Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-13
LINCOLN'S REELECTION.
How the Great President Here Him
self when the News Cnue In,


From Hay and Nicolay's Life Of Lincoln in the
September Century
ITO Mr.. Lincoln this was one of the
most solemn days of his life Assured of
his personal success, and devoutly conf
dent that the day Of peace and the re6stab-
lshment of the Union was not far off, he
| felt no elation and no sense of triumph
over his opponents His mind seemed filed
with mingled feelings of deep and humble
gratitude to the vast majority Of his fel-
low. citizens who were this day testifying
| to him their heartfelt confidence and alfec-
ton, and Of keen and somewhat surprised
regret that he should he an object in so
many quarters of so bitter and vndictve
an opposition. He said to one of his sec
retares 1t is singular that l. who am not
a vindictive man, should always, except
once have been before the people for cleo
ton in canvasses marked for their bitter
ness. When ! came to Congress it was
quiet time but always, except that, the
| contests in which | have been prominent
have been marked with great rancor'
In the evening he went over, as was
| his custom, to the War Department. The
night was rainy and dark. As he entered
the telegraph room he was handed a des-
patch from Mr. Forney, claiming 10000
! Union Majority in Philadelphia. The fig
ures were 50 far above his estimate that he
said, 'Forney is little excitable' \ mo-
ment after a despatch came from Mr.. Eel
ton in Baltimore $4,000 in the city. 5000
in the state All hail, free Maryland . A
moment after there came messages from
Boston announcing maiorities for Mr. Hoop
er and Mr.. Rice of something like 1000
each The President, astonished asked if
this was not a clerical error for 400 but
the larger figures were soon confirmed
Mr.. Rice afterwards in speaking of these
astounding maiorities in districts where
there was never the least charge made of
irregularity at the polls, quoted an expla
nation made by a constituent of his, with
no rreverent intention, The Almighty
must have stuffed the ballot boxes.
The entrance of Gen Eckert who
came in covered with mud from a fall in
crossing the street, reminded the President
of an incident of his defeat by Douglas
| He said For such an awkward fellow
am pretty surefooted. 1t used to take
rather dexterous man to throw me. re
member the evening of the day in SjS
| that decided the contest for the Senate be
| tween Mr.. Douglas and myself was some
/ thing like this-dark, raining and gloomy.
/ had been reading the returns and had as
certained that we had lost the legislature
and started to 90 home The path had been
worn hog backed and was slippery. Both
my feet slipped from under me, but | re-
| covered myself and lit clear and | said to
| myself, 1t is a slip, and not a fall.
/ Mr. Fox, the assistant secretary of the
navy, INDUCED in some not unnatural eX
ultatiOn over the complete etfacement of
| Henry Winter Davis from Maryland poll
tics. Mr.. Davis had assaied the navy with
peculiarly malicious opposition for two
| years, for no cause that Mr.. Fox could as
| sign except that he was brother-in law of
| Montgomery Blair. The President would
not agree with him. You have more of
that feeling of personal resentment than |,
he said. Perhaps | have too little of it
but | never thought it paid. A man has no
/ time to spend half his life in quarrels. If
any man ceases to attack me, | never re-
member the past against him. All the
evening the dispatches kept the same ten
or of widespread success-in almost all
cases above the estimates. The October
states showed increased ma jorities, and
long before midnight the indications were
| that the state of New York had cast her
ponderous vote for Lincoln, and made the
verdict of the North almost unanimous in
his favor, leaving Gen. Mcclellan but 2l
electoral votes, derived from New Jersey,
Delaware, and Kentucky, 212 being cast
for Lincoln and johnson.
1T was two O'Clock in the morning be-
fore the President left the War Depart
ment. At the door he met party of ser
enaders with brass band who saluted him
with music and cheers, and, in the Ameri-
can fashion, demanded speech. He made
brief response, saying that he did not
pretend that those who had thought the best
interests of the nation were to be subserved
l 6tf 81 h.. ,ir,ss
ton embraced all the patriotism and loyal
ty of the country. He continued
Il do believe, and trust without personal in
tereSt. that the welfare Of the country does
qulre that such support and Endorsement he given.
this days work III it be as you assume, and as
now seems probable will he TO the lasting adyant-
age, If not TO the very salvation, of the country.
cannot at this hour say what has been the re-
suit of the election But, whatever il may be,
have no desire to modify this opinion. that all
who have labored today in behalf of the Union
organization have wrought for the best interest
Of their country and the world, not only for the
present, but for all future ages
Il am thankful to God for this approval of the
people but, while deeply grateful for this mark
OF their confidence in me, If know my heart,
my gratitude is free from any taint of personal
triumph do not impugn the motives of any
one opposed to me 1t is no pleasure TO me 70 tri-
umph over any one but give thanks to the Al
mighty for this evidence of the peoples resou
tion TO stand by free government and the rights
of humanity
For several days the torrent of con
gratulations came pouring in. Frank Blair
wrote from Georgia. where he was leading
an army corps under Sherman to the sea
The vote in this army today is almost unan-
imous for Lincoln. Give Uncle Abe my
compliments and congratulations. Grant
| paused for a moment in his labors in the in
vestment of Richmond to express his sense
of the vast Importance and significance of
the election. He thought a tremendous
crisis in the history of the country had
been met and triumphantly passed by the
quiet and orderly conduct of the people on
| the Sth of November.
The manner in which the President re
ceived these tumultuous demonstrations of
| good will was so characteristic that it seems
to us worthy of special attention. He was
absolutely free from eation or self-con-
| graduation, He seemed to deprecate his
own triumph and to sympathze rather with
] the beaten than the victorious partyn