Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-07
ARRAHAmL1NooLN.
Interesting "Reminiscences of She Mar. Havener.


 Interesting "Reminiscences R of she Mar.
 tyred President by a Prominent New
 Havener.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 l am reading with great interest the history of Abraham Lincoln as published in the Cen tury Magazine, and am reminded by it of his visit to New Haven in the spring of 1860.
 Mir. Lincoln's eastern journey of that year was connecting link between the great struggle with Judge Douglass and his nomi- nation for the presidency and for which Connecticut Republicanism should ever pay tribute to his memory.
 At the time under review the Democratic party had put in nomination for Governor Thomas H. Seymour of Hartford, for Lieu tenant Governor James E. English of New Haven, both strong party men. The Repub- licans again placed at the head of their ticket Governor Buckingham of Norwich. Fernando Wood was Mayer of New York city, and his power to help Connecticut De- mocracy was greatly feared by the Republi- cans, for the system of certificate voting in our State was then in vogue and the possi- ! bility of fraud by colonizing from New York \ in Democratic strongholds easy. I MT. Lincoln made four or five speeches during the spring campaign in our State, and with great effect
 So eager were the masses to see and hear ! him, coming as he did fresh from the com- ! bat in his own State, that in New Haven not one in four who attempted could gain admis- sion to the nall.
 Being one that failed of entrance joined large party of enthusiastic young men who l followed Uncle Abe, as he was then called, to Meriden on the evening of March 7th, when for two hours we listened to one of his great speeches.
 What he said and his manner of saying it is matter of history and needs no repeti- tion here. During the address he was fre- quenIly interrupted by Democratic ques- tioners, but always answered in a pleasant vein.
 One circumstance I vividly recall as the disturber was standing near me. Mr. Lincoln had been arraigning the Democratic party for misconduct generally and had commenced to ! forecast the policy of Republican admins | tretion when young man sneeringly called ! out, ''You haven't got the government yet, | have youq' MT. Lincoln did not hear plainly | and asked the interrupter to repeat the ques- | tion, which he did amid great confusion and \ cries of sPut him out," etc. Mir. Lincoln 1 kindly word, ooh, no, let him stay; will \ answer my friend. No, sir, we have not got | the government yet, but we purpose to have it presently"
 Prophetic words! How little we knew that but few weeks were to elapse ere he would be called to lead the Republican party to vic | tory.
 ! That Mr. Lincoln's Connecticut speeches brought Republican triumph in the guber- material contest of 1860 is beyond doubt, as the closeness of the struggle gave Governor Buckingham but 538 plurality iu 8 total vote of 9s, ,378
 On the return from Meriden my seat was ! nav in of Mr nd fho h0I{ l hour ride was replete with entertaining and enjoyable conversation.
 Having in common with our party been highly ineensed at the rude questions and in suits received during the lecture, I felt anxious to know what power controlled the l man in such emergencies, and to my question in that direction he made answer, viz:
 Some years ago my law partner as attor- I ney for defendant in suit in one of the To- cal courts in Springfield won the case. His sharp cross-questioning, added to the decision for the defendant so exasperated the plaintiff, that after adjournment of court he, the plaintiff, came to our office to whiI the lawyer that had so abused him.
 "My partner had not returned from the court room, but the defeated plaintiff could not while waiting keep down his wrath, and l commenced in unmeasured terms to defame my associate.
 |. "I listened moment to his epithets; then forcing the man to the door and lifting him bodily threw him full to the middle of the street. The plaintiff was small of statute and made no attempt at defense.
 1T never felt so mortified and humbled | in my life to think that for such trivia, matter I should lose my temper, and ther and there made a resolution to control my self in future, regardless of the provecation
 "That circumstance has ever since been ir
 my mind and always comes fresh before m,
 when interrupted or insulted on the plat ferm."
 | Rather lengthy answer to my question yet characteristic of the man and highly i'm
 pressive to the little coterie that gathered l about him.
 I saw MT. Lincoln once again at his second inauguration.
 The delivery of his address, the oath of of
 fee, the great pageant in attendance, 8 foul
 years war behind with the possibility of foul
 more ahead, all combined to fill my mind
 with awe, unrest and anxiety, but the inn
 pressive story of how he learned to control
 himself came fresh to memory and dissolved
 all doubt and fear and trembling for the safety of the government.
 Though the life of the republic was in
 danger had faith that he would govern
 himself, would so guide the destinies of tn.
 nation to terminate the great conhict-to ust
 his own expression presently. J. D. D.