The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-15
Lincoln's Modesty.'
From the Notebook OF "Reminiscences
Of Judge A. G. W. Carter of Cincinnati.

The Republicans of Cincinnati in the year
1859 invited plain Abraham Lincoln of Hi
nois to this city to make political speech in
reply to one that had been made here short
time before by Stephen A. Douglas. This was
some time after the famous campaign of Lin
coin and Douglas in the State of Illinois and
by which both acquired and maintained so
great national reputation, which Lincoln
never had before, but the reputation of Doug
lbs had long since become national from his
career in the United States Senate. Douglas
had been here, and had made very great
Democratic speech, and the Republicans
thought it quite necessary that the great effect
of it should be modified and ameliorated by a
speech from his own home rival, Mr. Lin
coln.. So Lincoln was invited, and he came,
arriving on the early evening of September II,
1859, and he was duly escorted to his well pre-
pared quarters at the Burnet House by Re-
publican committee. At 730 o'clock long
procession, headed by Mentors famous brass
band, reached the Burnet House, and, there
taking Mr.. Lincoln along with them, marched
to Fifth street market space, and there, from
the balcony of Mr.. Kinsey's house. above his
store, Mr.. Lincoln made one of the best politi-
cal speeches of his life to the immense con-
course of his fellow citizens assembled to hear
him for the first time
/ was living at the Burnet House at the time
and Gov. Thomas Corwin had been living
there for several months, and he proposed to
me to accompany him up to the meeting to
hear enough of Lincoln's speech to get the
tenor and run of it, SO that we might be
abled to talk about it with the orator after it
sail over, for Mr.. Corwin had arranged for
Mr.. Lincoln to spend good portion of the
night with him in his own room at the Burnet
House and had personally invited me to be
one of the company went with Mr.. Corwin,
and standing on the market space with the
rest of the multitude, we listened with great
interest to Mr.. Lincoln from the beginning to
the end of his eloquent and thoroughly politi-
cally practical speech, for we could not get
away from his eloquence. The night was calm
and beautiful the atmosphere balmy and de-
lightful, and the clear, loud, penetrating tones
of old Abe's voice for he was called "Old
Abe" even them reached to all points of the
extended market.space, and any one there
could plainly and distinctly hear every word
he said. 1 we'll remember the modest and
humble beginning of his great speech:
"Fellow-cltizens," )" said he, in very sincere
manner and plain tone of voice, "this is the
first time l ever undertook to speak to the peo-
pie inhabiting SO large city, and l am not in
the habit of making speeches in so big city,
and therefore hope L will be excused for my
errors or blunders that may make before so
large meeting"
This was truly humble beginning, and the
very simplicity and homespun manner and
method of his exordium at once commanded
the attention of the people, and for full two
hours that vast concourse listened to him with
out interruption, save for their own applause.
After he was through, Mr. Corwin being seen
in the crowd, was called for, but he did not
make speech on account of the lateness of
the hour. He properly excused himself. Mr.
Corwin and I wended our way back to the
Burnet House and waited the arrival of Mr.
Lincoln in the office, and after his friends and
admirers had left HIM and the Burnet House,
we approached him, and, by his invitation, ac-
companed him to his private room, No. 15 on
the first floor adjoining the large hall of the of
flee, and took seats with him. 1t was now
about eleven o'clock at night, but Mr.. Lincoln
showed no signs of exhaustion or fatigue; on
the contrary, he was lively and cheerful, and
full of talk and fun. He ordered three whis-
key punches for his guests and himself, and we
soon began on them; and then there came a
Hood OF dramatic anecdotes from Corwin, some
stories from me, and deluge of dry anecdotes
Gf this is not a paradox from old Abe. He
sat in his chair, with his feet and long legs up
on and over the center table, and he began to |
tell his dry stories in his dry way, and kept Mr.
Corwin and myself for several hours in enter
I ?. a.. r
Lincoln as story-teller, but L never knew
funny one as he showed himself that nYgnt.
He beat Corwin all hollow, and Mr.. Corwin
remarked to me that he would yield the palm
of STORYTELLING to Mr.. Lincoln. But our inter-
view was not all storytelling. There was
good deal of serious political talk and phllo,
Sophical reflection, and some personal talk and
of this last desire to take particular notice. as
mauifesting in marked degree the thorough
simplicity, humility and modesty of character
of Abraham Lincoln. as
"Well, Mr.. Lincoln" said Mr.. Corwin. "the
people begin to talk seriously about you as a
candidate for the presidency"
Lincoln-"Oh, that is all talk OF some enthu-
siastic friend of mine i'll Illinois. Ihere is
nothing in it, Mr. Corwin, there is nothing in
it,"
Mr.. Corwin-"Oh but there is The talk is
not confined to the State of Illinois, but it is
all over the country. You have enthusiastic
friends all over the country who are talking OF
you for the presidency. :,
Lincoln-"Oh! the talk is not serious at all;
it is lust an enthusiastic impulse, and l don't
mind it,
Corwin-"But it is serious, and as the con-
vention of the Republicans will assemble early
next year, it is the purpose to place your
name before the convention for the Preslden-
CIV, and they will perhaps nominate you"
Lincoin-'. What! nominate me, when there
are such great men as Seward and Chase in
the feld?''
Corwin-"There is the very point; the
friends of Chase and Seward are already up in
arms against each other, and who SO tit to
come in and reconcile all the interests and
antagonisms of the contending friends OF these
candidates."
Lincoln-"So YOU really think there is a
chance for me?" Well, Mr.. Corwn, don't
think there is anything in it, and the TACT IS. l
don't encourage the idea, and shall not encour-
age the idea for / have no ambition to be
President. That never entered my mead
Indeed, Mr.. Corwin, do not think l am tit to
be President of these United States. l have
not the requisite ability. 1 am not competent
to fill the presidency. l cannot compare III
ANYTHING with Chase and Seward. Now, IN
tell you what am willing to run for Vice
President, if the Convention will nominate
me for that, and the Republican party IS Will
ing. L think that with a little study of Cush-
ing's Manual might acquire enough knowl-
edge to sit in the chair of the Vice President
and preside over the deliberations OF the Sell
ate You know it does not require great
genius to do that, ard this 1 think could be
capable of with little extra study"
Corwin-''But the people do not think So
They will want you for President"
Lincoln-"I don't think the people Will be
so foolish as that, Mr.. Corwin, Tor know that
I am not fit to be President, and / know that
the people know that too. But l would really
thank them and be very grateful to them ii
they would take it into their heads to make
me their Vice President, the duties which,
believe. I could inform myself of to attend to.
But do not think at all of being President of
this great country-no, not at all.
And 80 the conversation in this strain went
on till 2 o'clock in the morning, but Lincoln
stuck to it to the last that he was not tit to be
President.