St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-15

1t would be in the power OF man to
give. The government of the peo-
pie, for the people and by the people.
While in Paris short time since it was
my fortune to enter into a discussion of
the government of the United States
with some of the representatives OF
other governments. | happened to
make use of the immortal expression of
Lincoln in regard to the government of
the people, and, although it was not the
first time, probably, that it had been
used in the city of Paris, 1t was pub,
lished in the papers of the city Oh the
following day, and since then 1t has
Travelled all over the continent of
Europe.
GA prominent Russian general once
said to me that he had often wondered
where all of the great men WHO made
such distinction for the United States,
during the civil war had come from. He
said that twas impossible for any of the
European countries to gather together
such an asSemblage of great men, and
he thought that it must be a strictly
American product"
Ihe archbishop concluded his elo-
quent address by pleading that all
should make of themselves pure Ameri-
cans, and to try and be as like Abraham
Lincoln as was possible.
The quartette then rendered the song
"Old Shady" after.Which the chairman
introduced Gov. Ramsey. who had been
persuaded to make few remarks. They
were as as follows:
Ey-GOV. Ramsey.
'Certainly there is Appropriateness in
the Minnesota cOmmandery Of the
Loyal Legion celebrating the recent an
nIversary of the birth of Abraham LIN
coin, who, by virtue of his office as
president of the United States was com
mander-in-chief of the army and navy.
which prevented the dissolution of the
Union. 1t is not quite SO clear why
should prepare a paper for this evening :.
however. at the request Of the recorder.
| have jot.ed down some "reminiscences
Uf the administration of him who will,
undoubtedly, by future generations be
considered the savior, as Washington is
designated the lounder, OF the republic.
Toward the close of my last term as q
member of tile United States house of
representatives from one of the districts
of Pennsylvania | boarded at the house
of a widow, who lived in what was then
known as the Duff Green row. OH
East First street, south Of B street, fac
ing the east front of the capitol, now
pulled down to make way for the mag
nificent library building ordered by
congress.
Duff Green, after whom the row was
named, had been fiery editor and
ardent admirer OF President Jackson,
| and the fierceness of his sentences had
! involved him in more than one duel.
One day at my boarding house a
| stranger appeared, and | was told that
| lie was Abraham Lincoln, the only
| Whig member of Illinois, who had been
| elected to the next, which was the Thir-
| teenth congress.
He seemed to be on visit of o5Ser-
| vation before taking his seat, but he
made no distinct impression upon me.
| and think, during his term as mem-
Der of congress no occasion arose to
| call forth any display of that force of
| character of which he afterwards proved
| himself 80 amply possessed.
His ability was brought out in his
| debates with Stephen A. Douglas. By
his clear logic, quick repartee and good
| humor, his fellow citizens were con-
| Vinced that he was more of a man than
they had hitherto supposed him to be.
During the second week Of APRIL.
1861, | was in Washington On some bust
ness as the governor of Minnesota, and
| Abraham Lincoln, who had been
steadily rising in the estimation of IL e
county since first | saw him, some
| fourteen years before, had the month
| before been inaugurated as president OF
| the United States Of America.
| ''On Saturday. the 18th of April, news
! was received that the Insurgents at
| Charleston had opened fire on Fort
| Sumter. That night the lobbieS of the
! hotels were full of excited men, anxious
| to obtain additional news. After break
fast Sunday morning [ went to rhe war
| department., and when ushered into
| Secretary Cameron'S room, found him
| standing, with hat Oh and bundle of
papers in his hand. ID
1--WE had been fellow townsmen and
friends for many years. and he quickly
said: L have no time to stop; am on
my way to see the president; what
do you want?' When told that
l came to offer 1000 men in
behalf of Minnesota to meet the
emergency that had arisen, he contin-
ued. Hurry. write 1t in official form,
! and l will take it over to the executive
mansion"
Messrs. Nicolay and Hay, l am in
| formed, mention that the president
was much encouraged by the protfer Of
regiment so soon from a state so new.
| and which then was SO remote from the
capital. Returning to st. Paul about
ten days after, l found there had been
| the fullest response to my pledge. The
greatest enthusiasm prevailed, not only
in the city. but throughout the state.
and on the I'd of May | telegraphed the
secretary of war that q regiment was
organized and awaiting orders.
From May, 1861, until my election as
! United States senator in 1868. | was
| wholly occupied in raising regiments
not only for the preservation of the
Union but for the protection of the
frontiers OF Minnesota from the inr0ads
| of the Sioux Indians, who had suddenly
arisen and scalped hundreds Of men,
women and children in SparSely settled
districts. The departure of so many
! abie-Dodied men to Subdue the rebellion
! had Quickened the desire to raise the
| War-WhOOp.
"When again returned TO Washing
ton to reside, everything was changed.
The deep green foliage, with birds fit
! ting among the branches, which had
surrounded the city in summer, a fringe
| of beauty, had disappeared and the hills
on every side froWned with fOrtifca-
tons, bristiing with cannon. The board
| ing house in which bad met so many
pleasant people had become military
prison, known as Carroll prison. and
| not far distant, the building which mad
| been erected as temporary capitol was
also designated the odd Capitol prison,
and here many captured officers of the
insurgent armies, and reasonable women
! during the war were accommodated,
| and charged neither for board nor lodg-
| ingS.
president Lincoln, by his simplicity
of manner. comprehensive views, alb
sence OF partisanship and great common
sense. commanded admiration and con-
tidence. On the 5tn of July, 1864, with
Senator Chandler and wife, Senator
Wade and wife, Senator Sprague, OF
Rhode Island. and Wilkinson, of Min
nesola, left Washington, and about 6
O'Clock the next afternoon the steam
boat in which we had embarked had
reached City Point, the headquarters of
Gen. Grant, upon whom we called. q
1.-The next day, the 7th, under the es-
cort of Charles A. Dana, the aSsistan.