New-York tribune., 1885-08-09
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
rRrApINa THE WINERIES ALONE.
,ur non. GEORGE b. LoaING's REcoLLEcrIoNs
OF 1851 AND 1885.
(Copvrfqhk 1881


a,shough had been attracted by the power Oh
.t,.nom Lincoln rs defender of the faith of the
rres Soil and the Republican parties from the
hsginung, and recognized the fact that no had
Established, with more astinctness than all his
compeers the great issue between the advocates OF
tho duty of Congress to protect slavery In the
Terr;tores of the United States and the opponents
Of that doctrine. upon which Republican Victory
had boon won, had never met him until ne
rrived in Wasihng gton n few days before his lnaug-
ration IN 1861. The story of his journey IRON
illinois to the Capital full of interest anu MS
arrival was hailed as step IN the estaonshhieht
of new power and new political policy LOT 'ne
country. He came when State after State had
withdrawn from the Union and he came WIN
determination that every endeavor should be MADE
10 bring those States hack to their allegiance inc
oueston of dissolution aud secession had
never boon presented to his mind as form'a,
,.ble and dangerous proposition. nor had
nv an,arent political necessity led him to
Feel that the views he had advanced as Repub-
,ican leader. should be modified or repueiated, IN
order To prevent the catastrophe which threatened
tho Reoublic. Tie contest in which he had been
engaged from the time when he entered the arena
against Senator Douglas had been an earnest
devoted, sincere strusge for the supremacy Oh
social and civil theories upon which he believed
free government and individual rights were
founded He had reached the scat of government
more of prophet than politician. In the heat OF
h;s ureat debate he had declared. with comprehen-
siou broader than q mere intellectual effort al do
not expect the Union to be dissoved do not
expect the housc to fall; but do expect it will
cease TO be divided 1t will become all one thing OF
oil the other"
He reached Washington, however, to find
that the trials of the crisis had apparently
diss,paied the faith OF his followers. anu to feel
that he stood alone on that height from which ne
looked forth to survey the promised land of his
homes and aspirations. Mr.. Corwin, of Ohio, had
alreaiy asked Congress to declare that 1t was
shgh,y inexpelient to abolish slavery IN tho
District of Columbia unless with the consent OF the
States of Maryland aud Virginia" Mr. Morrill,. OF
Vermont. had offered resolution, "that neither
Congress nor any Territorial legislature shal pass
any law establishing OF prohibiting slavery in any
Territory thus acquired. until it shall have
sufficient population to entitc it to admission into
the Unionr Mr.. Charles Francis Adams had
proposed. /" that the Constitution be so amended
that no subseauen amendment thereto, having for
its object any interference with slavery, shall
originate with any State that does not recognize
that relation within its own limits, or shall be
valid without the assent of every one of the States
composing the Union" Mr.. Winter Davis
suggested that Congress should request the states
to revise their statutes, with view to repeal all
personal liberty bills, and further that the
Fugitive Slave Law be amended as to secure
trial by iury to the fugitive slave not IN the free
State where he was arrested but III the slave State
IN which he might be taken.r And committee OF
thirty-three members of the House had accepted al
these propositions the basis OF plan of reeonclla
ton and peace. The gloiy OF Israel seemed to have
departed.
Mr.. Lincoln found himself left with his
masterly arguments on the stump in Illinois and al
the Cooper Institute. New-York. the inspiration
of his triumphant contest for universal freedom
scattered to the four winds OF political expcdency
and compromise. On his journey he had avoided ali
discussion of policy for his Administration with
a keen recognition Of the confused and unsatis
factory cohnsels of those who had endcayorcd to
prepare the way for his incoming Administration.
He felt the necessity of prudence and caution: and
when he accepted the advice and protection OF
Governor Curtin and his friends at Harrisburg, and
took an unexpected road to Washington to prevent
every opportunity for disturbance, lo recognized
the importance of meeting the opponents of his
party and the destroyers of his country in their
stronghold and on the very field OF their treason
able operations He knew that the skirnish line
was no place for q commanding officer, aud that
defeit and death there meant disorganizaton of his
forces the overthrow of the object for which he had
been elected and political anarchy. In his journey
he exercised all his prudence and his wariness
against ambush; in his sudden appearances in the I
very midst of the enemy's camp he manifested all
that courage for which he was 80 remarkable ana
which on all occasions impaired strength and con-
idsnce to his friends and confOunded his enemies
saw him his arrival and when he made his first
appearance In public place. was standing in the
upper hall of Wilards Hotel, convrrsing with a
H. t.ll Of tIoE
crowded drawing rooms adj oining. As We stood
there tall and awkward form appeared above the T
stairs especially conspicuous it came into Wow
for a new and stylish hat 1t evidently Prosi-
dent Lincoln, whom neither Of us had seen before, |
aud as soon his presence was knowc the hall
was thronged from the drawing-rOOms He seemed
somewhat startled by the crowd. did not remove
his hat, wended his way somewhat rapidly, and
with mere passing recognition, and took shelter in
his room. There q manifest attempt on his part
to brace himself up to the occasion, and an evident
consciousness that his situation was by no means
usual with incoming Presidents. When he had
reached his room and the crowd had dispersed, my
friend aud myself, who had opposed his election.
called on him to pay our respects. He received MS
with great cordiality, spoke freely of the diff
culties by which he was surrounded, and referred
to the support he had received in Massachusetts
with evident satisfaction. VI like your man
Uapksr said he, sand have tried to find place
or him in my Cabinet. but am afraid shall not
mite fetch it," He bore the marks OF anxiety in his
sonntcnance, which, in its expression OF patience
determination. resolve and deep innate modesty
was extremely touching. My old friend, formerly
representative in Congress from Ohio, now the
venerable and distinguished ChefJustice OF the
District of Columbia who adspenta at his farm near
Cleveland long summer day with Senator Douglas
the year before the great Convention OF 1860
discussing the important issues before the country
and the prospects of the candidacy of the Republic
a,,d of fhe nOIltlca1