The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-04-30

man docs not live--if am spared,
may possibly succeed you as Mrs.
President"
Mrs. Keckley thcn describes the
love making Of Mr.. Lincoln. bis
rejection, his despair and his &c.
ceptance by Miss Todd. The
Herndon s.ory is spoken Of as "a
pleasant piece of fiction" The
whole affair, as related in this. il
an illustration of tho delicacy of
the partiesengaged in the work.
MRS. LINCOLN AT THE WHITE HOUSE..
Passing over vast amount Of
other matter, We come to the cam.
paien of 1864, Mrs. Lincoln's pe.
culiar method Of conducting 1t.
In 1864 much dodbt existed in
regard to the reelection Of Mr.-
Lincoln, and the White House was
besieged by all grades Of politi
clans. Mrs. Lincoln was oflap
blamed for having a certain class
OF men around her.
II have IN object in view, Liza.
beth, she said 10 me in reference
to this matter. @In a political
canvass il is policy to cultivate
every element of strength. These
mon have influence, and we re-
quire influence to re elect Mr.. Lin.
coin. | will be clever to thcm un
til after the election, and then. #
We remain at the White House, /
will drop every ono of them, and
let them know very plainly that !
only made tools of them. They
are an unprincipled set, and / don't
mind alittlc double. dealing with
them"
"Does Mr.. Lincoln know what
your purpose is2' l. asked.
God, no; be would never sane.
ton such proceeding, so I keep
him in the dark, and will tell him
OF it when all is over"
Mrs. Lincoln was extremely
anxious. that hsr husband should
DO re elected President Of the Uni
ted States. In endeavoring to
make display becoming her ex-
alled position, sho had to incur
many expenses. Mr.. Liucoln's
salary was inadequate to meet
them, and she was forced to run
in debt, hoping that good fortune
would favor her, and enable her
to extricate herself from an en-
barrassing situation. She bought
the most expensive goods on cred
it. and in the summer of 1864 enor
nous unpaid bills stared her in
the face.
MRS. LINCoLN's DEBTS.
Mrs. Lincoln has a long CONVEX
sation with Mrs, Keckley in regard
to her debts. and her plans tor
meeting their payment. We
quote:
II owe altogether about SGT 900;
the principal portion at Stewards,
in New York. You understand,
Lizateth, ihat Mr.. Lincoln has
but little idea of the expense of a
woman's wardrobe. He glances at
my rich dresses, and is happy in
the beliefthat the few hundred dol
lars that obtain from him supply
all my wants. l must dress in
costly Materials, the people scru.
tinize every article that | wear
with critical curiosity. The very
fact of having grown mp in the
West subjects mo to more searching
OBJ eryation. To keep up appear,
ances | must have money, more
Than Mr.. Lincoln spares me. He
is too honest to make q penny out
side OF his salary, consequently /
bad, and still have, no alternative
but To ran in debt"
And Mr., Lincoln does not even
suspect how much you owe?"
God, no this was favorito
expression of hers-aand | would
not have him suspect. If be know
that his vile was involved to the
extent that she is, the knowledge
would drive him mad. He is so
sincere and straightforward him
self, that he is shocked by the 'du.
plicity of others. He does not
know thing about my debts, and
| value his happiness, not to spcak
of my own, too much. to allow him
to know any thing. Thisis what
troubles mo so much. If he is re.
elected, / can keep him in igno.
rance Of my affairs; but. .ifbe is de-
feated, then the bill will be sent
In and he will know MI" and
something like a hysterical sob
escaped her.
Mrs, Lincoln sometimes feared
that the politicians would get hold
of the particulars Of her debts, and
use them in the Presidential cam
paign against.nher husband; and
when this thought occurred 10 her,
she was ALMOST crazy with anxiety
and fear.
When in ono of these excited
moods she would fiercely exclaim :
"The Republican politicians
must pay my debts. Hundreds of
thom are getting immensely rich
off the patronage Of my husband,
and it is but fair that they should
help me out Of my embarrassment.
l will make demand OF them, and
when tell them the facts they can
not refuse to advance whatever
money / require
A piquant chapter is that upon
tho exhibition and sale of the ward
robe. All the correspondence is
given in full. and the whole dis,
graceful affair is paradod at length.