The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-12
DOMESTIC LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Correspondenee between w. II. Hern-
don, Esq, and Rev. james smith-Mr.
LIncoIn's Religious Opinions The Ann
Rutledge Episode.
The following correspondence, which was
originally published in the Dundee (Scotland)
ddvertiser of February 9, will be read with
special interest on this side of the ocean. 1t
grew out of the publication of some extracts
from a lecture on the Domestic History of Mr..
Lincoln by w. II. Herndon, his friend and
law partner The correspondence sufficiently
explains itself
EAST CAMNo, Strathmore, February l, 1867
TO the Editor of the Dundee Advertiser--Sir:
Several weeks ago / read in the Dundee Id.
Uertiser an article which went the round of
the papers, both in America and this country,
headed "Curious Love Romance in the Life of
Abraham Lincoln, - which was constrained to
view as calculated to put a stigma on the
character of the illustriOus martyr, by repre-
senting him as one who was destitute of those
finer feelings and affections which must neces-
sarily adon the character ofevery truly great
and good man.
lately received the following letter from
the author Of that article, which, in my opinion,
not only opened the way, but rendered it my
imperative duty to give him rebuSe in reply
of which | send you a copy, hoping its circula-
tion will place our late beloved President and
his family in proper light before those who
have read the shameful attack made upon
them by the author of the "Ann Rutledge'
romance. l am, sir most respectfully, your
obedient servant,
(Signed) JAMES SMITH,
Late Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
Springfield, H.
SPRINGFIELD, H., December 20, 1SGG.-Mr.
Smith-My Dear Sir:-I wish to ask of you a
few questions. They are as follows
/. What year did you come to Springfield,
H. as a preacher of the First Presbyterian
Church, and what year did you leave !
2. Have you any writings-letters, or other
such like evidence-proots to show that, while
you were in this city, that Abraham Lincoln
was converted to the belief that the Bible
was Gods special miraculous revelation; that
he believed in special miraculous inspiration
and miraculous conception-the miraculous
conception of Jesus Christ, ETC., as the OrthO-
dox Christian world teaches and breaches
3. Was Mr. Lincoln an honest man! If you
answer yes to the second and third questions,
and produce written evidence, which you will
please copy and send me as to the second
question-why didn't he Join your Church,
the First Presbyterian Church Of the City of
Springfield?
If, in answer to the second question, you
say you have no written or such-like evidence,
please state to me what Mr.. Lincoln did eX-
acty and explicitly say on these questions.
Tive me his exact words, and not yOnr un-
derstanding of them by any kind of implica-
tiOn. If you cannot give the exact words,
give the words that are synonymous first, and
secondly give the substance of the words.
1t has become matter Of interest to me to
know how to solve knowingly these questions.
l knew you as a gentleman in this city for
several years. | knew you as a Christian.
As you We're gentleman before you were
Christian, | ask you in that capacity first to
,,,1,,
then | ask you ditto as Christian to answer
the questions-if you please.
was Mr.. Lincoln's law partner when you
were here, had been before, and continued to
be. Yours, truly,
(Signed) w. II. HERNDoN.
EAST CAMNO, Scotland January "A, 1867
w. II. Herndon, Springfield, Illinois-Sir:-
Your letter of the 20th December was duly re-
ceived. In it you ask me to answer several
questions in relation to the late illustriOus Pre-
sident Abraham Lincoln. With regard to
your second question, | beg leave to say it is
a very easy matter to prove that while was
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of
Springfield, Mr.. Lincoln did avOw his belief in
the Divine authority and inspiration of the
Scriptures; and hold that it is a matter of the
last importance, not only to the present, but to
all future generations of the great republic,
and to all advocates of civil and religious
liberty throughout the world That TINS aVOWal
on his part, and the circumstances attending
it, together with other interesting incidents
illustrative of the excellence Of his character
in my possession, should be made known to
the public.
/ am constrained, however, most respect
fully to decline choosing you as the medium
through which such communications shall be
made by me. My reasons are as follows
Early in December last an article went the
rounds of the papers in this country, pur-
porting to be part of a lecture delivered by
you on Mr.. LincOlns life and past history,
which read with feelings of mingled indigna-
tion and sorrow, because, coming as it did
from his intimate friend and law partner, it
was calculated to do the character of that great
and good man an incalculable injury deeply
to wound the feelings of his heart-brOken
widow and her orphan boys, and to place that
whole family, both the dead and living in a
most unenviable light before the public.
In the article referred TO-, speaking of the
death and grave of Miss Ann Rutedge, you
represent Mr.. Lincoln as having said, 'That
his heart, sad and broken, was buried there. -
You gave it as your opinion ''that he never
addressed another woman yours affection
ately;' - that she generally and characteristic
cally abstained from the word love-" that
he never ended 'his letters ''yOurs affection
ately,' but always signed them 'YouT friend,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
Now, sir, | maintain that every rejecting
person who believes your statements to be
true, is bound to reply to your third question
Abraham Lincoln was not an honest man.
for he assi6uously and perseveringly sued toi
the hand, the heart, the love, and the deyo
l. h,