The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-20

Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis
were his friends before and all through
the civil war
In Turbulent Times.
1t is not surprising that DR.. Samson's
mind is stored with the most interesting
of "reminiscences, but it was Il matter of
wonder to me as sat with him today in
his room at the college and listened TO
ms talk that he could have known the
leading spirits of the turbulent times be-
tween 1912 and 1866 as he did without
giving rise by word, deed or look to sus-
plcion from either side; that he could
have gone through it all without having
taken on one iota of prejudice, and that
he could so clearly distinguish the good
in those who were personally of sincere
mind on both sides of the "irrepressible
conflict"
10 mention all the eminent men who
from first to last were members of DR..
Samson's congregation in Washington
would be to print q long list of illustri-
GUS names. 1t would include Senator
Graham Of North Carolina; Howell Cobb
of Georgia, speaker of the house at one
time and later secretary of the treasury;
William L. Marcy of New York, twice a
member of the cabinet-as secretary of
war under Polk and secretary of state
under Pierce; General Sam Houston of
Texas, patriot and warrior; Amos Ken
dali, postmaster general under jackson
and Van Buren,; Stephen A. Douglas,
whose aspirations for presidential hon
ors were then thought to be sure of full
fillment; Henry Dodge, who was a gen
eral i'll the war of 1912, later territorial
governor of Wisconsin and first senator
from that state after it was admitted to
the Union, and whose son was also at
the same time senator from another state;
ION Corwln of Ohio, secretary of the
treasury under Fillmore; James Guth-
RE OF Kentucky, secretary of the treas
ury under Pierce, and many others.
Jefferson Davis often attended DR..
Samson's church, although he was not
q member, and when the war clouds
tightening flashes were devastating the
land DR.. Samson was Oh moro than one
occasion allowed to pass from Washing
ton through the Confederate lines. Once
after long conference with Lincoln he
took message direct from the Federal
to the Confederate chieftain.
An Important Mission.
1t was also proposed that cargo of
cotton should be placed in Dr. Samson's
care, sent through tho lines to the north,
disposed of in the northern or English
market under his supervision and the
proceeds sent by him to relieve the for
eign missionaries. This was finally done.
with the full approval and cooperation
of lhnf Nv. 7 L.. 4
tiers to the missionaries from their south
ern friends were also forwarded through
DR.. Samson, and he was several times
allowed TO pass through the lines on re-
hgious errands.
1t was in 1853 that DR.. Samson accept
ed the presidency of the Columbian uni
versity in Washington. The discipline
of the institution down to that time had
not been of the best and it was hoped
that there would be great improvement
i'll this respect under the new admins
tration. One of the first things that the
ingoing president did was to call the stu
dents together and address them some
thing after this fashion,:
Young men, learn with sorrow
that there has been some antagonism
here between the students and the facul-
ty. Now we have certain rules. They
are for the government of the students.
You want to improve. That is what
you are here for. You cannot arrive at
the best results unless every student
does his best. l suggest, therefore, that
each one of you shall strive not only to
keep the rules and to progress himself as
fast as possible, but that those of you
who understand the location of the line
between innocent fun and mischief
shall take care of those who do not.
Point out the line to them and help them
to keep it. Let us create here an esprit