Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-22
LlNCoLN's SARCASM.
HOW Old Abe rooh on Gallant on

How Old Abe Took on Gallant ofHcer.
Abraham Lincoln, when a Representa-
tive from Illinois in 1S47-4S, says Ben
Perley Poore, used to pass an hour or
more every morning III the House postot-
fee, telling stories, OF which ne possessed
an illimitable fund. While relating a
story his face usually wore an expression
OF the deepest gravity, but when he came
to the close he would indulge in a hearty
laugh, in fact, laugh all over from head
to foot, and, il his listener enjoyed the
narrative and manifested his appreciat on
of II In similar manner, Mr.. Lincoln
| would only laugh the more, until his eyes
overlooked with tears in the excess of his
enjoyment.
Mr.. Lincoln made but one long speech,
which was listened to with intense inter-
est by the occupants OF the door and the
galleries of the House OF Representatives.
rms speech was delivered during the SEES
sion OF Congress Immediately preceding
the Presidential election, and was in re-
ply to one made "A few days previous by
! Mr.. lverson, a Representative from the
State OF Georgia. The seats in the old
HAN OF Representatives, at that time were
| arranged in semi-circle and divided by
i narrow alsles, which radIated hike the
spOkes OF a wheel from the area, which
was partly occupied by the clerks desk
and the Speakers chair A broad aisle,
extending from the centre door to the
| clerks desk, divided the hall into two
| equal parts. The seats on one side OF this
aisle were occupied by the members be-
longing to the Democratic party, while on
| the opposite side sat the "WhiR" and
! Free SOiF' Representatives. MT. Lin
coins seat was on the outer range, and
! near the western entrance to tue hall.
His speech was hastily written on sheets
OF iooscap paper, and lay on the desk be-
fore him
Alter speaking few minutes he aban-
doned his notes and trusted TO his memo
~ or to the inspiration Of his theme. Be-
coming excited, he commenced walking
/ down the aisle, his right arm being extern
| ded, and his long, bOny fOrednger point
ing towards the opposite OF the hail, to the
occupants II which mis- remarks were es-
pecially addressed, and by whom he was
listened to with the deepest attention
when he was not Interrupted by loud
laughter. His left arm was thrown be-
mind him and partially covered by the
skirts OF black sWall0w-Cail coat, slight
| ly thr9adOare, which hung loosely from
his shoulders. He seemed hardly con
sclOus of his movements until be had
crossed the area and stood face TO face
with his auditors on the Democratic side
OF the hall, when he would suddenly turn
and, rapidly walking back to mis- desk
glance at mis- manuscript and then resume
mis- walk. He thus occupied his allOt-
ted hour. military Coat Tails" was the
subject OF this speech. Few speeches
comparable to IL in witty sarcasm have
ever been delivered in the halls of Con-
gress.
The Presidential candidate of the Wing
party at this time was Gen. Zachary Tay
Tor, the hero of the Mexican war. white
that of the Democratic party was Gen.
Lewis Cass, Senator from Michigan.
who was in the military service OF the
United states in the war OF 1872 and dis
| tinguished himself as a volunteer aide-de-
camp TO Gen. Harrison at the battle Of the
Thames. In the speech OF the member
from Georgia the Wing party were said to
nave deserted all their principles and tai
ken shelter under the military coat tail OF
| Gen. Taylor. In other words, their chief
| reliance for success was upon the militia
ry reputation OF their candidate. In the
| course OF his speech, Mr.. Lincoln under
took to show that the Democratic party
were open to a similar charge, having for
nearly quarter OF "A century made pOlit-
ical capital out OF the military reputation
of Gen. Jackson, or 'Old Hickory as he
was popularity called, and not only max
| ing him President out of 1t for eightyears.
|
dents OF several comparatively small
men afterwards, and stlli relying upon it
! to make another. The campaign papers
of the party, with rude iikenesses OF Gen.
jackson upon them, he said, "proclaim-
ed that Cass and Butler We're Of the true
hickory Stripe while hickory poles and
hickory brOOms were their never-endinx
emDlems." Towards the close of his
speech Mr.. Lincoln made a humorous and
| 10 mi d tav- ~
! record of Gen. Cass, quoting at some
length from the stories then in circula-
| ton concerning his ValOr at the battle
of the Thames, where, it was said, he
broke his sword in a eft of despera-
ton" and winding up with the follow
ing narrative CT his own exploits as
soldier:
"By the way, Mr.. Speaker, did you know
| | am military hero! Yes, SIR, in the
days OF the Black Hawk war ] fought,
bled and came away. Speaking Of Gen.
| Cass' career reminds me OF my own /
was at Stillman's defeat, but | was about
as near il as Cass was to Hull's surren-
der, and like him, ! saw the place very
soon afterwards. 1t IS quite certain that
did not break my sword, for had none
to break; but bent a musket pretty bad
ly on one occasion. II Cass broke his
sword the idea is he broke it in despera-
tion. | bent the musket by accident. II
he saw any live fighting Indians. it was
more than did; but l had good many
bloody struggles with the mosquitoes,
and, although | never tainted from the
loss OF blood, / can truly say was often
very hungry. Mr.. Speaker, if | should
ever conclude to d0ff whatever our Demo
| cratic friends may suppose there is of
black cOckade Federalism about me, and
thereupOn they shall take me up as their
candidate for the Presidency, ! protest
that they shall not make fun At me, as
they have of Gen. Cass, by attempting TO
write me into a military hero"
Here the Speakers hammer fell, and
| Mr.. Lincoln returned 10 his seat amid
peals Of laughter and demonstrations of
applause from the occupants Of the ioor
Of the hall and the galleries, and some
minutes elapsed before order was restored
and the regular business Of the House re-
sumed.
TO SET TYPE BY ELECTRICITY.
| The Matter IL Corrected Before IL il