The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-02
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WHAT SCHUYLER COLFAN SAID
OFHIM.
Lecture i'm BeIiaire Last Night on
THE Martyr President.


Hon. SCHUYLER Colfsx delivered his
famous lecture on "Lincoln" last night
in the Disciples Church, at Bellsire, TO
very largo and attentive audience. MIR.
Colfax's style OF delivery is q pleasant
colloquisl one, and ne seems Ms bright
and fresh in his manner as he ever was,
and bears his years very lightly. Many
of the audience were introduced to HIM
after the lecture, and he received quite an
ovation. After an elaborate opening
tribute to Mr.. Liucoln's memory,
Mr.. Colfax traced his career
through boyhoOd in the little
aoorless cabin and his after life I'M
I'll he was elected President, when the
really interesting portion of the lecture
began. lie said that Mr.. Lincoln showed
his magnanimity by placing in his Caoi-
net. tour of his opponents in the Chicago
Convention, and this policy was carried
out all through the administration. 10
show MIR. LiRcoln's kindness OF heart, nc
told the story Of q man coming to the
President to ask the pardon OF his son,
who had been condemned 10 be shot by
General Butler.
After the fsther had told his story he
added that he was afraid that 1t would
be difficult to persuade General Butler TO
aid him. Lincoln replied, "He shall be
saved, sir, by Jingol-Butler or no
Butler"
In speaking of the'note TO England on
"belligerant rights" MIR. Colfsx said that
| Seward draft OF this was interlined with
the well-known handwriting of Lincoln.
The first drat would have brought Us
into a war with England. When the
country was inGamed against Great
Britain and clamored for war, he
Gained it down with that we'll
| known sentence: "One war at
q time" lie was not given to scurrillity
and no one ever heard him say aught OF
| i'll against anyone. He was kind to all
and the merest strangers had the sane
treatment as his friends. A famous po-
liician delivered aspeech, charging Mr.
Lincoln and his cabinet with all manner
of inlamy. l Withhold his name because
| do not eyer indulge in the slightest
personality of any kind. A farmer
whose son had been sentenced to ball
| and chain for several months, came to
| Washington and asked this politician TO
seek his sons pardon from the President.
| AT first the politician refused, saying,
| i: would not avail anything
| for him 10 interfere. At last he went to
the President and he on the simple word
of his cslumniator that the boy was I'M
Justly punished, psrdoned HIM. And
this is but fair sample Of Lincoln's
goodness OF heart.
! As sample Of President Lincoln's
humor, be told the following stories:
A party of Chicago men who were talk
Ing about that city began to wesry Mr..
Lincoln, who finally said, 81 heard a
good story about Chicago the
other day. A Boston man died
in that city and when he
got to heaven be WAS asked where he
hailed from. lie answered "Chicago."
ooh, no. was the answer, 'ycu can't fool
us. Where is there any such place?'
"Why, it's city of 100000 souls, in
Illinois" "Is it? Well, there may be
100000 souls down there, but you're the
first that ever csme up here"
When the stately English ambassador,
Lord Lyons, formally announced the
marriage of the Prince of Wales, lincoln
slapped him jocularly on the shoulder
and said, "Lyons, so thou and
| do likewisew Mr.. Colfsx said
that the doubts which had been raised in
regard to Lircoln's Christianity were
purely groundles, and that he gave ample
proof OF his belief in God, although he
did not belong to any church. ellis last
official act was one OF kindness. lie was
informed that two Of the leading Con-
federate officers were about TO escape into
Canada in disguise, but he forbid their
arrest, saying he did not wish to have
thoir blood upon his hands"
II he had been allowed time by
his cruel murderer he would have
prayed for those who intended TO 10 him
harm. Murdered, cofincd and buried,
as he is, he will still live forever in the
hearts of the people as our martyred
President.
The lecture will net tho Disciples
Church in the neighbour God of $lUO.