The Delta independent., 1890-07-01
ONE OF LihcoLh.s LETTERS.
It was Short. but It took Him Five Hour
to Write It.

Francis H. Pierpont of Fairmont, W.
Va, who is in Pittsburg on private
business. is the well-known war COVER
nor of Virginia. In the course of AN
interview he said to a N. Y. Sun cor
respondent: "Mr. Lincoln's shrewd-
ness as n statesman led him to careful
ly weigh every word he spoke or put
upon paper. and to look at all his
official utterances from all points of
view and Judge of their probable eff
feet in all quarters. An instance in
point is his permission for the rebel
legislature of Virginia to meet for the
purpose of recalling the state troops
from Lees army. That permission,
given in note to Gen. Weitzel, occu-
pies but a dozen lines in Nicolay and
Hays history in the Century. but Mr..
Lincoln himself told me that its COM
position occupied five hours of intense
mental activity. / regard the letter as
n literary curiosity. l was the loyal
governor OF Virginia at the time, and
Mr.. Lincoln deemed it necessary to say
something to me about so extraordinary
II measure as permitting the rebel legis-
lature to assemble when loyal legis-
lature, with loyal governor, was in
existence and was recognized by the
federal government.
Mr.. Lincoln's note to Gen. Weitzel
read:
alt has been intimated to me that
the gentlemen who have acted as the
Legislature of Virginia in support of
the rebellion may now desire to assem-
BILE at Richmond, and take measures to
withdraw the Virginia troops and other
T,<, tbo
government. If they attempt it give
them permission and protection, until.
if at all. they attempt some action
case you will notify them, give them
of which time arrest any who remain.
Allow Judge Campbell to see this. but
do not make it public
There seems to be nothing very
wonderful about the composition Of
that order" continued Gov. Pierpont,
"yet it took five hours to write it-five
hours of uninterrupted stiffness, too.
for it was written between 9 p. M. and
2 a. m. You see Mr.. Lincoln's diff.
Guilty. He knew that if the rebel legis-
lature recalled Virginia rebel soldiers
the effect would be the same as if that
number of men had been captured by
Gen. Grant. Yet he had studiously to
refrain from recognizing the rebel
Legislature. and thus steer clear of the
loyal government of Virginia, and it
required five hours hard work to do
this to his satisfaction and evolve an
order which he could defend to all
critics. l think no act of his admins.
tration shows his political shrewdness
more clearly.
Mr.. Lincoln also told me. what is
not mentioned by Nicolay and Hay,
that he sent private instructions to
Gen. Weitzel to disperse the gentle.
men who have been acting rs the legis-
lature of Virginia in support of the re-
belion' as soon rs they had withdrawn
the states support, thus giving them no
opportunity to attempt any action
hostile to the United States. but do not
think that this part of the incident has
ever been made public.
The sagacity of Mr.. Lincoln is
shown in the events at Richmond after
Gen. Weitzel had shown the letter to
Judge Campbell. The president knew
the crafty men he had to deal with. and
he foresaw that an attempt would be
made to construe his permission into %
virtual recognition of the authority of
the rebel legislature. Such was the
case, for in the call for the meeting of
the rebel legislature. published in the
Richmond Wing. the committee an
nounced that the military authorities
of the United States had consented to
the session of the legislature in Rich
mond, and stated that the matters to
be discussed are the restoration Of
peace to the state of Virginia and the
adjustment of the questions involving
life. liberty. and property that have
arisen in the states as consequence Of
the war.