New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24

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such an alteration" In the duelling corre-
| spcndence with James Shields the rising young
lawyer and politician appears to less advantage
His early letters 10 John T. Stuart ard other
friends contain many evidences of that morbid
/ feeling Of melancholy which was characteristic
Of Lincoln throughout his life, and which has
! been explained variousy by i-heaith, by I'M
fortunate love affairs, by the influence OF forest
| gloom upon pioneers and their children. ana by
! vague presentiments and forebodinss OF MS
career Of overwhelming responsibility. win us
! tragic close. IL am now" he writes, the most
miserable man living. II what leei were
distributed TO the whole human family 'here
would not he one cheerful face on the earth
Whether shall ever be better cannot tell;
awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as l
am is impossible; I must die or be better II
appears 70 me-" This is one out OF many lei-
erences to a melancholy which at times OVER
mastered him and carried him dangerously near
70 the verge of insanity Less painiui ana iii'ie
curious are his apologize yet unaffected appeals
TO intimate friends for sympathetic appreciation
of his poetry. samples of which are found IN the
! first volume.
HE correspondence contains meagre references
/ IN his business affairs and TO his professional
work. but there is a characteristic fragment
| made up Of notes for lecture or address on
! law The most honest Of lawyers himself. he
could not tolerate loose ideas about professional
honor There is a vague popular penel ne
wrote that lawyers are necessarily dlshores''
I saw vague because when We consider 10 WHAT
extent confidence and honors are reposed IN ana
conferred upon lawyers by the people. II appears
improbable that their impression OF dishonesty
is very distinct and vivid. Yet the impression Is
common almost universal. Let no young man
choosing the law for a calling Tor moment
WELD 70 this common belief. Resolve 10 be
honest at all events; and If In your judgment
Won cannot be an honest lawyer. resolve to be
honest without being a lawyer Choose some
other occupation. rather than one In the choos-
ing Of which YOU do consent in advance to be
knave."
IJncoln,s nr,vate correspondence from Wash
,ng,on during his single term in Congress and
his speeches and legislative reports and resou-
lions are repubished in this collection. but lack
the charm Of novelty. since Herndon and other
biographers have made an extended use or 'his
material in their biographies. The famous de-
bate with Douglas occupies a large portion OF
the first volume. and the text has been carefully
revised and filled out from every possible source
~ Information. So as to be the most trustworthy
record Of II in existence This debate not only
commanded attention for Lincoln as the most
logical vet conservative enemy of slavery In the
West and thereby opened the way for the Presi-
deutal nomination. but 1t also trained and de-
veloped the anti-savery movement in the North
imparting to 1t a constitutional character AS an
exhibition of intellectual sparring and contrO-
versial skill. there has been nothing equally fine
in the history of American politics. Lincoln's
series of speeches made in Kansas is als) brought
TO light. and the famous address at Cooper Ins;i-
li,h In, tba Iac an
anti-slavery champion. acting within the lines
OF the Constitution is reprinted with other
speeches made in New England about the same
time. His private correspondence before and
after his nomination for the Presidency pres ants
little that Is characteristics because he wrote
under rigorous selfrestraint. and was too old and
experienced a politician TO allow himself TO be
drawn into indiscretions in writing. or even into
exhibitions OF candor which might prove embar-
RAISING to him as a candidate. The first volume
closes with the patriotic and conservative series
Of speeches made after his election. while he Was
on the way 10 Washington.
The second volume opens with the first IN
augural address. & splendid example Of LincOln's
argumentative and persuasive style with the per-
petuity Of the Union and the execution Of the
laws in all the States the dominating themes.
and with this pathetic appeal for peace at the
close I'VE not enemies. but friends. We
must not be enemies. Though passion may have
strained. it must not break our bonds Of affec-
ton. The mystic chords OF memory stretching
from every battlefield and patriot grave to every
living heart and hearthstone all this broad
land Will yet swell the chorus OF the Union when
again touched as surely they will be- by the bet
ter angels OF our nature" On his first day in
office Lincoln confronted with the untlmely
disarrangement OF his Cabinet appointments
through the withdrawal OF Mr.. Stewards accept
ance Of the State Department. and he was con-
strained TO beg Of him TO reconsider his refusal
This probably the first letter written after
his inauguration and. although short. It bears
evidence Of the most painful solicitude. Then
followed five anxious weeks during which the
Administration seemed to have no definite policy.
the Cabinet not being able TO agree upon the
question OF attempting 10 provision Fort Sumter
and the President being finally forced TO decide
the matter according TO his own judgment
Then came the outbreak Of hosttles the proc
lamations calling out the militia and the voun-
teers and war as the elimination Of the ire
pressible conflict
Harassed and perplexed Lincoln was in
those early days Of vaclllation and uncertainty.
he was beset with offlce-seekers and embarrassed
by his own kindness Of heart when he found IT
impracticabe to reward faithful political ser
vice. Mr.. Colfax had looked for a Cabinet APP
pointment and had been passed over in favor OF
Caleb b. Smith Mr.. Lincoln was apprchensive
lest Colfax should consider this neglect polu-
cal reprisal for his action In favorlng the re-
election Of Mr.. Douglas in the memorable sena-
toral campaign Of 1885, and he accordingly wrote
TO him frank letter containing this passage:
When you were brought forward. l said. Col
fax Is young man. is already in position, Is
running a brilliant career and Is sure of
bright future In any event: with Smith II Is
now or never ! considered either abundantly
competent and decided on the ground I have
stated. | now have to beg that you will not
do me the injustice to suppose for a moment