The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-05
WILLIAM HENRY HEIRLOOM.

WILLIAM hIlNlS1 1EltNDON.
the biographer that he used his knowledge
most judiciously. as it is among the great
est proofs of Lincoln's inherent nobleness
of character that the more Herndon knew
the more he respected and loved him
Without superstition one can easily be-
lieve that man of Mr.. Lincoln's peculiar
temperament was nodded for the awful
struggle before him by peculiar personal
trials and that he could not go through
the experiences of love and marriage in
the commonplace way of most people. On
this matter Herndon was the one man in
all the world who knew Abraham Lin
coins mind. There was another point,
one on which many are yet sensitive, as to
which Lincoln and Herndon were long in
perfect accord, and that was religion.
Messrs Holland, Arnold and others have
produced a respectable body of proof that
Mr. Lincoln changed his views. Mr. Hern-
don certainly never did. He lived and
died q consistent and persistent deist, and
never believed that Mr. Lincoln had be-
come aught else.
The partnership between the two wac
formed on the Goth of September, 1S43, and
continued in active practice till Mr.. Lin
coin became president, and in form till his
uGdJn. l-Qc manner Oh us lOTUldilOu 10y
Mr. Lincoln was eminently characteristic
AS soon as he had settled with his former
partner, Judge Logan, he sprang up the
pteps to where Herndon was sitting in the
office and said:
''Herndon, should you like to be my part
ner?"
Don't make fun of me-" was the first
reply. Assured that Mr.. Lincoln was in
n 7
am too young, and have no standing and
no money, but if you really mean it there
is nothing in this world that would make
me so happy" Mr.. Lincoln Immediately
fell to preparing the papers, and so that
partnership was formed. They had al
ready become warm friends, and it was no
doubt the subtle instinct of Mr.. Lincoln
Gnat enabled him to perceive how COM
pletely he could trust MIR. Herndon and
led him to this apparently abrupt action.
Sometimes it would happen that Mr.. Lin
coin would reach the Office plunged in the
deepest gloom; then Mr.. Herndon would
retire, locking the door, and walk about
for an hour or two till the senior partner
had recovered himself.
1t was not desirable that clients 70 hould
see them at such times. In happier
hours the friends discussed almost every
question that agitates the human mind.
Through the early part Of their part
nership they kept no partnership ac-
counts, but simply divided the money as it
came in. But their business soon grew too
extensive and complicated for this Twice
only was Mr.. Lincoln more radical in his
anti-slavery action than Mr.. Herndon, the
most notable instance being that of the IA
nous opening speech of 1858, which con-
tanned the statement that "a house di-
vided against Itself cannot stand" ETC. In
common with every other adviser Mr..
Herndon at first strongly opposed the ut
terance of such a sentiment. In 1856 Mr.
Herndon took the remarkable liberty of
signing Mr. Linccln's name to the call for
all opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska act
to convene, including Old Wings and Abo-
litionists. For this act he was severely
censured by the friends of Mr.. Lincoln, but
the latter confirmed his action.
Just before starting to Washington Mr..
Lincoln said to him, Billy, you and l have
been together many years, and have never
passed a word Viii you let my name
stay on the sign till L come back from
Washington The tears came into Mr..
Herndon's eyes and be wrung the others
hand in silence. To the day of the assassi-
nation the sign remained unchanged, and
the business was done in the name of Lin
coin s. Herndon"
1t only remains to add that after the
death of his partner and friend Mr. Hern-
don continued to lead the same quiet, I'M
ostentatious life, gradually withdrawing
from business. A few years ago he pub
hshed a three volume biography of the
Liberator, of which a second edition, with
much new matter, has recently appeared.
Unlike many works on the same parsonage,
it IS not ford eulogy or an apotheosis,
1t is history and description OF the man.
Other unpublished manuscripts on the
same subject are left in competent hands.
Mr.. Herndon was born in Greensburg,
KY, Dec. Is, 1918, and was resident of
Illinois from 1920 to the time of his death.
.. II. BEADLE.