St. Paul daily globe., 1895-06-01
LINCOLN In 1848.
Interesting "Reminiscences of a
Campaign of Long Ago.

Boston Herald.
Lincoln came to Massachusetts then
to take part in the political campaign
of 1S4S under the direction of the wing
national committee. The strength
which the new free soil movement had
developed in the state had occasioned
some concern about the casting OF It's
electoral vote. Lincoln was serving
his single term in congress. He Ead
some reputation as good stump
speaker in Illinois, and he had made
one clever but not remarkable speech
in the national house of representa-
tives. The writer came to know MIN
through his (the writers) service as
the secretary of a Whig club in the
town of Dedham. One of the courts
of Norfolk county was then in ses-
sion, and it was decided to hold a
Wing county gathering in the day
time, to be suitably addressed. Ine
fame of Lincoln va, not then such as
to point him out as the leading speak
er to be obtained. No speaker had
been agreed upon, and the writer was
commissioned to do the best he could
in finding one or more orators. He
Welt " 1cI w lIllcIi SCiiOulOl, NNAS@-
editing the Boston Atlas, who at once
said to him: II think we have just the
man you want He is now stopping at
the fremont house, and we will go up
there and see if he is engaged" We
Immediately repaired there and found
Abraham Lincoln. He said he had no
appointment for that afternoon, but
must go over to Cambridge in the even
ing. We told him he could get from
one place to the other easily, and the
Dedham appointment was made.
Mr.. Lincoln made no converse ton at
the time, except to arrange the busi-
ness part of our errand. He was reti-
cent then, and throughout all the sub
sequent proceedings preliminary to his
address. When he came to repair to
the railroad station a day or two later
he walked across the Common scarcely
saying a word. and in the car going
out he was not much more inclined to
converse. He gave the impression of
a man pondering the speech he was to
make, and then. and after he reached
the town, he appeared like one not at
ease in his atmosphere.
1t was his first attempt to address
New England audiences, and he did
not seem to find himself at home in
them. He was Introduced to several
people, but he had next to nothingzto
say to them. Some doubt was ex-
pressed as to what kind of a speaker
had been secured. 1t was promptly
dispelled after he had begun to speak.
The audience in the hall was not a
large one. The proceedings thus far
had been rather perfunctory, and Mr..
Lincoln had his full share in making
them So Gen. H. A. Dearborn, of Rox-
bury, presided, ard made fiorid OPEN
ing address, but did not arouse enthu-
siasm. Then Mr.. Lincoln took the
platform. He was dressed in black,
and Wore loose alpaca sack coat. He
appeared taller than ever as he came
before the audience, both his arms and
his legs seemed very long, and there
was not a symptom of grace in his
personal presence. The coldness of the
audience charged as if by magic before
he had uttered half a dozen sentences.
The transformation in himself was the
greatest of all. His eye, which at once
lighted up, transfgured his coun-
tenance. He had at last reached a
point in which he was completely at
ease. His manner was quaint, his
humor showed through his speech con-
stantly; his points were made with ir-
resistible pungency. He magnetized
the audience. He held them as by the
power of fascination. AS he proceeded
and became more interested he took
off the cravat which he wore, and
turned up the sleeves of the alpaca
coat that covered his 1Onp O rms This
unconventional proceeding completed
the captivation of his hearers. A more
delighted set of men could not be con-
ceived. He had not talked more than
half an hour when the car bell in the
distance was heard to ring. Instantly
Mr. Lincoln stopped. 81 cannot speak
longer" said he. 'I must take that
train to be at Cambridge tonight"
The audience rose as one man in pro-
test II have horse and carriage
here" said David A Simmons, a
lawyer of Roxbury, land 1 will take
you across the country to Cambridge
You need not depend upon cars" Mr..
Lincoln was ineXorable. II have given
my word to be in Cambridge said he;
''they have assured me that this is
the train | must take. / can't run any
risks" The speech was far from fin
ished, and a more disappointed audi
ence has seldom been left Mr.. Lin
coin put on his cravat, turned down
his sleeves, bid the audience good-by,
and left the hall amid an enthusiasm
in the greatest possible contrast to
the spirit that prevailel ] as he en-
tered it.