The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-07-25

Witt County, ILL.,. in 1853. Ripened In
Was President.
From MHddclphid Sunday Irrss.
In the Summer of 1854 l became a
citizen of De Witt county, ILL.,, having
cmigratcd from Ohio for the purpose
of practising law. At that time knew
something of Mr.. Llncolns history,
having known of him while he was
member Of Congress few years be-
fore. found he had a very strong
hold upon popular affection, and stood
high in the confidence of the people of
the state. He was the leader of the
bar, and, although he was but As, he
was alluded to in popular parlance as
"old Mr.. Lincoln and in that con-
nection recall an incident occurring
while he was candidate for the Senate
against Judge Douglas in 1858. He
delivered speech at Clinton, and as
we were riding in the "inevitable pro-
cession" Of American politics, the
Small boy OF the period said to one
of his companions "There, there goes
old Mr.. Lincoln"
This was said in tone to be heard
by the immediate company, and MIR.
Lincoln was asked how long they had
been calling him old. Said he, ooh,
they have been at that trick many
years. They began it when | was
scarcely thirty" 1t seemed to amuse
him he was not old enough to be SEN
sitive about his age. The first time |
met him, was in September, 1854, at
Bloomington and l was introduced to
him by Judge Douglas, who was then
making campaign in defence of the
Kansas Nebraska bill. MIR. Lincoln
was attending court, and called to see
the Judge. They tailed very pleasantly
about old times and things and during
the conversation the Judge broadened
the inequalities of the occasion by
asking him to drink something. Mr..
Lincoln declined very politely, when
the Judge said: "Why, do you belong
to the temperance society,""
81 do not in theory" Mr.. Lincoln
replied, "but l do in fact, belong to
the temperance society, in this, to wit,
that l do not drink anything and have
not done so for very many years.
| LINCOLN AMONG YOUNG LAWYERS.
In 1854 and down to.the commence
ment of the war the circuit practice in
Illinois was still in vogue and the itln-
Grant lawyer was as sure to come as
the trees to bud or the leaves to fall.
In and among these Mr.. Lincoln was
the star he stood above and beyond
them all. He travelled the circuit at
tending the courts of Judge David
Davis district, extending from the CEN
tire to the Eastern boundary Of the
state, until he was nominated for the
presidency. He liked the atmosphere
of courthouse, and seemed to be con-
tented and happy when Judge Davis
was on the bench, and he had before
him the "twelve good and lawful men"
who had been called from the body of
the county to "well and truly try the
ISSUE" In every county in which he
practiced he was among his friends and
acquaintance he usually knew the
most, and always the leading men on
the jury.
He was not what might be called an
industrious lawyer, and when his adj
versary presented reasonably good
affidavit for continuance he was will
ing that the case should so over until
the next term. He was particularly
kind to young lawyers, and | remem-
Der with what confidence l always went
to him, because l was certain that he
knew all about the matter, and would
most cheerfully tell me.
l can see him now through the de-
caying memories of thirty years, stand
| ing in the corner of the old courtroom,
and as l approached him with paper
| did not understand, he said: "Wait
until fix this plug for my 'gallis' and
l will pitch into that like a dog at
root" While speaking he was busily
engaged in trying to connect his sus-
pender with his trousers by making a
"plug" perform the function of but
ton. Mr.. Lincoln used old fashioned
words and never failed to use them if
they could be sustained as proper. He
was probably taught to say "gallows and
he never adopted the modern "sus-
pender.'
LINCOLN AND M'CLELIAN's FIRST MEETING
In the commissions of nations, how
rapidly history makes itself. Mr.. Lin
coin was the attorney of the Illinois
Central Railroad Company, to assist
the local counsel in the different coul-
ties of the circuit, and in De Witt
county, in connection with the Hon.
C. H. Moore, attended to the litigation
of the company. In IS or SO he ap-
peared in case which they did not
want to try at that term, and Mr.. Lin
coin remarked to the Court:
ave are not ready for trial"
"Why is not the company ready to
90 to trial ?" asked Judge Davis.
1--WE are embarrassed by the absence
or rather want of information from Cap
tain Mcclellan.
The Judge said: "Who is Captain
Mcclellan and why is he not here?"
Mr.. Lincoln said: "All | know of