Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-11-06
Thurlow Weed on Mrs. Lincoln.

Thurlow Weed on Mrs. Lincoln.
The letters of Mrs. Lincoln, and her Of
fer to sell her clothes and gew-gaws have
called out the radical press generally on
the domestic situation" of the widow of
the slate lamented." Some of the news
papers say unkind things of her, and as
sign as a reason that she did not behave
herself as the Presidents wife should do
One of these papers is ungracious enough
to mention the forty big boxes that left
the White House with Mrs, Lincoln, and
another charges her with selling eleven of
Mr.. Lincoln's shirts before his body, which
had the twelfth one on, had reached its
last resting place. AS sample of what is
said of her and her conduct. we publish
the following from Thurlow Weeds Com
mercial Advertiser, Republican Oct 4th:
awe have never approached question
with half the sorrow that this one awakens.
To vindicate, shield, and protect " Heavens
best gift to man," is grateful duty, while
to even reproVe, and much more to assail
woman, is painful, and if without per-
feet Justification, unmanly.
If the American Congress or the Ameri-
ary expectations of Dir. Lincon's widow,
it is because that parsonage failed, during
his life and after his death, to inspire either
with respect or confidence. They should
not, therefore, be subjected to the reproach,
or rest under the imputation Of lngrattude.
| Had Mrs. Lincoln, when in power, borne
herself becomingiy, the suggestion of a
Lincoln Fund by voluntary contributions,
would have been promptly responded to.
The national heart was warm. 1t sushed
out in liberal endowments for Grant and
Farragut. 1t would as cheerfully met the
appeal in favor of Mrs. Lincoln if it had
not intuitively closed and chilled.
In her conversations Mrs, Lincoln is
represented as bitterly denonncing Secre-
tary Seward, for which, Of course, there is
no warrant or excuse, for be wrongs no
man, and much less is he capable of injus-
tice, wrong or even unkindness to woman.
But we happen to know-the late Ca
leb b. Smith, then Secretary of the Inte-
rior, being our informant-a fact which In
censed Mrs. Lincoln against Mr.. Seward.
| The President gave the Prince Napoleon
dinner, for which Mrs. Lincoln sent to
the Secretary of the Interior for payment
of a bill of some $500. This demand,
though wholly illegal, coming from the
Presidents wife, embarrassed the Secreta-
ry, who called on the Secretary Of State for
advice, where he learned that Mr.. Seward
had also dncd 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 both dinners
from the same restaurant, and by his own
bill knew the cost Of each For what Mr.
Seward paid $500, Mrs Lincoln demanded
5000.
But whether three or nine hundred the
claim was illegal, and could not be paid.
For this, however, Mrs. Lincoln quarrelled
with Secretaries Smith and Seward. This
amount, however, was subsequently cover
ed up in gardeners account, but occasion
ed scandal, which respect for Mr. Lincoln
measurably suppressed.
Though Mr. Lincoln left an estate which
enabled bis family to live quite as comfort
ably as they had ever lived, Congress and
the people would have promptly and munif
Gently provided for them, if Mrs. Lincoln
herself, with every advantage that high po-
sition gave her, had made friends or in
spired respect. And this last exhibition
proves how iLstinctlvely right the popular
estimate Of her character was.
The fact for which Mrs. Lincoln seeks
large publicity, namely, that she received
presents valued at $4,000, is pregnant
and suggestive one-suggestive, at least,
of offices and contracts, unless the more
charitable construction is reached through
the assumption that they were expressions
Of regard and friendship. But it is not
known that the wife of any President, how
ever estimablc, was so loaded with shawls,
laccs, furs, diamonds, rings, &c.