The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-28
An ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN
In a Very Perplexing and Embar-
RAISING Quandary Over the
Legal Tender Act.
A Jinaling Irish Ballad That
Brought Relief to His
Troubled Heart.
"a Good Irish Bull 10 Medicine for the
Blues"-A Trait of Lincoln's
Character.

The fight of legal tender had been won,
and won on the grounds stated by Thad-
deus Otevens In the opening sentence OF
his speech: "This bill is measure Of ne
cessity, not of choice" The act had been
passed and approved. We could issue
$780, OO, 600 in currency at once, $50, OOOOOO
would pay the demand notes, leaving
$1OO, 100000 to pay our soldiers and carry
on the war for some months to come.
We had also gained our first military
success. Grant had captured Forts Henry
and Donelson, and was pushing for Nash
vile. The clouds seemed to be breaking
away, and the future to look more hopeful.
was therefore surprised when one after
noon late in February, 1862, President
Lincoln entered the registers room with as
sad look as ever saw upon his careworn
face. writes L. E. Chittenden in Harper's.
He dropped YEARLY into q seat he had pre-
vions!y chosen, and after short silence,
exclaimed.
what have you to say about this legal
tender act? Here is committee of great
financiers from the great cities who say
that, by approving this act, have wrecked
the country. They. know all about it-or
they are mistaken"
4ON nave OOA0 4OUnAAk VI bAo AAuNS L
said. "The time for argument has passed.
Legal tender is inevitable. The gentlemen
you mentioned have made it necessity.
The people would take our notes without
the legal-tender clause. The banks and the
copperheads will not. We cannot risk the
country in their hands. You have followed
your own good judgment in signing the act.
The people will sustain you and Secretary
Chase and congress"
81 do not see that am exclusively re-
sponsible," he continued. ~ say to these
gentlemen. Go to Secretary Chase; no is
managing the finances They persist, and
have argued me almost blind. am worse
off than Saint Paul He was in a straight
betwixt two. I am in straight betwixt
twenty, and they are bankers and finan-
ciers."
You are right in signing the act" said;
that point has passed debate"
NSw that is nst whe. %. my mind i
run in debt still deeper. Our creditors think
we are honest. and will pay in the future.
They will take our notes, but they want
small notes which they can use among
Themselves. So far see no objection, but
accept in payment of your debt something
that was not money when it was contracted.
That doesn't seem honest, and do not be-
lieve the constitution sanctions dishonesty"
No more do l." replied. II do not
claim that legal tender can be upheld as an
abstract right under the constitution. But
self-preservation is right higher than the
constitution. We are warranted in making
any sacrifice Of property or political right
to save the Union, Gold and silver are be-
You'd our reach; our soldiers must be paid
and fed and clothed. We can issue treas
ury notes, and circulate them as currency.
Il is right and honest that we should give
them the quality of legal tender, provided
we return to specie as soon as the necessity
has passed. Ihave watched the debates in
congress. have read the opinion of your
attorneys There are those who
hint and suggest that legal tender is pro-
no speech in which that right is broadly
asserted. believe it safer to defend our
position on the ground of necessity"
II understand that is Chase's ground,
though he does not put it so strongly. We
shall see. We will wait to hear from the
country districts, from the people,"
did not interrupt. Then he said: "When
the old monks had tired themselves out in
fighting the devil they retired for rest,
which were called retreats?'
They did" answered; ''though Iunder-
stand stand they were for ;, spiritual rather than
IT think Of making this Office one Of my
he said. ut is 90 quiet and rest
full here. Do you never get discouraged"
II shall be delighted to have you" said,
ignoring his question. II only wish Icould
cay Of it, as Father Prout sang of the groves
Of Blarney.
"There's gravel walks there for speculation,
And conversation in sweet solitude"
s'Tell me more of that ballad" he ex-
claimed, cheerily. II like its jingle. What
an Irish conceit that is-'conversation in
sweet solitude"
81 fear cannot. must send you the
book. only remember,
There's statues gracing this noble place in,
All heathe n goddesses go fair.
Bold Neptune, Plutarch. and NicodaYmus.
II must have that book tonight" he
said. IA good Irish bull is medicine for
the blues"
He left the Office actually to the sound Of
his own musical laugh. he sent for the
book-a copy of Crofton Croker's Popular
Songs of Ireland. 1t is before me now,
priceless almost, when remember that it
once gave Abraham Lincoln some pleasure,
some respite from his cares.
This story may possibly be regarded as
trivial, but it tends to show with what
intense earnestness the president bore his
grave responsibilities, and that he seized
upon an amusing story or volume because
it diverted him for the moment,
and strengthened rather than weak
ened his capacity for his graver duties.
I think it tends also to illustrate the simple
honesty of his mind. Had Mr.. Lincoln
been preserved to the republic do not be-