The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-15
11NCoLN's TINE or AGONY.
,dpe Giuespio's Talk with the Presi-
dent-Elect

..,;o6 between his election and inaUgura-
.;on was one of anxiety to MIR. Lincoln
....,one must know, but few are aware of
the actual mental agony through which he
thon Dassed. He felt the necessity of rigidly
u ,sing himself in the presence Of politi-
Ia3dns and casual visitors, ard it was only
e, the ears of Old and trusted companions
.tot he ventured to unhurden himself.
3T,tbin this circle was Joseph GILLESPIE, Of
I7iwardsville. He was a lawyer, eminent
=, the practice of his profession, who had
ssarved several terms as a legislator. In
1SeO he was in the prime of life which then
,,romised many years of honor and prefer
rrent This promise was abundantly re-
ajized. for Mr. Gillespie, resolutely refusing
90 enter office under the Lincoln admins
tra+ion. pursued his profession and rose to
iatar eminence in the judicature of Illinois,
He was of Irish antecedents, of genial wit
and humor. full of anecdote and repartee; a
nan after Lincoin'S own heart. To him,
osrbaps. more than to any other, did the
treat emancipation reveal the agony of his
ssanI at that time 1t was in compiling the
memoirs of Judge Gillespie, for publica-
ron which his unexpected death prevented,
that the writer obtained the following
notes. 1t was New Years morning when
xir Gillespie, having come to Springfield,
don. and there met Mr.. Lincoln, who, sur
rounded by Cabinet makers, said to him:
Stay With me tonight. can take no
refusal. | have learned the value of one
old friend by making many new ones"
That was a memorable night. There
was little privacy left to the family at the
time. and during tea, at which there were
two other guests besides Mr.. Gillespie, the
ri ging of the front dOorbell was not in
frequent During the evening the Presi-
cpnt-eIect was in consultation with a num-
Der of gentlemen who were urging the
appointment of seine Illinoisan to place in
che Cabinet. Mr.. Lincoln combated the
proposition as impolitic, saying that if his
occIlpancy of the Office of Illinois, dozen
Cabinet officers could not do it, adding that
he had never doubted the loyalty of his
own State, and that it was the border
States which were the objects of his great
est sohcitude. 1t was near midnight before
quiet fell upon the house. The family had
retired, and Mr.. Lincoln was left alone
with mis- guest, an old-time friend. The
fire was burning low, and lights were shin
ing only in the room where the two men
sat. The scene, the associations, and sur
roundings, and the personality of the prin-
cipal actor, even after the lapse of years,
LETT the deepest impression upon the mind of
the venerable Judge, and even the skeleton
like history outliled in the notes dictated
by him becomes vivid with his recollection
Of that strange night Thus they run:
II attempted to draw him into converse
ton relating to the past, hoping to divert
him from the thoughts which were evident
" distracting him. Yes, yes, | remem-
Der, he would say to any reference to old
scenes or associations, but the old-time zest
was not only lacking, but in its place was
gloom and dependency entirely foreign to
Lincoln's character as | had learned to
know it, | attributed much of this to his
changed surroundings. He sat with his
head lying upon his arms, which were fold
ed over the back of his chair, as | had often
seen him sit, on our travels after an excit.
ing day in court. Suddenly he reused him
self
"'Gillespie,' said he, 4 would willingly
take out of my life period in years equal to
the two months which intervene now and
my Inauguration to take the oath of office
tomorrow
"'WhyP | asked
Because every hour adds to the difficult
ties | am called upon to meet and the
administration does nothing TO check the
tendency toward dissolution. /, who have
been called to meet this awful responsibility.
am compelled to remain here, doing moth
ing to avert it, or lessen its force when it
comes to me-
Il said that the condition of which he
spoke was such as had never arise before,
and that it might lead to the amendment of
such an obvious defect in the Federal con-
stitution.
1t is not of myself that complain he
said, with more bitterness than | ever heard
him speak, before or after. But every day
adds to the difficulty of the situation and
makes the outlook for the country more
SxIo ;- f,e
than depressed, and if the doctrine meets
with general acceptance in the border
States it will be a great blow to the govern
ment'
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 a foreign slave government out
OF the present slave States. l see the duty
devolvIng upon me. l have read, on my
knees, the story of Gethsemane, where the
Son OF God prayed in vain that the cup of
bitterness might pass from him. | am in
the garden of Gethsemane now, and my
cup of bitterness is full and OVERCOMING
Il then told him that as Christs prayer
was not answered, and his crucitixion
had redeemed a great part of the world
from Paganlsm to Christianity, so the sacri-
fee demanded of him might be a great
beneficence.
Il trust and believe that that night, be-
fore let him go, | shed some rays of sun
light into that troubled heart Ere long he
came to talk of scenes and incidents in
which we had taken part, and to laugh over
some of my reminders of some of our pro-
fesional experiences. When | retired 1t
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, i suppose you will never forget that
trlal down in Montgomery county where
the lawyer associated with you gave away
the whole case in the opening speech. |
saw you signaling to him. but you couldn't
stop him Now that's just the way with me
ana buchanan. He is giving away the case
and have nothing to say and can't stop
him. Good night'n
Inc next morning Judge Gillespie, a lover
Vi children during his entire life, was ask
ing the little ones of the Presidential house
hold what the patron saint of Christmas
ume had left in their stockings during the
holiday season Just over. The Oldest child,
Robert, grave, studious-looking boy, who
mad already outgrown the Christmas myth,
was careful, with all his fathers delicacy
and tenderness of feeling to refrain from
any expression calculated to dispel the
pleasing illusion which held his younger
brother Tad captive.
Papa received Christmas gift in let
Ter, he said to the Judge.
Oh, yes, Gillespie" said Mr.. Lincoln,
hurrledly. Il forgot to tell you that some
KIND friend in South Carolina sent me a
printed copy of the ordinance they adopted a