The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-24


to 70 with him that night to the theatr,
as he bade him good bye, and, a
some one afterwards said, Il was Sdoub!
less the last goodbye ever uttered by Iii
President 1t was only two or three hour
before his assassination at Fords theatre
Mr.. Coliax did not allude to this circum
stance last night, but no doubt many 0
our readers will recall 1t. It serves tt
show upon what terms Of familiar off
cial and personal intercourse the lecturer
stood with The great and good man who's
lie and characteristics he portrayS be-
fore the people Of the land, and how well
prepared he is by reason Of this familiar
acquaintance for the labor oil love, as h
himself calls ii, in which he is engaged.
Allusion was made at the outset Of the
lecture to the hard and obscure surround
ings Of Mr.. Lincoln's birth in Ken
lucky, and to the unpretending man
ner in which he himself used to allude .tG
IT, II reminded US OF what was told as Mr.
Lincoln's answer upon certain occasion
to biographer, who wanted the facts o.
bis parentage and early life. "There ari
no facts" said he, "save the short and
simple annals Of the poor;;'" an expires
sion from the poet Cowper that had year,
before found sympathetic Judgement in
Mr.. Lincoln's poetic nature.
Mr.. Coliax's recital Of Mr.. Lincol nj
career at Washington contained many In.
teresting incidents, some Of which were
new and some already known TO the
public. He dwelt particularly on his
admirable moral and social qualities
giving several illustrations Of his exceed.
ing kindness Of heart. From what The
speaker said II may be doubted whether
Mr.. Lincoln ever approved q single
death sentence pronounced on asoldier ior
cowardice in the face OF the enemy. They
were found fled away after his death
without his signature. He had no heart
for approving death sentences, and in
many instances incurred the displeasure
OF his generals for interfering with disci'
pline in the army by his numerous exhi-
billions Of leniency. He had avery con.
scientiols as well as a very tender feel
ing for the misfortunes Of human life. HI
walked in great humbleness OF spirit in
the exercise OF his powers OF Office. No
man ever bore the honors OF the Presi
dency SO meekly as Lincoln. In his wise
estimate Of the pomp and vanities OF hu'
man life he was truly great. There ewas
no pride in his nature save the pride oil
duty well performed. When he died a
French writer said Of him that he was
the "wisest justest and honestest man',oI
his time.
Mr.. Colfax spoke OF .Lincoln's keen
insight into human nature; Of his analyt.
ical habit Of mind; ofhis ability 10 com
prehend the average public sentiment oi
the country; Of his wonderful faculty oi
seeing and stating the true ingardness
Of . subject; and especially ofhis ability
to understand and appreciate the "other
side" in an argument. He was master
Of the art Of putting things, and knew
intuitiyely just where were the weak
spots in his own and his opponents
armor. Great as was his. fame in this
respect, achieved in the celebrated can
vass with Douglass, it was further in
creased aitefhe became President, as was
witnessed in his letters to Horace
Greeley, ito'the Vallandigham Democrats
aud to Others. With all his admirable
qualities OF heart he was the intellectual
peer OF the trained minds around him
Allusion was made by Mr.. Colfax
| to his revision Of Mr.. sewards
protest TO the English government
against their prccipitate accordance oi
belligerent rights to The ret'ls' Inc
whole letter was inlerlined' expansed ano
amended BY Mr. Lincoln IN 'mpot'ah
PARTICULARS o"e chanse W" ~ a"'A'
out the w0ra w!onstSI, ~ Allpu,ns y
'ne ac'ion o' 'ne nr,,i'nS So,,,n"eu' ~. m
SUBSTITUTE 'new woru nuf''",. Nof' ~ ru'
rs ssfong anu .al ,o.t o.'u'. ", nv
afait o. tue ofis'nal iss.er 9, Is y" l''tN w .as
STATE department ~ maSh'ns'o"' =" '@'
handwriting Oh Mt. oe"a.u a"u ~.
Lincoln and a'.ests 1he 'acs 'na' ho'"I.n
standing the latter haa called ABOUT h'"'
the greatest minds Oh 'he Nepu0,,.aa ~.
party ne was SneVef!he'es' '"e 'o"'fo''"s
spirit Q, ms aamihiS',A',Un' go.
fne lecturer s.'seu WIN a' a,iusio" y
Mr. h'nco'hs'e,,s''u' VIEWS "n,en nai'
&c oeeh 50 much ulscussvu y, s,"so ms uea.n
lne sfea.0InOnss ~ S.1 Iii ~, DeaoS ~, !. !.
l