Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-05-26
Linc0lnania.
A NEW LOT OF ANECDOTES ABOUT THE
MARTYR PRESIDENT.

Now that the religious convictions Of
Mr.. Lincoln are being so generally dis
cussed, everybody seems disposed to bring
| up eyery trifle in evidence pro or con
Having my mite to offer in proof that he
was not an unbeliever in Christianity,
take this opportunity in doing SO, though
as will be seen it is only mite.
/ Soon after the war began, while calling
| on Mrs. Speed of Louisville, KY. mother
of James Speed, ex-Attorney General,
noticed cabinet sized photograph of Mr.
Lincoln hanging in the parlor. Beneath
the photograph was written $40 hrs
/ Martha Speed from whom l received an
Oxford Bible thirty years ago." 1t was
/ signed abraham Lincoln, PRESIDENT OF
/ the United States" and on inquiry Mrs.
Speed told me it was sent to her almost
Immediately after his Inauguration. This
shows that Mr.. Lincoln not only con-
sidered the present one of value, but one
deserving Of being suitably acknowledged
at time when his mind was deeply dis
turbed by the distracted condition of the
country following his first election, and
when his remembering gift bestowed Sc
MANY wears back was in itself remark
able circumstance.
/
anecdotes connected with this great and
good man which I heard at the time OF
| their occurrence from intimate friends OF
his own, some, if not all OF which, SO lar
as I can learn, have never been published.
One of Mr.. Lincoln's Kentucky friends,
for whom he cherished a warm attach
ment, used frequently to give notes OF in
PRODUCTION to deserving persons who
wished to see the President, whether on
business or simply to pay their respects to
him in visit of courtesy. To notes from
this friend he always gave special atten-
| ton. On one occasion two ladies were
thus introduced. $50 you know B,
said the President, after shaking hands
with them "did he ever tell you helped
him to his wife 2" The ladies knew moth
ing of it, SO the matchmaker proceeded
to give detailed account Of the affair in
his liveliest manner. "You see," he said,
"B- never could get chance to pop
the question, because the lady's father
was always in the room; SO at last L told
him I'd manage it for him, and the next
time he called [ went with him. L knew
the old man well and often talked politics
with him, but as both of us were Wings
the talk was never very lively. That time
to help B, turned Democrat; and the
old man got SO excited that B and the
daughter managed to slip out on the back
porch and do the thing up at once" This
story, relating an occurrence dating back
some twenty odd years, the teller seemed
to enjoy as much as at the time when his
temporary change of politics fastened,
what has proved, an exceedingly happy
marriage.
Once during the second year of the war
it was said that certain foreign minister
complained to the President of Is man
with hand organ who disturbed him at
all hours by grinding music in front of
his residence Z" Ill tell you what to do"
said Mr.. Lincoln speak oStanton about
it, and tell him TO send Baker after the
man. Baker will steal the organ, throw
the owner into the Old Capitol, and you'll
never be troubled with his notes again"
This referred jestingly to the many COM
plants of arbitrary arrests being made in
this city, and the Baker mentioned was
the well-known chief of the corps of de-
tectives.
Mr. Lincoln gave the following account
of the first announcement of the emanci-
patton proclamation in Cabinet meeting.
He said he readit through and there was
dead silence. Presently MIR. Chase spoke.
He said he liked all but so and so, instan-
cling clause, then some one else would
make an objection, and then another, I'M
til all had spoken. Then the President
sRid "Gentlemen. this reminds me of the
story of the man who had been away from
home, and when ne was coming back he
was met by one of his farm hands who
1. s. EEMaotar
the little pigs are dead, and the old SOW, s
dead, too, but L didn't like to tell you all
at once"
In answer to some remarks which were
made to him when Mr.. Chase was pro-
posed as a candidate for the Presidency in
opposition to himself, he observed loosely,
"Oh, it don't disturb me in the least /
think I shall run the better for it. I new
er knock a horsefy off one of my horses
have found out that he COOS faster for
the bite"
The kindness of heart of Mr. Lincoln is
well known and his intense adherence
of approving death has been frequently
discussed. His Kentucky friend who has
been mentioned above as 'B, man of
undoubted loyalty in the war, used fire.
| quently to come tow Washington to make re-
| presentations to the President il regard to
courts-martial or other decisions where
mercy for the condemned man could be
obtained only from the chief magistrate
and where he thought such clemency de-
served. He rarely failed to obtain re-
prieve, and the following gives an outline
of one of the cases where he interfered
successfully. A very young man living
in one of the southern counties of Ken
lucky was enticed into the rebel army.
After remaining with it in Tennessee a
few months he became Disguised or weary
and managed to get his way back to his
home. Soon after his arrival, some of the
military stationed in the town heard of
his return and arrested him as a rebel
spy, and after military trial he was con-
demned to be hung. His family were
overwhelmed by distress and horror. A
sister of the young man knew Mrs. b.,
and concluded to go to her with the sad
story and ask that her husband should
make 6. representation of the case to his
powerful friend in Washington. Mrs. B.
promised to do all she should, convinced
that the awful death decreed upon the
young man was undeserved. When her
| husband came home from his business she
| told him he must go to Washington at
once to attend to this case. He said it
was impossible, as his business required
his immediate and constant attendance.
EYES," she answered, but not when a
| life is to be saved" and in thenext train
| Mr.. B. started. When he saw Mr.. Lin
coin and explained his errand, the latter
said, Oh, yes, / understand, that some
one has been crying to your good wife
and worked upon her feelings and you
have come here to work on mine" Mr.. B.
then went more into detail and assured
the President of the truth of the story.
After some elaboration Mr.. Lincoln evil
IDENTIFY scarcely more than half convinced,
but still preferring to err on the side of
mercy, replied, " If man had more than
one life think little hanging would not
hurt this one, but after he is once dead
we cannot bring him back, no matter how
sorry we may be, SO he shall be pardoned,"
and repreiye was given one tn spot.
| Many are the like instances which