The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-30
aouR nAREYREp PREsIpEAEs.n
Hon. Schuyler colnRx,s Lecture n ths
Opera HOuse last Night.

was ueseEEeu compliment W TUG ulstlH-
guished gentleman who entertained those
present with an able and entertaining talk
having for its theme the lives and deaths Of
Lincoln and Garfield,
DR.. T, H, Logan briefly presented Mr., Col.
fax, saying that he was too well known 10 all
present by reputation and to many person
ally to require formal Introduction, The
introduction was the signal for applause, at
the subsistence Of which the speaker abrupt
" launched out upon his lecture.
Twice within less than twenty years lie
said has the nations ruler, gutltlesS Of
crime or tyranny, free from private griey.
ancs or public wrongRvoid OF ottenSe toward
God or man, but ON the contrary healeFs OF
strife and binders up Of the Nations wounds,
been stricken down by the ruthless aSsasSln's
bloody hand.
No assassination In history compared with
these in Nervousness or sadness One OF
these two referred to died in single night,
happily without pain, and passed into hlsto-
~ fevered by all men. The other lay facing
death for eighty long and painful days, while
Catholic and Protestant, Christian and Jew
almost stOrmed the gates OF prayer on his be
| half, and finally entered the dark valley with
his hand clasped in the loving hand Of the
wife whom he had so recently nursed back
from the very verge Of thcgrave. The long
conflict with death in the White House and
at the Cottage by the sea, now historic for all
time, was graphically portrayed, and the
touChinginterest o fall the people In his COndi'
ton spoken OF as unexampled In history. The
heroic fortitude OF the sufferer, the hopeful
devotion of his stricken wife, the submissive
faith with which the wounded man bowed
to tho decree which lowered him from the
highest pinnacle in the Nation to the depths
of the cold grave, was dwelt upon, and con-
trasted with the sorrow OF the Nation, whose
people almost rCbelled against the will OF the
Almighty. Was it any wonder, the speaker
asked, that all tongues Of the globe sounded
his praises, and all rulers, with their people,
united to voice tho sorrow OF the whole race
at his murder. A glowing tribute was paid
to GARFIELD, and the likeness OF his career and
OF It's sudden eclipse to those Of Lincoln,
briefly pictured.
Yet how many consultations can be drawn
| from his death-the ripGneSs OF the fame he
leaves legacy 10 his race; the healingO OF the
feud between the North and South, and the
inspiring example OF his achievements and
his character to the youth OF the nation,
will do much to compensate for the loss to
the present generation OF so useful, so brill
liant, so loved man.
Speaking Of Lincoln, he said that 1t was
not enough that the land had poured out
upon her own soil the richest blood OF thous'
ands Of her braYest sons, To put an end to
the strife that was drenching the land in
gore, still COstliCr sacrifice was
demanded, and from the highest post
OF trust and honor in the nation
was called the revered ruler who had risen
from an humble birth in the wilds OF the
western woods, to the position OF the chief oil
nearly halfa hundred millions OF free and
enlightened people. The flatboat boy was
followed In tho speakers rapid and eloquent
sentences from the humble surroundings oil
his birthplace through his youth Of hard
ship and industry, through his early man
hood OF struggle and privation, through the
years which scarcely gave hint OF his future
fame, until he stood Mt the highest post ia
which the people could elevate him, posi-
which he lGitat the murlerer's shot to 'ComC
up higher"
Tho main body OF the lecture consisted oil
q sort Of an anecd0tal review OF I.incoln's
services during the War for the Union, and
OF the stirring scenes In which he then
moved the central figure. The audience al
ternatCly laughed and applAuded, aS some
humorous anGcdOte or some glowing period
Of patriotism or praise fell from the lips Of
the speaker.
Wien, Mr.. Coliax said, Lincoln went to
Washington, the ground trenbled under his
his feet. When he was so suddenly called
away from the post Of duty and responsible
ity toenter into his reward, he left the ma.
ton on solid and firm foundation, and IN
enjoyment OF q LASTING peace.
A touching meeting with the great presi.
dent was that after the battle OF the Wilder.
ness, when lie said to Mr.. Colfax, "Why are
we called upon to suffer defent after defeat
ind reverse upon reverse? Could We have
avoided this bloody struggle? Was II not
forced upon us? VIII II ever, ever end?'
but shortly he frightened up, saying in n
less hopeless tone, Grant will not fail us.
On him now rests the hopes Of the Nation"
And half hour later he was telling stories
and cracking jokes with his accustomed
gusto.
Another story was Of the application Mr..
COlfax, then Congressman, made for the
pardon OF q soldier, charged with desertion,
imprisoned In Indiana, and sentenced to be
shot. The interview in which the request
was made took place In the evening. The
President said: "Some OF my generals blame
me for pard0ning too many. But II rests me,
when after a hard day, / have chance to
save some poor fellows life" aud he signed
the pardon, saying: "a shall sleep lighter to.
night when reflect upon this poor soldiers
JOY"
Some OF the anecdotes related were very
enjoyable. One remark Of LinCOln's was
lined to his room and threatened with small.
pOx, he one day said, referring to the Office
seekers "Tell them all TO call now, for ! have
got something can give every man OF en-"
Tho incident was told OF General Tom
Thumbs visit to the White House, and OF
bis arrival at time when several prominent
generals were Closeted with Lincoln who, to
the great surprise Of his visitors, ordered the
dwarf admitted, and began an earnest con.
ycrsation with him. Finally, one pompous
military gentleman marched up, and said to
Tom, "Well, sir; you call yourself general
but you are mighty small one" "True,"
said the President, "but judging from the
results Of their campaigns some OF my goner-
ais are still smaller
A laughablc remark was quoted, made by
Lincoln whom told on a certain occasion that
General So-and.so and forty mules had been
captured. "Well" said lie, ~ can make
another Brigadier In five minutes but mules
cost 5000 apiece"
LinCOln's wcll.knOwn disposition TO be
merciful, which prevented Ills signing the
death warrants found BY court nnrtials, was
aptly illustrated by several stories, and the
fact stated that II was for this reason Con.
grcss so modified the law toward the close
Of the war that death warrants from the courts
martial could be executed by the mere order
Of commanding general In the field.
An instance Of this trait was found in the
pardon OF one Of Buffers command. When
the condemned mans father called at the
White House to beg his sons life, the presi.
dent lad Just received telegram from Gen
Butler, which read
"MR. PRESIDENT II implore you not TO in.
tcrfere with the judgements Of our courts
martial You will utterly ruin all dlscip.
line In my command. Il. II. Butler"
When this dispatch was read to the old pc.
titioner he fell at the Presidents feet heart. |
broken. Lincoln looked down at him mo.
ment and then graSping pencil and paper, |
he said "IIen Butler or no Ben Butler, here
goes" And lie wrote n note and handed II |
10 the old man, whose face WIS now beaming |
with hope. His couhtennnCe again became
sad, however, when he read the words
a. =. l.. A a