The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-13
SKETCHES OF LINCOLN.
Parting With His Old Associates
In Springfield.
RISE TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE.

How He Prepared His Inaugural Address.
The Firm of Lincoln s. Herndon Mis-
erably Uncomfortable In Strange Habil-
iments-Douglas Holds His Hat.
from "The Life of Lincoln" by William H
Herndon and Jesse W. Weik. Copyright, 1888,
by Jesse W. Weik. Copyright, 1892, by D. APP
pleton g. Col
XXI. -'~-'-:;r-:-....
Before departing for Washington as pres
ident Mr. Lincoln went to Chicago for a
few days stay, and there by previous ar
rangement met his old friend, Joshua F.
Speed. Both were accompanied by their
wives and while the latter were out shop
ping the two husbands repaired to Speed s
room at the hotel. For an hour or more, "
relates Speed, I'VE lived over again the
scenes of other days. Finally Lincoln
threw himself on the bed and fixing his
eyes on a spot in the ceiling asked me this
question, Speed, what is your pecuniary
condition-are you rich or poorS' an
swered, addressing him by his new title:
Mr.. President, / think l can anticipate
what you are going TO say. I'll speak can
didly to you on the subject. My pecuniary
condition is satisfactory to me now. You
would perhaps call it good. I do not think
you have within your gift any office
could afford to take. Mr.. Lincoln then
proposed 30 make Guthrie of kentucky Sec
Rotary of war, but did not want 10 write to
him-asked me to feel of him. did as re-
quested, but the Kentucky statesman de-
clined on the ground of his advanced age
and consequent physical inability to fill
the position. He gave substantial assur-
ance of his loyal sentiments, however,
and insisted that the Union should be pre-
served at all hazards
\ Writing His Inaugural. -,
Late in January Mr.. Lincoln informed
me that he was ready to begin the prepare
ton of his inaugural address, He had,
aside from his lawbooks and the few
gilded volumes that ornamented the GEN.
ter table in his parlor at home, compare
lively no library. He never seemed to
care to own or collect books. On the other
hand, had very respectable collection
and was adding to it every day. To my
library Lincoln very frequently had access.
When therefore, he began on his inau-
gural speech, he told me what works he in
tended to consult. | looked for long
list, but when he went over it I was great
ly surprised. He asked me to furnish him
with Henry Clay's great speech delivered
in 1850, Andrew Jackson's proclamation
against notification and a copy of the
constitution. He afterward called for Web
ster reply to Hayne, speech which be
read when he lived at New Salem, and
which he always regarded as the grandest
specimen of American oratory. With these
few volumes" and no further sources of
reference he locked himself up in a room
up stairs over store across the street
from the statebouse, and there, cut off
from all communication and intrusion,
he prepared the address. Though COM
posed amid the unromantic surroundings
of dingy, dusty and neglected back room,
the speech has become a memorable docu-
ment. Posterity will assign to it high
rank among historical utteraLces, and it
will ever bear comparison wits the efforts
of Washington, Jefferson, Adams or any
that preceded it's delivery from the steps
of the national capitol.
After Mr.. Lincoln's rise to national
prominence, and especially since his death,
I have often been asked if did not write
this or that paper for him, If / did not
prepare or help prepare some of his speech
es. know that other and ADLER friends OF
Lincoln have been asked the same ques
ton To people who made such inquiries
I always responded: You don't under
stand Mr.. Lincoln. No man ever asked
less aid than he. His confidence in his
own ability to meet the requirements OF
every hour was 30 marked that his friends
never thought Of rendering their aid, and
therefore no one could share his response
bilities. never wrote line for him. He
never asked me to. Twas never conscious
of having exerted any influence over him
He often called out my views on some
philosophical question, simply because
was fond student of philosophy and con-
oeding that had given the subject more
attention than he. He often asked as to
the use of word or the turn of sentence,
but if 1 volunteered to recommend or even
suggest a change of language which in
volved a change of sentiment found him
the most in1exible man have ever seen."
The Old signboard.
Early in February the last item of prep
aration for the journey to Washington had
been made. Mr.. Lincoln had disposed of
his household goods and furniture to a
neighbor, had rented his house, and as
these constituted all the property he owned
for concern on that score In the after
noon of his last day in Springfield he came
down to our office to examine some papers
and confer with me about certain legal
matters in which he still felt some inter-
est. On several previous occasions he had
told me he was coming over to the Office
"to have long talk with me-" as he ex-
pressed it Weran over the books and ar
ranged for the completion of all unsettled
and unfinished matters. In some cases he
had certain requests to make, certain lines
of procedure be wished me to observe.
After these things were all disposed of
he crossed to the opposite side of the room
and threw himself down on the old office
sofa, which, after many years of service,
had been moved against the wall for sup
port. He lay for some moments, his face
toward the ceiling, without either of US
speaking. Presently he inquired, BILLY"
he always called me by that name
show long have we been togetheri" "Over
16 years., " i answered. We've never had
a cross word during all that time, have
we?' to which l returned a vehement,
"No, indeed we have not" He then re-
called some incidents of his early practice
and took great pleasure in delineating the
ludicrous features of many lawsuit on
the circuit. 1t was at this last interview
In Springfield that be told me of the eff
forts that had been made by other lawyers