, 1873-06-22

Nl1 fjeh6 bhS kA1ASo CAa44%|A ~
/ wouli further aay thu. Dr. Smith wa man of
vcry great ability and theological ad metaphysical
Hfd n ss ssaSfa a IT, TIT aeo
eharaeer and 1t would b impossible for aay intine:e
either bF his words or his conduct. Yours truly,
JouN 7. STUAnT.
Simi1st teetitony, to the extent of page or
tributes to COL, James +. lfat1cns, Of Spring
able lawyer, and Of high Standing in the conf
munity. AR. Mathcny test1fes that be never
wrote word Of what is attributed to him that
it is not o fair representation Of either his Ian
guage or his opinions, and that hc never would
have allowed such an article to bo published as
character. Here Is what this gentleman has to
say, given over his own signature:
sra1SGFik1D, Dec. IL, 1872.
Per, }. 4. ns<d:
mons bo'k is not from my pen. did mob write It,
And It does not express my sentiments Of II. Lin
celnB entire life and character. It is collection
were only true Of 31r. Lncolu's earlier li1s would
not hare allowed such article to bs printed
signature covering my opinion Of alr. Ilncolns life
and religious eentiuents While do believe A1r.
Lincoln to have been inhdel in his former life,
when hiy mind jet uniformed, aud his casoca-
believe he very different man Id Later u.e and
that after o.sociating with different cl:.s ot men,
AH1 .Hfcslb1nR <lo tCnjcCf he Wna dTm peueVeI LII
the Christian religion. hours truly,
JANEs n: AfA1HEs1.
It il unnecessary that occupy moro space
with thercst OF the testimony, as there is none
OF 1t given over the signature Of anybody. .save
that which is given over the signature OF W. h.
Herndon. All aside from this bears evidence OF
having been manipulated to suit the purpose for
which it is wanted, and is either contradictory,
or fails to cover the whole OF Mr.. Lnco1n's life.
Judge Davis, for instance, is made to say: '"1
nor do I think anybody else knows anything
about it, OF what value can the testimony be
that is prefcccd with such declarations Of know
ing nothing about tho matter?
John J. Nco1ay is made to testify that " to
his knowledge Nj. Lincoln did not change his
views after ho came to Washington !" and yet he
states in immediate connection that Il lo does
not know what his views were, never having
heard him explain theEa-"
Josse w. Fell either tcstifies, or is made to
testify, to ltr: Lincoln's skeptical notions. And
yet Mr. Fell admits that it ''was eight or ten
years previous to his DEATH that he believed
him to be entertaining the ViewA of which he
speaks, I" and that he may hate changed his se7ti-
nents after his removal from among u.s." AL
this would be strange kind OF testimony on
presence Of Judge and jury. But with such
evidence it Is sought to convict him OF infdelity.
We are enabled to SEQ, therefore, in the Light
Of this revelation. Of what "trustworthy ma
teria1s this book is composed; how much Mr..
Lannon's names, and dates, and authorities, BY
which he strengthens his testimony" are to be
depended upon and what reason unsuspecting
or sympath1zing critics and journalists have for
arriving at the sage conclusion that Mr. Lincoln
was. IN his habit Of thought, hoterodox IN the
e1trcm1to the close of his life, and very differ
ent man from what he was supposed to be-"
The evidence Of this book, SO far as the promi~
nent witnesses are concerned, and 80 far as it
relates to the later years OF hr. Lincolns life, is
not only utterly untrustworthy, but eTen an In
Eenlous and romantic invention.
refer next to tile corroborating testimony Of
Noah Brooks, ESD, now associated wit the New
York Tribune. This gentleman has already pub
liEhed most interesting testimony in relation to
b1r. Lincoln's religious sentiments in UarpeT,s
Monthly of July, 1865. In order that his testi-
rnony may be fully appreciated, will here state,
on tho authority Of . mutual friend, that '' Mr.
Brooks IL himself earnest Christian man, aud
had the appointment Of Private Secretary to the
ed had aIr. Lincoln lived lie was 80 intimate
with the President that he visited him socially at
times when Others were refused admission,
took tea with the family, spending even
ings with him, reading to him, and CON
Yersing with him freely on socia! and religious
topics. and in mT opinion knows more Of the
secret inner life and religious views Of Mr.. Lin
coin, at least during the term OF his Presidency,
thnn any man living Tho following is letter
which have received from l1r. Brooks in rela~
timcnts:
New yoHk, Dec. 81, 1874.
Mr DEAn s1n: In addition to what has appeared
from my pen, will state that had nany CONVERSE
Uous with Mr. Lincoln, which were or less Of
religious character. @nd while never tried to draw
anything like statement Of his yEws from him. yet
he freely expressed himself to having hope Of
blessed immortality through Jesus Christ" his views
that considered no other necesssy. His language
seemed not thnt Of an inquirer, but of one who had
prior settled BELIEF in the fundamental doctrines Of
the Christian religion. Once or twice, speaking to me
Of tho change witch had upon him, he said,
while he could not tx any definite time. yet it WAS
after he camo here and am very positive that in bis
own mind Identified it about the time Of Willies
DEATH He said, too that after he went to the White
House he kept up the nabit Of daily prayer: Some
words be had There is possible reason suppose
that ar. Lincoln would ever deceive me as to his
Eeious sentiments. In mAuy conversations with him.
absorbed the firm conviction that alr. Lincoln Was at
heart q Christian mnn, believed in the Savior, and
Has seriously considerng the step which would for
1naly connect him with the visible church earth
Ceyt3tny, any suggestions Us to Mr. Ltncoln's ekept-
cs1n or inhdelity, to who knew him intimately
from 1sc2 TIL the time Of his death, is nonstrous nc-
~''1"' N'' - NOAH Bnooks
The following extract I add also from Mr:
Brooks article in Hz1Jper's Monthly of July,
1865: "There was something touching in this
childlike and simple reliance on Divine aid,
especially when in such extremitjes as he so1ne-
the Scriptures was his constant habit, he more
earnestly than ever sought that atrength which
is promised when mortal help faileth. He said
once, I have been many times driven to my
knees by the overwhelming conviction that I
had nowhere else to so. Ny own wisdom, and
that Of al about me, seemed IN insufficient for
that if do not go away from here 3 wiser man,
shall 70 away better man for having learned
here what very poor sort OF a man am"
Tie following interesting testimony from the
Rev, Dr. Byron Sunderland, of the First Presby-
terian Church of Washington City, gives us q
little insight into the philosophy Of Mr.. Lin
coins mind and religious sentiments:
TAsu1sorox CITY, Nov. IT, 1879.
Ftr. James A. Reed
DEAF Bro: It in the last days OF 1862, about
the time AIr. Lincoln sc1sously contemplating the
issuing OF the proclamation Of emancipation, that IN
company with friends Of the President, called
mon him. After soIae conversation, In which he
seeuae disposed have his joke and fun, he settled
down to serious consideration Of the subject before
his mind and for half hour poured forth volume
Of tho deepest Christian philosophy ever heard. He
began By Baytpg:
youd al compreheuson-' who by searching eau ind
him out, p Now, Judging after the manner OF men,
tsking counsel OF sympathles and feelings, II It
tn it would hava had