Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-11-06
senator Palmer. ReminIseenees of

senator PaImer,s Reminiscences of
Lincoln.
From the Washington Starl
"'Lineoln never told 8 story simply for
ree sake of the story" sAsd Senator Pal
mer of Illinois, the other day. "HIs OBJ
ject always was to illustrate point. Ire.
member what was, think, the frst story
l ever heard him tell 1t was In Spring
field, and number of rs were together
one evening. With us was Judge Krum
of st. Louis. Judge Krum was a good
deal ont of humor with q local magistrate
who had decided a case against him, and
swore he wOuld carry It to the supreme
court and take the concsit out Of that
Judge.
"'That reminda me OF q man / orce
knew, who had dream said Mr.. Lincoln.
He dreamed that he was to hud 8 hidden
treasure in the earth, bat this he could do
only on condition that during the digging
for It he keep silent and say not a word
he sst out to dig, and great many things
happened that would have drawn sPeech
from almost any body, but the InEn kept
his mouth shut. A Tremendous infantry
battle went on near him, and a naval en-
gsgement took place In sight. The man
kept on digging aud said no. a word. A
giant came striding by, taking enormous
steps, and was soon ont OF sight. Then
dwarf came pTancipg along on his little
feet, looking as If be felt nine feet high
he came to the edge Of the hole and looked
In.
"'Say,' he said to the digger, have you
seen 9 giant 60 by hersg7
The man kept on digging and said not
word. Say, can't you give s civil an
swer TO q question: asked to dwarf. The
man KEEP. on digging and EAid nothiDg
'Oh, very well, said the dwarf. 'I'll Just
walk on and catch up with him pretty
soon anyway The man stopped digging
and looked up. 'Yes, you win,' he said
''Of course" said the senator, I'VE all
merely serves to chow his purpose in tell
ing stories. His hsighs, his lack of come
illness and bis storytelling were HE most
noticeable characteristics.
''Nons of u.s." went on the senator,
lever foressw greatness for him he
served one term in congress. IN the For
tieth, but didn's make any stir BE WAS a
candidate for the ssustein 1855. He cane
to me and asked my support. 1 was una
ble to give 1t and told him go. ss / had ee-
poused the anti Nebraska bill. and as /
had already had d row with some of my
party becsuEs of IL. it was necessary for
me to be more democratic than ever. /
nominated Trnmbull, aud on the frst bal
lot the vote stOoi about foriy-nine for
Lincoln, forty seven for Yates, and FIVE
for Trumbull. Lincoln saw that be could
not get the five of rs, and 81 he went
among his supporters aud made them vote
for Trumbull. Trumbull was elected, and
Lincoln came to our room that night Rnd
We promised to support him in the 6ght
two years later with Douglas.
That was a great campaign" said the
senator. his eyes lighting q with the spirit
of fight. ave cAnyssssd that state thor
oughly. Ii was during that campaign that
Lincoln made what consider his greatest
speech, beginning. United we s;And, d.
Tided We fall Douglas Won. however"
"When we proposed TO nominate Lincoln
for president, HornbloEer, The father of
Judge Hornbiower. VINO Earcseds Justice
Blstchford on the supreme bench, came 10
me and tried to persuade me to consent to
placing LincOln's name second on the
tIcket. He though. we ought to have some
known and tried msn Ike Seward 10 hesd
the ticket David Dsvis, who was present,
sgreei with him and demonstrated with
me for my obstinscy. hut ! steadily re-
fused. and whsn HornbloRer left, took oo-
cssion to give Davis piece of my mind
81 came to Wsshington in 60" Senator
Palmer continued, ION a mission from
Governor Oylesby. Some mistake had
been made, We thought, 10 the sppor;ion-
ment of tToops, and We had been credited
with several thousand men less than the
etste had furnished. After losing my
temper with the ovost msrsbsl found
from Mr.. Lincoln himself that he was cog
infant of the mistake, but hsd taken the
| them more easily there than elsewhere
| As had resigned my commission to come
| to Washington 1 asked Mr.. Lincoln TO ss-
s:gn me to duty. he proposed to send me
to Kentucky and told me TO come Up the
next day and talk 1t over
Il went and sat In the snte-room while
people passed In and out Of the presidents
Office. Finally the doorkseper came out
and told me to come In. Mr.. Lincoln was
in the hands of the barber, and had his
face latherod ready for shaving.
You're home folks, Palmer he said /;
4 had to shave come time, and 1 couldn't
do 1t before the Others We talked awhile
and fnslly ssid, If had known that we
were going to have q big war should
never have thought of going TO Spring
field and getting a ons-horEe lawyer for
president
"Mr Lincoln wheeled about in his chair
and thought he wss mad.
"'Neither would 1, Palmer he said.
| Neither would l. a man with policy
a great msn-Tould have ruined us. If
have helped to save the country, and TO
bring the rebellion to q conclusion, 1t has
been because 1 have had no policy. 1 have
simply tried to do my duty every day,
hoping that when tomorrow came should
bs equal to it,
"he was self contained man." conclu-
ded the senator, land so tender hearted be
would not have had a court-msr,isl zen.
tence carried out, so that congress was
obliged to pass q law taking the matter out
of his hands. He read the people he came
in contact with by a marvellous instinct
sad be had the kindest heart that evel
beat in q human breast"