The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-05
T,HURLOW WEED ON MRS. LINCOLN.
An Interesting Explanation and Bitter
Rebmlxe

Aeomke.
TMr Thurlow Weed writes in the New York
Commercial Advertiser as follows, under the
head Of courageous Menddcity," which will be
read with great interest in connection with a
certain pawnbroker's developments concerning
Mrs. Lincoln's wardrobe 1t will be seen that
Mr. Weed confirms our statements Of yesterday
EDITOR EVENING TELEGRAPH
We have never approached question with
half the sorrow that this one awakens. Io Vln. VIZ
dicate, shield and protect "HeaVen,s pest gllG
TO man" is grateful duty, Whlie 10 even re-
prove, and much more to assail woman, Is
painful and, II without perfect justification,
IF The American Congress or the American
people have failed to meet the pecuniary ex-
peotations of Mr.. Llncoln's widow, IL Is because
That parsonage failed. during his life and since
his death to Inspire either with respect or con-
hdence. They should not, therefore, be sub
tected to the reprOach, or rest under the tmpu-
while in power, borne herself becomiugly, the
suggestion of a Lincoln fund, by voluntary
contributions, would have been promptly re-
sponded to. The national heart was warm, 1t
gushed out in liberal endowments for Grant
and Farragut. 1t would as cheerfully have met
the appeal In favor of Mrs. Lincoln, If 1t had
not intuitively closed and chilled.
In her conversations Mrs. Lincoln is repre-
sented as bitterly denouncing Secretary Sew
ard, for which, of course, there is no warrant
or excuse, for he wrongs no man, and much
less is he incapable of Injustice, wrong, or even
upkindness, to woman,
But we happen to know-the late Caleb B.
Smith, then Secretary of the Interior, being our
tnformant-a fact which incensed Mrs Lincoln
against Mr.. Seward. The President gave the
Prince Napoleon a dinner, for which Mrs
Lincoln sent to the Secretary of the 1nte-
rior for payment a bill of some 5000. This
demand, though wholly Illegal, coming from
the Presidents wife, embarrassed the Secretary,
who called upon the Secretary of State for ad-
vice, where he learned that Mr.. Seward had
also dined the Prince having the same number
Of guests, and giving them 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 $780, Mrs.
Lincoln demanded 5000. But whether three or
nine hundred, the claim was alike illegal and
Lincoln quarrelled with Secretaries Smith and
Seward. This amount, however, was subse-
quently covered up in gardeners account, but
pccasi oned scandal, which respect for Mir. Lin
coin measurably suppressed.
Though Mr.. Lincoln left an estate which ena-
bled his family to live as comfortably as they
had ever lived, Congress and the people would
have promptly and cheerfully provided munt-
fcentIy for them IL Mrs. Lincoln herself, with
every advantage that high position gave her,
had made friends or inspired respect And this
last exhibition proves how instinctively right
the popular estimate of her character was,
The fact for which Mrs, Lincoln seeks large
publicity, namely, that she received presents
one-suggestive, at least, of offices and con-
tracts, unless the more charitable construction
is reached through the assumption that they
were expressions of regard and friendship. But
IL is not known that the wife of any other Pre-
s1dent, however estimable, was so loaded with
shawls, laces, furs, diamonds, rings, etc.
Mrs Lincoin's propensity to sell things was
manifested early, and before any necessity was
foreseen. 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 of her 1[will. 1t is pleasant
to remember that we were always out of favor
in that quarter. And it is equally pleasant to
remember that possessed the friendship and
confidence of Mr.. Lincoln to the last hour of his
life, without paying court, as others did, to Mrs.
Lincoln, and in spite of her constant efforts TO
disturb our relations.
This mortifying revelation will go abroad
and, as is natural, the press of Europe will make
the most of it, in deprecating the ingratitude OF
our Government, and the want of liberality In
the American people This consideration alone
constrains us to discharge the unpleasant duty
the people are justly obnoxious to these accusa'