The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-08-23


great and very insignificant lawyer.
In the summer of 1857 Lincoln was
employed by Mr. Nanny of Rockford,
Ills To defend him in an action brought
by Mccormick, who was one Of the in
ventors of the reaping machine, for in
fringement of patent. Lincoln had been
recommended 10 Nanny by Il. b. Wash
burn. then member Of congress from
northern Illinois. The case was TO be
tried before Judge Mclean, at Cincin-
natl, in the circuit court Of the United
States. The counsel for Mccormick was
Reverdy Johnson. Edwin M. Stanton
and George Harding If Philadelphia
were associated OH the other side with
Lincoln The latter came 20 Cincinnati
a few days before the argument took
place and stopped at the house of
friend THE case was one of great i'm
portance pecuniarily, relates lawyer
IN Cincinnati who was a member OF
the bar at the time, land in the law
questions involved. Reverdy Johnson
represented the plaintiff. Mr.. Lincoln
had prepared himself with the greatest
care. His ambition was up TO speak In
the case and to measure swords with
the renowned lawyer from Baltimore
1t was understood between his client
and himself before his coming that Mr..
Harding of Philadelphia was TO be AS
sociated with him in the case and was
10 make the mechanical argument.
He Meets Stanton.
After reaching Cincinnati Mr.. Lin
coin was "a little surprised and annoyed
to learn that his client had also associ-
ated with him Mr.. Edwin M. Stanton
of Pittsburg and a lawyer of our own
bar, the reason assigned being that the
importance of the case required a man
of the experience and power Of Mr.. Stan
ton to meet Mr.. Johnson. The Cincin
natl lawyer was appointed for his local
influence. These reasons did not re-
move the slight conveyed in the employ
ment without consultation with him of
this additional counsel. He keenly felt
it, but acguiesced. The trial Of the case
came on. The counsel for defense met
each morning for consultation.
ION one of these occasions one Of the
should speak in the case This matter
was also acQuiesced in. 1t had always
been understood that Mr.. Harding was
TO speak TO explain the mechanism of
the reapers. So this motion excluded
either Mr. Lincoln or Mr.. Stanton
which? By the custom Of the bar rs be-
tween counsel of equal standing and in
tha Oh Of of "a oil
the original counsel speaks. BY this rule
Mr. Lincoln had precedence. Mr.. Stan
ton suggested to Mr.. Lincoln to make
the speech Mr.. Lincoln answered, No,
you speak Mr.. Stanton replied, Il
will, and taking up his hat said he
would go and make preparation Mr.
Lincoln acquiesced III this, but was
greatly grieved and mortified. He took
but little more interest in the case,
though remaining until the conclusion
of the trial. He seemed TO be greatly
depressed and gave evidence of that
tendency to melancholy which so mark
ed his character His parting on leaving
the city cannot be forgotten. Cordially
shaking the hand of his hostess, he said:
'You have made my stay here most
agreeable, aud / am Thousand times
obliged to you, but III reply to your re-
quest for me TO come again / must say
to you l never expect TO be i'll Cincin
natl again l have nothing against the
city, but things have SO happened here
as 10 make it undesirable for me ever 10
return. Lincoln felt that Stanton had
not only been very discourteous TO him,
but had pnrposely ignored him i'll the
case, and that lac had received rather
rude, il not nnkind, treatment from all
hands. Stanton, i'll his brusque and
abrupt way, it is said, described him as
a long lank creature from Illinois,
wearing a dirty linen buster for "a coat,
on the back Of which the perspiration
had splotched wide stains that resem-
bled "A map of the continent. Mr.. Lin
coin" adds Mr.. Dickson, remained IN
Cincinnati about a week, moving freely
around, yet not 20 men knew him per
sonally or knew he was there Not
hundred would have known who he was
had his name been given to them. He
came with the fond hope Of making
fame in forensic contest with Reverdy
Johnson. II was pushed aside, humili-
ated and mortified. He attached to the
innocent city the displeasnre that filled
his bosom and shook its dust from his
feet -
On his return to Springfield he was
somewhat reticent regarding the trial,
and, contrary To his custom, commune
Gated TO his associates at the bar but
few Of its incidents. He told me that he
had been roughly handled by that man
Stanton" that he overheard the latter
from an adjoining room, while the door
was slightly ajar, referring to Lincoln,
inquire of another, Where did that
long armed creature come from, and
what can he expect TO do in this case?"
During the trial Lincoln formed poor
opinion of Judge Mclean. He charac-
terized him as an "old granny" with
considerable vigor of mind, but no per-
ception at all. IF you were to point
your finger at him. he put it, land a
darning needle at the same time, he
never would know which was the sharp
est ~