Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-21
MRS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
A Tardy Tribute From a High
Republican Source.
New York Tribune, II.

in Lexington, Fayette county, KY,
She was TIE daughter Of DR.. Robert
s. Todd, a practising physician we'll
known and greatly respected in that
region. Her family was one of the
earliest of those who settled in the
eastern part Of Kentucky, and there
are many members of it still remain.
ing there and many more who have
emigrated and settled in others of
the Western States. The family was
a large one, and by its intermarriages
is connected with many of the more
prominent pioneer families in the
West. One sister of Mrs. Lincoln
married Charles Moulton Smith, of
illinois, a merchant and inancier of
considerable reputation; another mar
ried DIR. Wallace. who afterward be-
came Paymaster in the regular army,
and another the Hon. Ninian w.
Edwards, a son Of the first Governor
of Illinois, from whose house she
was married, and in whose house she
died. They were all ladies of unusu-
ally good education for that early
day, and their society was much
sought by the young lawyers and pro-
iessional men who composed the prin-
cipal social circles of the frontier
villages Of Kentucky and Of Illinois.
1t was while on a visit in Spring
field, then a small village nesting on
the skirt of a prairie in Sangamon
county, that Miss Mary Todd met
the future President. They soon be-
came engaged, but the engagement
was not at once followed by marriage.
Certain marked peculiarities of tenn
permanent and disposition caused
doubts in the minds of each of the
parties as to the possible happiness
of their union, and various phases of
their lovers %quarrels were given in a
remarkable correspondence which
took place between Mr.. Lincoln and
his friend Joshua Speed, of Ken
lucky. They were finally married,
however, November 4, 1882, and lived
together in great affection and mutual
devotion until the President was shot
by the side of his wife and fell into
her arms.
1t is the opinion Of many Of his
friends that Mr.. Lincoln owned much
OF his public career to the energetic
aud ambitious spirit Of his wife. It
is said by some of his intimate asso-
cistes and ~counselors that he would
probably have accepted the nomina-
ton for the Vice Presidency at Chi
cago if Mrs Lincoln had not opposed
it with all the power of her will. 1t
was also said that during the admin.
istration Of President Taylor, when
MIR. Lincoln was offered a Territorial
appointment, be was induced to de-
cline it through the persuasion Of his
wife. who believed that a greater DO
@litical future lay in a continued res
idence in Illinois.
After be became President she
sustained her new position with in
telligence and dignity. There has
propably never been an occupant OF
the White House so persistently
slandered and maligned as Mrs. Lin
coin. The fact that she was a native
of Kentucky and a member Of a fam
lily Of which a large number adhered
to the Southern cause, was the oc
casion Of the most unjust suspicious
and the most bitter libels upon her
loyalty. The hostility of the Demo-
cratic papers and the semi-rebel soci-
ETY. OF Washington was easy enough to
understand; but she was the subject
of attacks, no less bitter and no less
unjust, on the part of earnest Repub.
licans who we're much more loyal than
the President or any Of his family.
They even went so far as to accuse
her Of being a rebel spy. The charge,
it is unnecessary to say, was absolutely
without foundation either in her feel
ings or her action. She devoted the
greater part of her time during the
war to visiting the hospitals and the
camps of the soldiers about Wash
ington; but owing to certain pecu-
liaIities Of manner she never received
credit which was due to her either for
her loyalty or her kindness Of heart.
Few women have ever been called
to endure such sorrows and misfor-
tunes. Her second son died in child
hood. Her third son, William, died
during the first year Of Mr.. Lincoln's
Presidency. He was a lad ofsingular
and unusual %precocity, having a taste
and talent for mathematics which
we're extraordinary. Her fourth son
Thomas Todd, who was the pet and
playthiDg Of the Executive Mansion
under the name Of Tad" during the
war times, died some eight years ago
after a short aud very painful illness
Iler eldest and only surviving son il
the present Secretary Of War.
Alter the assassination of the Presi
dent, Mrs. Lincoln remained for sever.
al weeks in a state OF nervous pros
t%ration, which it was thought WoulC
end fatally. She recovered her health
however, but her mind never thor
oughly regained its balance. He
mental condition rapidly deteriorated
until about seven years ago symptom
OF the most alarming gravity super.
|, vened, and il became necessary fol
b her friends to take legal measures u
have her placed under restraint. Sht
remained under the charge Of a com
petent physician for some time, anC
then, her condition having somewhat
improved, she was released from re.
straint and Immediately sailed fol
Europe, where she remained until thu
fall OF 1880, residing chiefly at Pau il
the Pyrenees and other quiet placer
in the South of France. Last year
Mrs. Lincoln spent some time in thil
city, having come here for mediCa
treatment