New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-23
,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
rv,n,xEss AND HIS ACCURACY.



Early in June, 1862, in response 70 an nv hin,
Far, .s.,or Wilmot of Pennsylvania, to JOIN MN
iro,n ator Wilson. of Massachusetts, IN accom-
an" deputation of Pennsylvanians 10 'n0
P.;ua Chamber. repaired to the anteroo'l''
found the Senators with from a dozen W
WIZ 40 rnest people who represented nlnaepehu-
t~'" .,;r;o,s orcanzation which attached higner
CIV ao g inheritance to purity of life ana unse"Sh
than To the acceptance of theologicai Jog
-. ond who had been charged by the yearly n,'o'-
go Of their association to present n,nu"
Az president on the subject Of slavery ana 'n0 ivy
- ;nmrdiate emancipation. The minute h"u' ="
.,.ordonce with the usage of Friends peen c"f0,
Iii, ;nscrbed and was in the hands OF MEMBER oi
.he deleuation who would read it DISTINCTLY.
a. .ha apnointed time, u messenger notified tne
ca,ators that the President was ready 10 receNo
.ho Marty We who knew Mr.. Lincoln felt ihstlnco-
;velv ON coming into his presence thh' ,no 'i''o
wos inopportune The air was full OF eVii ru'ho,
from the Peninsula and the President had eV'oon.S
nasscd night of anxiety. He, however gave UIo
denutaton q cordial though BRIEF greetins' Inv
cuests who we're all strangers TO the u'
not perceive, as Others did. an uhu'u"' az -.
;w,stience in his manner. as ne ahhounoou '"AS
no was ready to hear from the friends
The delegate charged with the presentation Oh
Al. minnie advanced and proceeded to read the
contents of the attested document.
r,e President did not seem to recognize the fact
chat in reading it he performed ministerial
sanction. and apparently held him Responsible iot
what the Yearly Meeting had prepared ldid NOT
'..,rn. En- charge my memory with the substance
- the minuta It, however. soon appeared that 10
h.a raminded the President that, while he was yet
. citizen he had said IL believe that this Gov
cr,ment cannot permanently endure half slave ana
1x.1
half free and from this dsiointed quotation mao
1aduced suggestion Of his failure to perform MS
dutv rs he had then seen it, That he was sharply
aasrieved by something that was said became
apparent to every one
Having finished it. the reader handed the scroll to
the President, who Strengthened himself to his full
height and with an asperity of manner of which he
had not previously seemed to be capable said; at
Il trne that on the 18th of June. 1853. said: Il
believe that this Government cannot permanently
endure half slave and half Free but said 1t In
connection with other things from which it should
NOT have been separated in an address discussing
moral obligations; for this is case in which the
rsnetition of half truth, in connection with the
remarks lust read, produces the effect OF whole
falsehood. What did say was II we could hrst
know where we are and whittier we are tending,
we .oald better Judge what to do and how to do It,
We are now far into the fifth year since policy
was initiated with the avowed object and confident
,romise of uniting an end to the slavery agitation
finder the operation of that policy that agitation
has NOT only not ceased but has constantly
augmented. In my opinion it will not cease until
a cr;ss shal lhaye been reached and passed. Z" A
bouse divided against itself cannot stand"
baleve that this Government cannot permanently
sdure half slave and half free. do not expect the
Union TO be dissoved-I do not expect the house to
fall-but I do expect that 1t will cease to be
divided. 1t will become all one thing or all the
other. Either the opponents OF slavery Will arrest
the further spread of it. aud place it where the
public mind shall rest in the belief that 1t is In the
course of ultimate extinction or Its advocates VIII
push il forward till it shall become alike lawful in
all the States old as well as new North as we'll as
Soutb.'. Take this statement as whole and it
does not furnish text for the homily to which This
audience has listened"
Mr. Lincoln evidently supposed that he had
terminated the ceremonies, and was turning to his
desk when one OF the women of the delegation
stepped toward.him and begged permisscnIto detain
him while she bore brief testimony. With an cir
of ,l-subdued mpatience he said 81 will hear the
Friend" The testimony ostensbly o plea in
behalf of the slave but II evidently intended
as an indirect plea for the fuller recognition OF
woman In governmental matters; for the speaker,
after reminding the President that when the
children of Israel had been terribly wronged and
oppressed for twenty years. and had cried unto the
Lord for deliverance, He had appointed Deborah,
who was a prophecies and judged Israel at that
time, to overthrow their oppressors and emancipate
hem. and that Deborah had concur against Sisera
whom the Lord discounted. with all his troops and
all his hosts. 80 that Sisera leaped down off his
chariot and fed away on his feet. Having elabor-
sted this Biblical example. the speaker assumed
hat the President was. as Deborah had been, the
appointed minister of the Lord, aud proceeded to
ell him that it was his duty to follow thu example
If Deborah. and forthwith abolish slavery and
establish freedom throughout the land as the Lord
had appointed him to do.
alas the Friend finished p said the President as
The ceased to speak. Having received an affirmative
answer. he said: II have neither time nor
disposition 20 enter into discussion it'll the Friend
md end this occasion by suggesting for her
the question, whether. if it be true
hat the Lord has appointed me to do the work sue
las indicated, it 10 not probable that He would
AVE communicated knowledge of the fact to me as
veil as to ber"
Having called one morning little earlier than
,sual in the hope of having q brief confidential
interview with the President, I found the field
and, while waited. Senator Wilson,
# Massachusetts, entered the chamber having with
lin four Euglishmen of ripe years and dignifed
,caring.
The President had evidently had an early
appointment. and had not completed his toilet. He
ras in slippers and his pantaoons, when he crossed
me knee over the other. disclosed the fact that he
xore heavy blue woolleu stockings As, in tho
iquette of calls upon the Executive. Senator'S take
precedence of Members of the House. found that
ny chance for anything like private conversation
vas at an end; but, a. I had breakfasted at the
arne table with the gentlemen whom the Senator
yas about to present, and could not avoid hearing
heir conversation, felt that would be repaid by
heir proposed interview it'll the President, and
waited as others were doing.
1t I'm agreeable surprise to learn that the chief