Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-02-01
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
EX-GOV. HOIbrOOl1'S Personal
RecOllcctiOnS
Recalled at the Grand Army Campfire,
Annual Eucampment, Jan. 30, 1893.

Recalled at the Grand Army Campfire,
Annual Eucampment, Jan. 30, 1893.
Veterans IF Termont:-
| cannot find words to express my salts
faction at meeting you once more under
such agreeable circumstances There is
mystic bond of sympathy between you and
me that is lasting, and indeed ever growing
as the years move on. | have always re-
garded you as in a sense "my boys and
many have been the cordial hand-shakes
we have had together. At the solicita-
ton of my friend, Col. Hooker, | have a
few words to say to you tonight, but of
the many things | might say, l have been
a little at a loss to decide what track to
take. On the whole | conclude to re-
count some of my recollections of Presi-
dent Lincoln. They must be brief, with
a number of things of interest left out, to
bring me within the short time allotted to
speakers, by our ever prompt friend
Hooker.
Perhaps l ought not to say it, but |
had the honor of being the recipient of Mr..
Lincoln's confidence, and he related to me
some of the anxieties and embarrassments
incident to his official position. He sew
eral times requested me to write to him
fully, and with entire frankness, whenever
l thought of anything which, from my
point of view, l deemed of importance to
suggest. He remarked that, surrounded
as he was by such conflicting opinions and
counsels, he was at times at loss to de-
eide how to act; that what he desired
above all was to know the views and
wishes of the "plain people" as he liked to
call them, and to carry them out as far as
he could; and that whenever he heard di-
rectly from them, he felt new strength for
the warfare before him. So l used to
write to him occasionally, always receiving
a prompt reply, thanking me for my letter.
| suppose that a letter of mine to him,
soon after the dIa-n battle of Antietam,
was the first prompting to call for 3OO,-
! 600 threeyears volunteers, that was made
soon after. l urged the calling out of at
least 100000 volunteers, emphasizing the
to me well-known fact that the President
"plain people" were everywhere in ear
nest to have the rebellion crushed, and that
the loyal states had the men and means tC
offer him to do it, and would promptly re
spond to his call for men enough for tn,
purpose; and if the authorities at Wash
ington hesitated from lack of funds to arm
and equip so many men, then, so far a
Vermont was concerned, the state would
at her own expense, put her quota of sucl
call into the field, armed and equipped t
the acceptance of such military inspecto
as the government might appoint, anl
wait on the government for reimbursement
at such time as it was in funds. The cal
came, but was for only 100000 men, an,
| at once wrote the President again, thank
ing him for the call, but expressing tn
opinion that it was for too small a numbe
of men. Very soon after came the cal
for 300, 900 nine-months' men. These tw
calls were effective in closing the war
President Lincoln was a unique an
wonderful man, of broad common sense
shrewdness and sagacity, full to over
flowing of droll wit, and of tenderness an
delcacy of feeling, and of very larg
heart. With all these he had a broa
mind, with self-poise and sef-possession T.
give it Just balance, and penetration to dc
tect any sophistIy, duplicity or self-right
eousness, of individuals or delegation
calling on him. The Presidents man
apt maXims and little stories, all the NOR
effective from being so unique, terse an
illustrative, were not only wine to his ow
spirits under discouragements, but were {
service to the people, cheering them whe
respondent, letting in fresh light, an
waking renewed faith in ultimate success
Such for instance as that of delegatiO
calling on him after the battles of Done
son and Shiloh, and complaining that Gel
, Grant drank too much whiskey to be il
trusted with the command of their friend
and relatives, and urging Mr.. Lincoln
/ have him superseded in command. Aft
( hearing them respectfully, Mr.. Lincol
l gravely asked them "If they could infor
him what brand of whiskey Gen. Graz
drank?" The spokesman answered
''Why, Mr.. President, we do not know
, and why do you ask as that question:
Mr.. Lincoln replied, so, l thought
would like to procure some of the san
brand of whiskey for some of my 9th
= generals" And again, delegation
Presbyterian clergymen called on Mr.. Ii
coin to impress upon him the important
" of prayer, that God would be on his 81,
. in the conduct of the war, and inquiring
1 him whether he ever so prayed. Mr.. Lii
coin patiently listened to them, and the
e thoughtfully waiting little, reptile
s "Well, gentlemen, it never occurred to L
II to look at the matter in that light. Il
fact is, have been trying my best to G
e on to Gods side in this war; and modest
d adding, 'and | rather think had bett
d keep on doing so,-do you not think so
n The delegation retired wiser than tn
came
q Mr.. Lincoln displayed his reach a
/ breadth of mind in the Gettysburg speeC
# production creating widespread admir-
IS comment, not only in our own, but in f.
eign countries, and especially among I
public men in the governments of Eurol
=, Its terseness was in line with the old /
~ man model, 81 came, | saw, l conquered
% While | have never heard that the crit
> ever attacked Mr.. Lincolns speech, TIL
have criticised that of the Roman; for TIL
N say that, short as it is, il contains thu
i'd propositions, two of which are superfluoI
F. for if he came, he of course saw, and if
n conquered, he of course came, and sa
al and therefore he needed only to have 81
81 conquered"
Or With all Mr.. LincOln's tenderness
E. heart and mildness and forbearance of tie
e. per, he had sublime courage to face DAM
to or difficulties, of which he had many
N meet. He was strong and firm as re
in acting up squarely to his convictio
b. which always were founded on honest p
n pose.
~ "To front lie in arms and not to yield,
81 This shows, methinks, Gods plan
ly And measure Of a stalwart man.
Such was he, our Martyr Chief!
Nature, they say, doth note,
en- And cannot make a man
"a Save on some WORKOUT plan,
- Repeating us by nOte
h For him her Old World moulds aside she tire
IT. And choosing sweet clay from the breast
NJ OF the uneXhausted West
Al With stuff untainted shaped hero new,
Wise, steadfast in the strength of God, and tr
1T. al l,nuu .ftfrU