Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-04-05
[WHOLENO. 276.
"reminiscences Of Mr,LioooIn.

field, Illinois, sends that paper m account
Of a conversation with Mr.. Lineoln's law
partner, giving some new phases Of the
martyred Presidents character. We make
the following extrasts
The most remarkable episode Of Bern.
don's nversation--which Tam repeating
by memory, only--relatcs 10 Mr.. Lin
coins Presidential aspirations. In COM
mon with most people, / have concluded
that this great honor came TO Mr.. Lincoln
without paying. us unexpected as il was
unsolicited and 70 him sag fgering piece
of luck, like lottery prize. The esti-
mante is charming one, but II il not n
true ones When the Douglas and Lincoln
contest was ended, the defeated man said
to his partner il l't
BILLY, knew should miss the place
when ! competed for IL. This defeat will
make me President
lie refused In the interim, any pfop0-
sition looking 20 his acceptance OF n les,
ser Office, aud this with the concurrence Of
his friends and family. AZ the same time
he took no Immediate means 10 precipiiatc
his opportunity rather, like man destined
sat more closely 10 study aud vigilance,
read oil tho Issues as they developed, aud
waited for his eall.
III NJ X uI.
As lawyer he was close tiudeat Of
those cases that interested him. Slow
TO take them into bis mind. passing IN
their consideration from stage TO slnpe,
and II he found beneath nn embodied
principle, his heart grew into tho work OF
developing H.. lle frequently sat up ali
night preparing some iavoric argument,
and never failed 10 present IL 70 conspicu.
ously that dull intelleets grew nppreelatlyc
and shrewd ones absorbed. Some of his
legal arguments nro described as having
been classical. Yet beneath all the drudg-
cry Of his craft he was at soul n politician
rather than the attorney. Every legal
study carried him beyond Himself to tho
mysteries Of public inGrmity. lie sat
says Mr., llcrndon, looking through .
bricfto the construction ofsociety and the
moral government Of Cod Now and
then he shut himself up all night, aud lay
OF his Office floor in his careless garments,
revolving some problem set by village
! "
principle AT these times he seemed to
be dreamer reasoning. Again he drove
miles over the prairies with his lips close
shut, wrinkling. softly lumming, and re
turning again at night strangely white
and exhausted.
Before his grent public call came he had
passed the world through his silent thought
asif- il had been legal case to DO stated
and argued.
AS boy .Lincelr made a frontiersman's S
living by hard work, polling a fat-boai,
getting out cedar and chestnut rails, even
saving wood. The scenes Of his early
struggles was Indiana, and there he devcl.
oped into sort Of amateur public clerk,
writing letters for folks to whom steel
pen was mystery, giving miscellaneous
advice on law and business, and exceling
particularly in the ingenuitiOs of anecdote
and illustiation The storytelling repu-
tation he retains was no fabulous qualifi-
cation, nor was il an idle and eossipy re-
creation, but means Of making intelli-
genec plain to rude minds. At this stage
Of his life lie wore moccasins aud hunt
ing shirt, aad was in request by thick.
/
skillin narration. The jury always got from
him fair statement Of any case in hand,
and years later il was remarked by the
Chief Justice Of Illinois that Mhcn bin
coin spoke he argued both sides of the
case so we'll that speech in response was
alsays saPciguous The habit he had Of
enforcing fact With an nnccdote so far
survived his noccasn days that it seems 80
have been constitutional in sense. No
man ever told so many stories, and he
was seldom known either to repeat one
twice or to tell one that was hackneyed.
His long vaiilble aud attentive experience
with common, native people made him ac-
quainisd with thousand oddities, and he
had a familiar way of relating them that
was as piquant as his application of them.
Ii is also true that some of these stories
were more cogent than delicate, yet in no
single case was he ever remembered 10 have
told an exceptional anecdofe for the sake
Of that in which it was. exceptional. Mr..
Herndon remembers person who 80 far
mistook Mr.. Lincoln once ns TO tell a
coarse story without ruposc. During its
recital Mr. Lincolus ssco worked imra-
ticntly. When the nan had Lone bc
said
Il had nearly put That fellow out OF the
Office. lie disgusts me-
Il X x Il X X
Did he ever drink p
Only in Indiana, when he took whisky
as aguc medicine AGer his nomination
for the Presidency it was suggested to him
that the Visiting Committee would require
some hospitality. Very we'll he replie'N
amy food that is proper authorize to be
purchased
But these gentlemon will expect some
liquors.
Il can't permit TO strangers what | dc
not do myself. No liquors, Billy there
tho tagerny
II # = 4 y
One sentence Mr.. llerndon recolleets ot
the President before his departure
! for Washington that is memorable u,
! showing his purpose.
, BILLY, he said. 4 hopo there will he nc
Z trouble but will makc the South q
; grave. yard rather than see Slavery gos.
I pei triumph, or successful secession los,
4 this Government 10 the caeSe of the peo
/ pie aud representative institutions
. To this Mr. llerndon added ;''Mr. Lin
/ coin was merclcss IN the abstract Bat
ties never moved him unless he trodc
on,onr their cnrnseS lle wotgll hnv,