The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-10-10

have the proposed sale '.largely adver-
tised." That wish is 'largely" gratifed
in the shameful article we refer to. mas
much, therefore, as Mrs. Lincoln, who. it
appears, has visited the city twice under
assumed names, seeks uotoriety, we sub
init the correspondence ;"
We have never approached question
with half the sorrow that this one AVA
kens. To vindicate, shield, and protect
Heavens best gfs to man" is grateful
duty, while to even reprove, and much
more to assail woman, is painful, and if
without a perfect justification, uumlnly
! 1t the American Congress, or the Amer
lean people, have failed to meet the Pc
cuniary expectations of Mr.. Lincoln wild
ow, 1t Is because that parsonage failed, du-
ring 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
ingratitade. Had Mrs. Lincoln, while in
power, borne herself becomingly, the sug-
gestion of Lincoln fund. by voluntary
contributions, would have been promptly
responded to. The National heart was
warm. 1t gushed out in liberal endow-
ments for Grant and Farragut. 1t would
as cheerfuly have 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 denouncng Secre-
tary Seward, for which, OF course, there
is no warrant or excuse, for he wrongs no
man, and much less is he capable of in
justice, wrong. or even unkindness to wo-
man.
But We happen to know-the late Caleb
b. Smith, then Secretary of the Interior,
being our informant-a fact which in
censed Mrs Lincoln against Mr. Seward.
The President gave the Prince Naponeon
dinner, for which Mrs Lincoln sent to
the Secretary of the Interior for payment
a bill of some 5000. This demand. tho
wholly illegal, coming from the Presi-
dents wife. embarrassed the Secretary,
who called upon the Secretary of State for
advice; where he learned that Mr.. Sew
ard had also dined 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
four hundred, the claim was alike illegal
and could not be paid. For this, however,
Mrs. Lincoln quarreled with Secretaries
Smith and Seward. This amount, howev-
er, was subsequently covered up in a gard
ners account, but occasioneI scandal,
which respect for Mr.. Lincoln measurably
suppressed.
Though Mr. Lincoln left an estate which
enabled his family to live quite as comfort
ably as they had ever lived. Congress and
the people would have promptly and
cheerfully provided muniiceutly for them
if Mrs. Lincoln herself, with every advan-
tage that high position gave her, had
made friends or inspired respect And
this last exhibition proves how instructive
y right the popular estimate Of her char
acter was.
The fact for which Mrs. Lincoln seeks
large publicity; namely. that she received
presents valued at S24 900, 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 other Presi-
dent, however estimabe, was so loaded
with shawls, laces, furs, diamonds, rings.
etc.
Mrs. Lincoln's propensity to sell things
was manfestly early, and before any ne
cessity was foresecn. IF 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 other ill-wil-
1t is pleasant to remember that we were al
ways out of favor in that quarter And
it is equally pleasant to remember that we
possessed the friendship and confidence Of
Mr.. Lincoln to the last hours of his life.
without paying court, as others did, to-
Mrs. Lincoln, and in spite OF her constant
efforts to disturb our relations
Ihio Hoi III IuS ic'cldtiOu VIII 70 aUToau,
and as is natural, the press of Europe will
make the most of it, in deprccating the in-
gratitude Of our government, and the want
of liberalty in the American people,
This consideration also constrains us to
discharge the unpleasant duty of showing
that neither the government nor the peo-
pie are justly obnoxious to these accusa-
tons.
From the same paper, Oct 5.
at is thousand pities that Messrs
Seward, Weed, &c, had not been in posi-
tions where they could have prevented
Mrs. Lincoln's foolish proceedings about
her wardrobe. The public will never
know how many foolish things Mr. Sew
ard stopped while Mrs. l.. was mistress of
the white house. Boston Transcript
How few indeed know, or can ever know
how thoughtfully and kindly Mr.. Seward
labored to conceal the infirmities. aud
avert the mischicvous effects of that wo-
mans eccentricities, using the mildest
words possible.