Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-01-05
RECOLLECTIONS OF GARFIELD.
Col. A. f. ROckwell's Contribution
to Current Literature.

Col. A. +. Rockwell furnishes some
very interesting "reminiscences of Gar.
field in a paper entitled From Mentor
to Elberon, contributed to the Century
Magazine for January. We print the
! following extracts:
GARFIELD AT CHICAGO.
Indications were not wanting that bis
name might be brought before the COLI
vention as candidate; and there were
not few friends who looked with great
confidence to his nomination. He did
not share this confidence; and, in the
| light of past events, we may now empha-
size the sincerity and earnestness of his
wish first to round out his legislative ca
reer in the Senate. Whenever l referred
to the probability or possibility of his
nomination. while he looked forward
with an honest ambition to the highest
honor to be conferred by his fellew citi-
zens, he would say: Mot yet; l must
make my record in the Senate" l shall
not soon forget my last interview with
him in his library, before his departure
for Chicago. While he was fully alive
to the important result of the great con-
vention, and his first thoughts were in
the direction of the welfare of his party
and the country, with the spirit of the
gladiator he longed for the conflict of
debate Rising from his chair, he said,
slowly and musingly: "Well, l go to
Chicago!" Then, drawing himself up,
he added-"And if any one attempts to
bulldoze that convention, L propose meas
uring lances with himl"
EARLY ASSASSINATION RUMoRs.
1t was during this period that an Incl
dent occurred which recall with no Or
dinary interest, preluding, as it did, the
great tragedy so soon to be enacted. A
prominent gentleman of Cleveland had
been so greatly impressed with the cir
cumstantial details of an organized plan
| for the assassination of Gen. Garfield,
that he had driven out to Mentor, by
night, to acquaint nim with the facts
AS the result of the interview, it was ar
ranged that the man who had made
knewn the existence of the alleged plot
should visit the General the next day,
that he might examine and cross ques-
ton him. Pending his arrival, General
Swain and myself were made acquaint-
ed with the case, and were advised to
watch the manner and bearing of the
man, with view to the detection of in
dications of insanity. In the course OF
the conversation the probability of tie
story and the necessity of action were
discussed. Finally, after musing awhile
Garfield said, somewhat sadly and i'm.
pressively: "Well, If assassination is to
play its part in the campaign, and must
be the sacrifice, perhaps it is best.
think l am ready" The examination OF
the following day disclosed enough oi
mental wryness in the informer to salts
fly us that the plot was an hallucination
and the subject was dropped.
now HIS INAUGURAL WAS WRITTEN.
Perhaps no better illustration Of Gen
Garfield's mighty endurance and capaci
ty for work can be given than that con
tanned in the history of the Sd and 4tl
of March. The Sd was passed in con
tinuous round of receptions of friends
and the important conferences relating
to his Cabinet; the close of the day bring
ing unwonted WEAKNESS, only to be fol
, lowed by u banquet at the White House
and the reunion of his classmates. Re
turning late to his hotel, some time af
ter midnight, he redrafted nearly three
fourths of his inaugural address; hi
faithful and devoted Secretary, MI
i Brown, assisting him in his toll. Th,
rough sheets uf this important paper
now in my possession, bear testimony 4
his indomitabls perseverance and will