Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-15


SHALL therefor content myself by SAYING that
President Lincoln was found grandly equal to
the great trust reposed in HIM, and performed
every duty with heroic firmness which met
the admiration of all his friends.
But, while i refrain from recapitulating TO
you the public history that marked the momen-
tous era of his term OF once, will endeavor
to interest you by relations touching his more
private life and character, some of which. in
consequence of the official relations, which, for
nearly his entire occupancy OF the Presidential
chair existed between us, are probably known
to no other person. No week passed that /
did not see him, and was often with him NJ any
times a week. This, Of course, with a man
like him, led to numerous conversations be-
tween rs, and enabled me, with no partlcu lar
intention Of doing so, to observe the peculiar
characteristics Of Mr.. Lincoln.
will take the liberty, however, before COM
mencing that part of my address, to give you a
brief account OF the inauguration ceremonies
of March 4, 1861, as written down by myself at
the time, having been honored with the Chief
Marshalship Of the occasion.
"At a few minutes after eleven, the process
sion being formed in line, in front of the City
Hall, wheeled out into column of march and
moved towarde Willards. In front Of Will
lard's, it again formed into line, and so re-
mained until 10 minutes past IL, where Presi-
dent Buchanan, who had been detained at the
Capitol BY E ON Siai ID, duty, arrived He with
of the Senate. then took their seats in an open
carriage, which was received into the column
OF march with a proper salute from the militia
.
The column then moved towards the Capitol.
No more imposing, or more orderly pageant,e> er
passed along Pennsylvania avenue. At the
north door OF the Capitol, the President and
President ele CT were received and escorted in
In few min utes they, with their attendants,
appeared on the platform of the eastern porico
when Mr.: Lincoln delivered his inaugural, and
THE Inauguration ceremonies over, we es.
corted the n ew President to the White House.
where be re eceived all comers with that cordial
the man.
"ln the procession was a trumphal car splen-
didly trimmed, ornamented, and arranged, in
which rode thlrty -four young girls. On our
return the girls all alighted, and l conducted
them in and introduced them to the President
He wished to be allowed to kiss them all, and
dld so. IL was very interesting scene, and
ELECTED much apr lause." The kisses bestowed
by that good mai on those young lips will
only be forgotter when death has set his seal
upon them. Such was the peaceful inaugu-
ration OF Abraham Lincoln, which so many
had prophesed could never be accomplished
without the shedding OF human blood What
l shall now say is from memoranda made at
the time.
In August, 1852, Just before the second battle
OF Bull Run, In a conversation with the PresI.
dent, he asked me- my age / gave it to him.
when he remarked, with much emphasis, s.ten
years older than am, and ten years younger" ("
replied that he must not view his own years
so disparagingly, when he repeated eyes, Mr.
French, am actually ten years older than
you are, the cares and troubles that are upon
me are ageing me rapidly-I feel il, and you
will live to see me In my coffin.' This was
SAID with deep solemnity, SO much SO that
felt sad, and tried to speak cheering words
Never, in all my intercourse with Mr. Lincoln,
except on this occasion and upon the death of
his son William, did / witness any manifesto.
ton in words of despondency or grief. When
Willie died, although he bore himself like a
man and Christian, his affections would as
sumo their control over his sterner self at times
and nature have her way.
As an evidence of Mr.. Lincoln's power over
bis feelings, will mention that on arriving at
the Executive Mansion on Monday evening,
March = 1863, to attend the reception then to
take place, the President informed me that he
had snaE1aceived the news of the capture Of our
steaR 1am Indianola; but, said he, -.it is known
TO no one else here, and do not wish it
known until the reception lie over, please not to
mention it," He made some further remarks as
TO the misfortunes that were Detailing us. The
visitors commenced arriving, and he stood there
shaking hands and conversing in his usual
cordial and pleasant manner, until the recep-
tion was over when he turned to me and said
81 am glad this reception is over; have been
assuming cheerfulness that could not feel
for could not forget that we have lost the In
dianola."
That President Lincoln was beloved by
every loyal heart we all know, but cannot
refrain from copying from my own description
OF the dedication Of the National Cemetery at
Getty sburg the following:
Gas soon as the hymn (the conservation
hymn was sung, Marshal Lamon introduced
the President of the United States, who in few
brief but most appropriate words. dedicated the
cemetery. Abraham Lincoln is the idol of the
American people at this moment. Any one
who saw and heard, as did, the hurricane of
applause that met his every movement al
Gettysburg would know that he lived In every
heart. II was no cold, faint shadow Of a kind
reception, ii was a tumult uous outpou ring OF
exultation from true and LOVING hearts at the
sgnt OF man whom every one knew to be
honest and true, and sincere in every act of his
life and every pulsaton Of his heart. II was
the spontaneous outburst Of the heartfelt con-
hdence OF the people in their own Presiden nt"
Perhaps no man living ever had keener
relish for the ludicrOus than Mr.. Lincoln, and
his power Of illustration by story and anecdote
was beyond that Of any one with whom was
ever acquainted; and such was the tendency
OF his mind TO mirth that have known him
when grave question was prcpour ded to him
TO reply to 1t by relating some story perfectly
illustrative OF the answer required, but Of such
nature that no one could resist an audible ex-
preston OF merriment, in which he was certain
most heartily to join, and although the surplus
electricity Of his nature seemed ever ready to
pass on In a manner to make all around him
lnnocently happy, he was ever careful to
guard against injury to the feelings of any hu-
man being. And think l can give you the
assurapce that not one In hundred Of the
gross stories that are now imputed to him were
ever even heard of by him.
To recall any Of the illustrations that have
neard from his lips would be out Of place here;
but 1 cannot refrain from stating one Of his
quaint ana humorous pieces Of advice to me,
which you will all appreciate. The basement
OF the Executive Mansion was at one time so
inIesfd with rats as to render it almost unIn-
nabitable. l called the Presidents attention to
the facf, and he said to me, with that mimi
table twinkle Of the eye and expression of the
countenance so remarkable in him-"Can you
not procure ferret; one Of those little fellows
that drive away the rats And while you are
ABOUT II, perhaps it would be well to get sew
eral and distribute them about the Depart
menus for there are rats ererywhere ~ And the
GOOD President was pleased with the idea
that he asked ne afterwards If had got those
ferrets
The kindnes as of his disposition and his read
mess TO indulge his children, may be illus
uated by two occurrences that fell under my
own observation. The preparations had all
been made for the family u leave the city
house, and establish themselves, for the sum-
mer, at the Soldiers Home. The carriage was
at the door and Mrs. Lincoln and Tad were in
H. The President came QUIT join them, when
Tad said: 81 have not got my cat" The Prcsi.
dent replied, "you shall have your cat" and
he went into the house and returned in 8 few
minutes with Tads cat in bis arms.
At another time wheE was with him In his
ofiice, cor versing ON official business, one Of
the servants came in and spoke to him. He
at once turned to me and asked me to excuse
him for short time, and he must 60 and give
Tad his medicine, which he would take from
no one else
Such acts as these do honor to human nature,
no matter whether done BY Presidents or peas.
ants, every one who has soul, will appre-
ciate them, and have thought thousand
times, as 1 have seen the evidences Of the MN
m fa Mt hu onA =