New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
LINCOLN'S TIME OF AGONY.
FROM ELECTION TO INAUGURATION

TALK WITH THE PRE- -IrENT-ELEC'.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Feb 2.-That the period pe
tween his election and Inauguration was one VI
anxiety to Mr. Lincoln everyone must know, but
few aware OF the actual mental agony through
which he then passed. lie felt the necessity OF
rgidly REFRESHING himself in the presence OF poll
tcians and casual visitors, and it was only ID the
Of old and trusted companions that he ven
tured to unburdcn himself. Within this circie
was Joseph Gillespie, Of Edwardsville. lie was "
lawyer, eminent in the practice OF his rrOless'oi
who had served several terms legislator. Ill
1860 he in the prime of life which theh
promised many years Of honor and preferment
This promise was abundantly realized Tor MI
Gillespie, resolutcly refusing to enter Office uhuer
the Lincoln administration, pursued his proies-
sion and rose to later emnence in the iudicaturc
Of Illinois. He of Irish antecedents, OF gehiai
wit and humor, full of anecdote and reparfee
man after Lncolns own heart To him, perhaps
more than to any other, did the great cmanclpator
reveal the agony of his soul at that time IL
was in compiling the memoirs Of Judge Olliespie'
for a publication which his unexpected death pre-
vented, that the writer obtained the foilo"Ins
notes. II was New Years morning when MI I'LL
lcspie, having come to Springfield called at inc
land Office of Lincoln & IIerndon, and there met
Mr. Lincoln, who surrounded by Cab'neCmakers
said to him:
Stay with me tonight can take no refusal
I have learned the value OF one old friend pS
making many new ones
That was memorable night. There WIS httlc
privacy left to the family at the time, and during
tea at which there were two other guests besides
Mr. Gillespie the ringing of the front doorbeu was
not infreGucnt During the evening the PRESIDENT
elect was in consultation with number OF geh'lc-
men who were urging the appointment OF SOM
Illinoisan to place in the Cabinet. Mr. Llhco"h
conbatted the proposition as mpolitic, saying
that if his occupancy of the Office OF Ifesiocn'
could rot command the undivided loyalty oil III
nois, "a dozen Cabinet officers could not 40 IL,
adding that he had never doubted the loyalty VI
his own State and that it was the border States
which were the objects of his greatest soilcltuuc'
1t was near midnight before quiet fell upon the
house The family had retired, and Mr.. Lincoin
was left alone with his guest an old-tlme TREND
The fire was burning low, and lights were SHINING
only in the room where the two men SAL Inc
scene the associations, and surroundings, ana the
personality of the principal actor, even aiter inc
lapse Of years left the deepest impression upon the
mind of the venerable judge, and even the skeie-
ton-like history outlined in the notes dictated py
him becomes vivid with his recollection OF that
strange night. Thus they run:
Il ATTEMPTED to draw him into conversation re-
lating to the past, hoping to divert him from the
Yes yes | remember he would say to any refer
ence to old scenes or associations but the old-tme
zcst was not only lacking, but in its place was a
gloom and dependency entirely foreign to Lin
coins character as | had learned to know It, L
attributed much of this to his changed surround
ings. He sat with his head lying upon his arms,
which were folded over the back of his chair
as had often him sit, on our travels after
an exciting day in court. Suddenly he reused
himself Gillespie said he, I would willingly
take out of my life period in years equal to the
two months which intervene between now and my
inauguration TO take the cath of Office tomorrow.
" why {? 1 asked.
".Bccause every hour adds to Che difficulties 1
am called upon to meet, and the present
Administration does nothing to check the tendency
toward dissolution. l. who have been called to
meet this awful responsibility, compelled to re-
main here, doing nothing to avert IT, or lessen us
force when it comes to me-
L said that the condition Of which he spoke was
such as had never arisen before. and that it might
lead to the amendment Of such an obvious defect
in the Federal Constitution
cit is not of myself that I complain he said
with moro bitterness than ever heard him speak,
before or after But every day adds to the diff
0culty Of the situation and makes the outlook for
the country more gloomy. Secession is being fos-
tered. rather than repressed, and il the doctrine
meets with general acceptance in the border States
it will be a great blow to the Government
"Our talk then turned upon the possibility OF
avoiding war
at is only possible" said Mr.. Lincoln, upon
the consent of this Government to the erection OF
q foreign slave Government out of the present slave
States sc the out, dev1yins upon me- have
read. on my knees the story of Gethsemane, where
in hin hat fbp a IL
terness might pass from him. l am in the garden
Of Gethsemane now, and my cup OF pittefhes' 10
full and overhowing.'
81 then told him that as Chrsts prayer was
not answered. and his crucixion had redeemed a
great part of the world from Paganism TO Chris-
tanity, SO the sacrifice demanded of him might DE
o great henefcence. Little did think now pro
phetic were my words TO be, or what great sac
rifce he was called TO make.
II trust and believe that that night, before
let him 60, l shed rays of sunlight into that
troubled heart Ere long lie came to talk OF
scenes and incidents in which we had taken part
and TO laugh over some Of my reminders oil some
of our professional experiences. When l retired
it was the master of the house and chosen ruler
of the country who saw me to my room
joe he said, as he was about to leave me, l
suppose you will never forget that trial down ID
Montgomery County where the lawyer associated
with you gave away the whole case in his opening
speech l saw you signalling to him, but you
couldn't stop him. Now that's Just the way with
me and Buchanan. He is giving away the case ana
/ hive nothing TO say and can't stop him. Good
night &"
The next morning Judge Gillespie, lover OF
children during his entire life. was asking the ht
tie ones Of the Presidential household what the
patron saint Of Christmas time had left in their
stockings during the holiday season just over The
oldest child, Robert, grave. studOus looking boy
who had already Outgrown the Christmas myth,
was careful, with all his fathers delicacy and
tenderness Of feeling, to refrain from any expires
sion calculated to dispel the pleasing Illusion
which held his younger brother "Tadn captive.