Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-05

In December. 1s47, Abraham Lincoln took
his seat in Congress as a representative from
the state of Illinois. 1t was not long before
he became great favorite with the members
and officers OF the House, for his genial man
ners, pleasant voice and ready wit gave him
magnetic influence over all who came within
his social sphere. He possessed but few per-
sonal attractions, his figure being tall and un-
calmly; but these deficiencies we're amply
compensated for by his many shining quail
ties Of mind and heart. He was a fluent and
ready speaker and his speeches we're remark
able for their directness and precision, though
lacking in rhetorical grace and finish. He
possessed a rich and inexhaustible fund of wit
and humor TO which he gave expression in
anecdotes and quaint observations, which it
was pleasant to listen to. Whenever he OBJ
tanned the floor to speak, the House gave him
its undivided attention, and never failed to
greet his sallies of wit aud quick repartees with
laughter and applause. One of his most re-
markable speeches during his first and only
term in Congress was delivered in July, 1913,
in reply to one made few days before by Mr..
Iverson Of Georgia The subject of Mr.. Lin
coins speech was Military Coat-tails." In
the speech Of Mr.. Iverson, that gentleman
accused the Wing party of having deserted
all their principles and taken shelter under
the military coat-tail of Gen. Zachary Taylor
the candidate of the party for the presidency.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Lincoln pro-
ceeded to show that the Democratic party
were amenable to similar charge, having for
% years relied upon the military reputation
of Gen. Jackson for success, he having been
made president out of it for eight years, while
enough of it remained to make presidents of
several comparatively small men who succeed
ed him, and still relying upon it for the sue
cess of Gen. Cass, the nominee of the party
at that time, their campaign papers every
where declaring that Cass and Butler were Of
the true hickory stripe" Toward the close
Of his speech Mr.. Lincoln poured q torrent of
ridicule upon the military reputation of Gen.
Cass, and then alluded to his own exploits as
a soldier in the Black Hawk war, where, " he
continued, Il fought, bled, and came away.
II Gen. Cass saw any real, live, fighting Indi-
ans at the battle of the Thames, where he
served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Harrison, it
was more than did but had q good many
bloody struggles with the mosquitoes, and,
although never tainted from the loss of blood,
can truly say was often very hungry. Mr..
Speaker" added Mr. Lincoln, ''if should
ever conclude to doff whatever our Democratic
friends may suppose there is of black-cock-
ade federalism about me, and thereupon
they shall take me up as their candidate for
the presidency, protest they shall not make
tempting to write me into military hero"
The notes of Mr.. Lincoln's speech on this
occasion were written on sheets of foolscap
paper and lay on the desk before him. 1t
was not many minutes after he had begun to
| speak before he abandoned his manuscript
and walked slowly down the narrow aisle lead
ing to the area in front of the clerks desk and
| speakers chair. He carried his left arm be-
hind him, and with it slightly lifted the skirts
of a black swallow-t tail coat worn nearly thread
bare, which hung loosely from his shoulders,
| while his right arm was extended, and his
long, bony forefnger pointed toward his au-
ditors on the opposite side of the hall. As
he walked he spoke with great earnestness un-
til he had crossed the area and stood face to
| face with the Democratic Representatives,
when he would quickly turn, and, hurrying
back to his desk, look at his manuscript for a
moment, and then resume his walk. When
the speakers hammer fell he returned to his
seat amid peals of laughter and applause,
which continued for several minutes before
order was restored and the regular business
| of the House resumed. Mr.. Lincoln's seat in
the old hall of representatives was on the out
| er row, near the western entrance. The mar
BILE statue erected to his memory stands with
in six feet of the spot formerly occupied by
his chair and desk Washington Star.