The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-07-10
LINCOLN In CONGRESS.
His Speech upon Military Coat.
tails.


In December, 1847. Abraham Lin
coin took his seat in congress as q
representative from the state of H.
lnois. 1t vas not long before he be.
came a great tsvorIts With the mem
oeTs and officers of the house, for his
genial manners. pleasant vuice and
ready wit gave him q magnetic influ
ence on all who came within his 80
cial sphere. He possessed bur few
personal attractions, his figure being
tall and ungainIy, but these deficien-
cles vera amply compensated for by
bis many shining qualities of mind
and heart. He was a fluent and
ready speaker, and his speeches were
remarkable for their directness and
precision, although lacking in rhetor-
zeal grace ana finish. He possessed
a rich and inexhAustable fund of wit
and hunOr, TO which be gave ex-
preston Ia anecdotes and quaint ob-
servations, which it was pleasant to
listen to. Whenever his obtained the
floor 70 spesk, the houte gave him
its undivided attention, ani never
failed to greet his sallies of Wit and
quick repartees with laughter and az
plause. One of the most remarkable
of bis speeches during his first and
only term in congress Was delivered
IN July, 184S. in reply to one made a
few days before by Mr.. Iverson, of
Georgia. The subject OF Mr.. Lin
coins speech was Military Coat
tails." Ia the speech of Mr.. Iver-
SOD, that gentleman accused the
Wing party OF having deserted all
their principles, and taken shelter
under the military coattsil of Gen.
eral Zachary Taylor, the candidate of
the party for the presidency. In the
course of his remarks Nj. Lincoln
proceeded to show that the Demo.
cratic party we're amensble to the
same charge, having for twenty five
year relied upon the military reputA-
ton OF General Jackson for success.
he having been made president out Of
it for eight years. while enough OF it
remained te make presidents Of sew
eral small men who succeeded him,
and still relying upon it for the suc-
cess Of General Cass, the nominee of
the party at that time, their campaign
papers everywhere declaring that
Oass and Butler were OF the true
hickory stripe" Toward the close Of
his speech Mr.. Lincoln poured tor
rent OF ridIcule upon the military
reputation OF General Cass, snd then
alluded TO his own exploits as SOL
der in the Black Hawk war.
"Wbere," he continued. Il fought,
bled, and came away. II General
Cass saw any live fighting Indians at
the battle OF the Thames, where be
served as an aide-de camp 10 General
Harrison, it was more than did; but
had a good many bloody struggles
with the mosquitoes, and although |
never tainted from I1ss Of blood, |
can truly say | wae oi!en very huB-
cry. Mr.. Speaker, added Mr. Lincoln.
''If | should ever conclude to doff
whatever our Democratic friends may
suppose there is of black -cock4d fed
eralism about me. and thereupon
they shall take me up SIS their csndi-
date for the presidency, | protest
they shsil not make fun of me as
they have of General Osss by at
tempting to write me into a military
hero"
The notes OF Mr.. Lincoln's speech
on this occasion were written on
sheets of foolecsp paper, ard lay on
the desk before him. It was not
many minutes after be bad begun to
speak before he abandoned his manu-
script, and walked slowly down the
narrow aisle leading to the area in
fronto sbe clerks desk and speakers
chair. He carried his left arm be-
hind him, and with it slightly lifted
the skirts Of q swallow tail coat. worn
nearly threadbsre, which hung loost ly
from his shoulders, while his right
arm was extended and his long bony
forehpger pointed towsre his auditors
on the opposite side CT the hall As
be walked he spoke with great earn
estness, until be had crossed the area
and stood face to face with the demo-
cratic representatives, when he would
quickly turn. and burrying back to
bis desk, look at his manuscript for q
moment and then resume his walk.
When the speakers hammer fell be
returned to his eeat amid peals OF
laughter and applause. which contio-
ned for several minutes before order
vas restored and the regular business
Of the House resumed. Mr. Lincoln's
seat in the old Hall OF Representatives
was on the outer row, sDd near the
western entrance. The marble atatue |
erected to his memory stands within |
Xix feet OF the spot formerly occupied
oy his chair and observation-disclosures |
CIo,