National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-30
WHAT LINCOLN DID.
An Incident for Gen. GnrieId-Does He
Emulate iE.c Example OF a Sfatesnnane

An Incident for Gen. Gnrfieyd-DOes He
Emulate thc Example of a Siatesman:
To the Editor of THE REPUBLICANS:
Since this controversy has been going
on as to the powers and dignites which attach
and belong to the President and Senators and
members OF Congress respectively it has occurred
to me that perhaps the opinions of ex- Presidents
might possibly throw some light upon the much
mooted question. Abraham Lincoln has long
since passed into immortal renOwn, and his views
on this question. as reflected by his actions, will
doubtless receive more respectful consideration
than if he yet living las is General Grant, 70,
instance), and to his opinions will be imputed
none of the suspicious which certain class Of
Jealous mortals are ever ready to entertain with
respect to those men who have rendered their
country patriotic service i'll its hour of dire ex
tTenlity and who, unfortunately for themselves
still live. Recently was CHANGING through some
of the back numbers of ScribRe'S Magd=iRe, when
noticed an incident concerning Mr.. Lincoln. and
as 1t IS just in point, beg you will insert it.
1T Is FOUND IN 'SCRIBSER's MAGAZINE"
on page sos of February number for 1878. and is
written by Mr. K. H. Stoddard. He says:
Oae very snowy night in March 1862 just after the
adjournment OF Congress, messenger came to my
lodgings saying that the President desired me 10
come TO the White House forthwith if possible. Ar
irving at the White House. found Lincoln some
what disturbed by the information that the three
California Representatives had left Washington a
little rnif1ed the manner in which several impor-
tant appointments had been filled. The President was
tranpiiIg up and down the room, swinging his long
arms and talking to the man who had communicated
this bit of gossip Tell me-, he demanded, Stopping
in his walk L entered are those California men
angry because the san Francisco mint and custom
house appointments were agreed Oh without their
CONSENT The reply was that that my under
standing.
" EUT THE APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT AGREED on.
Nothing is agreed OH. Governor Chase told me
that he had agreed on and 50, and got from him
the impression that the California Congressman were
consulted and were satisfied II explained to
him that the list of proposed appointments by Secre-
tary Chase had been shown to the Representatives,
AID they had been told that everything was settled.
Were they very mad when they went away?"
demanded the President.
Not very replied. with some amusement. But,
naturally they didn't like the way they were treated
The President asked if it possible to send dis
patches and call them back, and when told that one
of the Representatives had sailed from New York and
that the other two at different places in New
England lac said:
Now, what want you to do is to send dispatches
TO those two men right away and get them back.
don't care much what you say but get them back"
This agreed to do, and departed. Lincoln ran after
me- and calling me back, said:
Let me know what replies yOu get from them and
be sure and keep memorandum of the cost of the
dispatches and II pay the BILL II may be added that
the Representatives returned that the Treasury De-
partncnt slate broken, and that Lincoln
paid the bill with The most scrupulOus exactness.
Very few persons at this day doubt that old Abe
was President, or that his spinal column ever
needed stiffening. That he was great man is
not less generally accepted and the above episode
only confirms the belief that a great man, when
temporarily accidentally thrust into great
place, never permits himself to do such things as
big place. At all events, the man who aspireS to
be great and digniied to-day need not be afraid
that by emulating Mr.. Lincoln while he was
President the public will not estimate his great
ness at its par value. The example Of great
man already made is worth immensely more than
that's multitude of small men who scheme and plot
TO get into great places. W. NJ.