The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-12
LINCOLN'S GETHSEMANE.
The Anxious Days Between the Election and
the lnauguration-A Giant in Fetters.
pringfeld Letter in chicago Inter ocean.

Springfield Letter in Chicago Inter Ocean.
Those days and nights at Springfield between
early November and late February were those
of constant and unceasing vigilance. Deter
mined that word or act OF his should bear
possible construction that could serve as pretext
for or extenuation of rebellion, he put guard
upon lips and hands. and neither by pen nor voice
gave warrant to treason in all that trying time.
The ordeal loft its mark upon him, for although
his calm and even temper underwent no change,
he became less communicative with those around
him, and drew within himself more and more as
the days went by. To the world Of politicians
who drew near him then he was as the Presl-
dent-elect. and 1t WAS In this Character that the
biographers have found him and left him. Had
there not been lesser world, COM
posed of the men whom he loved aud
trusted, much of the sweetness and
been lost These men we're among the contem-
poraries and associates of his earlier professional
and political career. They were the men with
whom he had rode the circuit, with whom he
had forded creeks and rivers, and travelled mud
dy roads; with whom he had gone upon the
stump either IS advocate or antagonist. These
were the men of intellect, broad, deep culture.
and lamb wit, contact and companionshiD
with whom had helped to raise him from n low
estate to az exalted station. He believed in
he revealed himself as the old Lincoln, burdened
with cares and harrassed by doubts and per-
plexities, and it is monument to their charac-
tiers and a testimonial to his sagacity that his
confidence was never betrayed.
Within this circle was Joseph Gillespie, of
Edwardsville. He was lawyer, eminent in the
several terms a legislator In 1860 he was
comparatively young in years, and but in the
prime of life, which then promised many future
years OF honor and preferment. This promise
was abundantly realized. for Mr.. Gillespie, reso-
lutely refusing to enter Office under the Lincoln
administration, pursued his profession and rose
1ota axraIr, f1Na nf linz
He was OF Irish antecedents, of genial wit and
humor. full of anecdote and repartee, a man
after Lincoln's own heart. To him, perhaps
more than to any other did the great emanci-
pator reveal the agony of his soul at that time
1t in compiling the memoirs of Judge Gill
lespie for publication, which his UNEXPECTED
death prevented, that the writer was. first i'm
pressed with the fact that the morning of the
new year of 1861 was a starless one to the weary
watcher at the Illinois capital
IL not until the dawn of that New Year
that Judge Gillespie met the President-elect.
Having come to Springfield. he called at the law
Office of Lincoln d Herndon, and there met Mr..
Lincoln, who, surrounded by Cabinet-makers,
said to him:
Stay with mo tonight can take no refusal.
have learned the value Of old friend by
making many new ones"
That was q memorable night. There was but
little privacy left to the family at the time, and
during tea, at which there were two other guests
besides Mr.. Gillespie, tho ringing Of the front
door bell was not infrequent. During the even
ing the President in consultation with
number OF gentleman who were urging the ap-
pointment of some Illinoisan to place in the
Cabinet. Mr.. Lincoln combatted the proposition
as impolitc, saying that if his occupancy of the
Office Of President could not command the undi-
vided loyalty of Illinois q 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
It was near midnight before quiet fell upon
the house. The family had retired, and Mr..
Lincoln was left alone with his guest and old
a. fefa FIVE hrvRn 1nxxy II
lights were shining only in the room where the
soon to-be-P President sat alone with his fdus
Achates. The scene, the associations and sur
roundings. and the personality OF the principal
actor. were all impressive. and, after the lapse
of years, they left the most vivid impression
upon the mind of the venerable judge, and even
dictated by him. becomes almost eloquent I'M
der the inspiration of his recollection Of that
strange night. Thus they
Il attempted to draw him into conversation
relating to the past, hoping to divert him from
the thoughts which were evidently oistracting
him. Yes. yes, remember he would say to
my reference to old scenes and associations, but
the od-time zest was not only lacking but in its
place was gloom and dependency entirely
foreign to Lincoln's character. as l had learned
Co know it. / attributed much of this to his |
changed surroundings. He sat with head lying |
upon his arms which were folded over the back |
of his chair, as had often seen 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
tween now and my Inauguration, to take the |
oath of Office tomorrow.
Why asked.
"sBacause every hour ADDS to the difficulties |
I am called upon to meet, and the present ad- |
ministration does nothing to check the tendency |
toward dissolution. /, who have been called to
remain here, doing nothing TO avert it. or lessen
its force when il comes to me- said the con- |
dition of which he spoke was such as had never |
risen before ands that it might lead to the |
aT16p ant of an nj IN fha
federal Constitution. 1t is not of myself COM |
plain he said. with more bitterness than ever |
heard him speak. before or after. But every |
makes the outlook for the country more gloomy. |
Secession is being fostered rater than repressed.
and if the doctrine meets with a general accept
to the government
s,Our talk then turned upon the possibility of |
avoiding war.
Tt IS only possible said Mr. Lincoln, upon
the consent of this government to the erection
Of q foreign slave government out OF the present
sse Pee 90 'ro no, u Ins.s TN. So upo ~
Gethsemane, whore the Son of God prayed in |
vain that the cup of bitterness might pass from |
Him. I am in the Garden of Gethsemane now,
and my cup of bitterness is full and over
towing
II then told him that Christ's prayer was not
and His cruci6xion had redeemed
Christianity, sosthe sacrifice demanded of Him
might be great benefcence. Little did then
think how prophetic we're my words to be, or
what a great sacrifice He was called to make.
ST trust and believe that that night before I
let him go, shed some rays Of sunlight into
that troubled heart. Ere long he came to talk /
Of scenes and incidents in which we had taken
part. and to laugh over my reminders of some
tired it was the master of the house and chosen
ruler of the country who saw to my room.
joe he said. he about to leave me, /
suppose you will never forget that trial down in
Montgomery county where the lawyer associ-
ated with you gave away the whole case in his
opening speech. l saw you signaling to him,
but you couldn't stop him. Now, that's just
the way with and Buchanan. He is giving
awav the case and 1 have nothing to say, and
can't stop him. Goodnight
The next morning Judge Gillespie, a lover OF
children during his entire life. asking the
little of the presidential household what
the patron saint of Christmas time had left in
.heir stockings during the holiday season Just |