The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-12

band until parted by death. when ac-
cording to you, he had neither love nor
aHection to bestow. Therefore, your
statements being true, Abraham Lin
coin was worse than a dishonest man.
de was often absent from his family,
and no doubt wrote his wife many let
ters. According to you, he never end
ed any OF these letters "Yours Rffsc-
tionately," but always "Your friend,
A. Lineoln"-an insult which every
lady OF feeling and spirit would resent;
ana must say, your statements being
true, 10 me 1t Is strange-nay, passing
strangei-that the lady to whom these
letters were addressed, who, you know
as well as do, possesses exquisite SEN
sibility, spirit, and high sense of honor,
not only did not resent the first insult
OF that sort, but patiently and silently
submitted to the repetition of it from
month to month. and from year to year.
And what a cold-hearted man must he
nave been who for many years thus
treated the wife OF his bosom, whom he
mad solemnly promised to love and
cherish.
Your statements also contain a most
cruel, and fear malignant, attack up
on his heartstricken widow, as one for
whom her husband entertained no love,
no affection.
Sir, was it not enough that she should
be overwhelmed and stricken to the
earth by the dreadful blow which has
fallen upon her in the cruel deathr of
her husband, but you must come on the
scene and minRle your poisoned chalice
lnto.that cup of woe which she must
drink even TO the dregs?
This is not all; but the necessary
tendency of your statements is TO put a
public brand upon the boys OF that
great and good man, TO whom you are
under so many and great obligations,
the a Y nn lnUAH
their mother.
Such Is The character of the martyred
President, which must necessarily be
drawn from the statements concerning
him, and given to the public by his in
timate friend and law partner for TWEEN
ty years.
a law office is by no means the best
hted for Judging the characters of each
other by those who are brought in con-
tact there. No, Sir. It is in the family
circle the man exhibits himself as he
really is-his bearing toward his wife,
his treatment of his children and de-
pendents, his free and easy converse
tious with those who are admitted into
that circle. There are to be found the
best tests by which mans character
and feelings are to be determined, and
no one enjoys better opportunities to be
enapled TO put proper estimate upon
the members OF it than the pastor who
is respected and esteemed by them
who has buried their dead and baptised
theIr living; who, in seasons of sorrow
has administered to them those conso-
lations which the Gospel of the Son of
God can alone communicate; who is
viewed by certain of them as the hon
0red instrument In bringing them from
darkness to Hght-from the degradation
of sin and misery to faith in Jesus and
the hope of glory; who by them is held
to have been true to them ever in joy
and sorrow" and, as a consequences, is
admitted to their full confidence. and
even in their secular affairs, when
thought necessary, is asked for his ad-
vice aud counsel. This is the man
who, provided he possess understand
ing and judgment above all others, is
prepared to put a true estimate upon
the characters of each OF the members
of such family.
All the surviving members of il. l
am assured, will testify that such was
the position occupied by your hum
bic servant in the family of Abra-
ham Lincoln-to say nothing OF his
calls upon myself and our pleasant
conversations in drives over the prai-
ries. During seven years when he and
myself were at home, scarcely two
weeks ever passed during which did
not spend a pleasant evening in the
midst of that family circle, and nv
intercourse with himself there con-
WINGED me that Abraham Lincoln was
not only an honest, but pre-eminentIy
an upright man-ever ready, so far as
in his power, to render unto all their
just dues-aud that he was utterly in
capable of Withholding from the bride
he led to the altar that which was her
due, by giving her a heart dead and
buried in the grave of another, but
that, in the deep and honest sincerity
of his soul, he gave her heart over
finUinD with InUR and
my intercourse with him aud his fam
lily left the abiding impression upon
my mind, by his demeanor towards
her, that he was to the wife of his bosom
a most faithful, loving and affectionate
husband, who would on no occasion
have iusulted her by sending her a
letter closing with "Your friend, Abra-
ham Lincoln" do most solamnlv
testify that during my oft-repeated
visits l never saw a frown upon his
brow or heard him utter a harsh or un-
kind word to his lady, or any of her
children, but seemed overf1owing with
geniality, good humor and kindness
clear proofs OF his love and affection.
This, then, for the present, is the vim
dicRtion of the character of the mar
tyred President from the foul asper-
tions you, Sir, have cast upon it; and
by the person whose high honor II was
to place before Mr.. Lincoln arguments
designed 10 prove the Divine authority
and inspiration of the Scriptures, ac-
companied by the arguments of infidel
objectOrS in their own language To
the arguments on both sides Mr.. Lin
coin gave most patient, impartial and
searching Investigation. To use his
own Language, he examined the argu-
ments as a lawyer, who is anxious to
reach the truth, Investigates testimony.
The result was the announcement by
himself that the argument in favor OF
the Divine authority and inspiration of
the Scriptures was unanswerable.
could say much more on this sub.
ject, but, as you are the person ad-
dressed, for the present decline. This
much, however: The preparation of
that work cost me long and arduous
mental labor, and If no other effect was
ever produced by it than the influence
whose name thrills the heart OF every
patriotic American, thank God that I
was induced TO undertake the work.
Immediately after the above avowal,
Mr.. Lincoln placed himself and family
under my pastoral care, and when at
home he was a regular attendant upon
my ministry. 1 was always treated by
him with high consideration, and he
conferred. upon me and mine, distin-
guished acts of kindness. To saw
nothing of higher motives, I would feel
L was making most unworthy return
for his many kindnesSes did I remain
silent on the present occasion; more es-
paeialfy as the statement already re-
ferred 10, made by you in your Ann
RutIedge romance, followed by the let
ter from yourselE-to which this is a
replY-not only opened the way before