The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-05-31
Lincoln. fir., Meeting wnh Stanton.
.Hafperss Magazine.

Lineoin's First Meeting With Stanton.
 .Hafpers Magazine.
 In the summer of isS7 Mir. Lincoln made hlx first visit 10 Cincinnati. He vas original counsel ios the defendants in a patent reaper suit pending .n the United States circuit court tor northern Illinois. The argument of the case vas adjourned to Cincinnati. the home of Judge Mclean, al his suggestion and for his accommodation.
 Mir. Lincoln came 10 the city a few days before the argument took place. and remained during his stay al the house oi a friend. The case was one of large i'm portAnce pecuniarily and in the law questions involved Reverdy Johnson represented the plaintiff Mir Lincoln had prepared himself with the grestes, care his ambition was up to speak in the case, and 10 measure x~ords with the re- nowned lawyer from Baltimore. IL was unders,oo between his client aud him self before his coming tha, Mir. Harding ot Philadelphia was so ke associated with him Tn the case and was 10 make the " mechanical argument" Mr. Lincoln was little surprised and annoyed after reaching here to learn that his client had also associated with with him Mir. Edwin N. Stanton of Pittsburg and I lawyer of cur own bar, the reason assigned be,ng that the importance of the case required man of the experience and power of MT. Stanton to meet Mir. Johnson. The Cincinnati lawyer was appointed " fof h.s local influence" These reasons did not remove the slight conveyed in the employment, without consultation with him. Of the additional counsel. He keenly felt il. but acquiesced. The trial of the case came on ; the oousel for defense met each morning for con nsultation. On one of these occasions one of the counsel moved tha, only two si them should speak in the case. This motion wzs acquiesced in. IL Lad aiways been under stood that Mir Harding was to speak 10 explain the mechanism of the reapers- So this motion excluded either Mir Lincoln or Mir. Stanton from speaking which By the custom of the bar, as between counsel of equal standing. and in the absence Of any action of the client, the original counsel speaks. By this rule Mir. Lincoln had precedence. Mir. Stan. ton had suggested 10 Mir. Lincoln to make speech. Mir. Lincoln answered No; do you speak, Mir Stanton promptly replied, will and taking up his hat, said he would E. and make pre- paration. Mir. Lincoln acquiesced in this, but was deeply grieved and mor,i. ! fed : he took but little more ln,eres, m the case. though remaining until the con olusion of ,he trial. He seemed to bs greatly depressed, and gave evidence o that tendency to melancholy which se marked his character. His parting or leaving the city can not be forgotten Cordially shaking the hand of hxs hos,ess he said You have made my sta, here mos, agreeable. and am thou sand times obliged to you but in repi, 10 your request for me 10 come again. must say 10 you ] never expec, to be IT Cincinna,i again. have nothing agains he city. but things have so happened here as 10 make i, undesirable for ms ever to return here"
 Thus uniowzrdiy met the frat iims Mir. Lincoln and Mir. Stanton. Little d,c either then suspect that they were ,e mee: again on a larger theatre, to be come the chief actors in great historica epoch.