estimate is charming one, but it is
not true one. When the Douglas and
h.S hi2Sqk feetsss W s.s @ "a: ended. the defeated
Billy, knew I should miss III place
when l competed for it. This defeat
will make me President
He refused, in the interim, any propo-
sition looking to his acceptance Of les
ser office, and this with the concurrence
of his friends and family At the same
time he took no immediats m cans to pre-
cipitate his opportunity. rather. like
man destined, sat more closely to study
and vigilance, read all the issues as they
developed. and waited for his call
As lawyer he Was close student OF
those cases that interested him. Slow to
take them into his mind, passing in their
consideration from stage to stage. and il
he found beneath an embodied principle,
his heart grew into the work Of devel-
oping it. He frequently sat up all night
preparing some favorite argument ana
never failed to present it SO conspicu-
ously that dali intellects grew apprecia-
tive and shrewd ones absorbed. Some
of his legal arguments are described a.
having Been classical. Yet, beneath all
the druid e cry of his craft, he was at soul
q politician rather than an attorney
Every legal study carried him beyond
himself to the mysteries of public infir-
nifty. He sat- says Mr.. Herndon,
looking through brief to the construc-
ton Of society and the moral govern
iment Of God Now and then he shut
himself up all night, and lay on his ONCE
door in his careless garments, revolving
some problem set by avillage client that
had expanded to great human princi-
pie. At these times he seemed to be q
dreamer rsssoning.> Again, he drove
miles over the prairies with his lips close
shut, wrinkling. softly humming. and re
turning again at night strangely white
and exhausted.
Before his great public call came hs
had passed the world through his silen
thought IS II it had been legal case t.
be stated and argued.
I As aboy Lincoln made frontiersman'
living by hard work, polling dat boat
getting out cedar and chestnut rails
even saving wood. The scenes Of hi
early struggles was Indiana, and ther
he developed into : sort Of amateur pub
: lie clerk, writing Tietsers for folks :
whom . steel pen Was mystery, givin
miscellaneous advice on law and busi
ness, and excelling particularly in tn
, ingenuities of snecdote and illustration
Its story telling reputation he retain
was no fabulous qualification. nor was
; an idle and gossipy recreation, but
means Of making intellfgencs plain
rude minds At this ssags Of hin life :
wore moccasins and hunting shirt, An
was in great request BY thick hesde
4 people, bocnnse of his elearness -