The record-union., 1896-04-09


raising Of the green flag is q call from
Heaven. If a holy war begins In the
Soudan the consequences will be terrible
to the Egypto-English forces now ad-
vancing up the Nile.
LINCOLN AS A POLITICIAN. +
How He Secured the Adoption Of the
Thirteenth Amendment.
Lincoln was a supreme politician, and
he was a politician who understood
politics, because he understood human
nature. And finally the idea was con-
ceived that the Constitution of the
United States should be amended SO
that slavery should be prohibited In
the Constitution That was change
in our policy, and 1t was also g. most
important military measure. 1t was
intended not merely as means OF pro-
hibiting slavery and decreeing its abo-
lition, but as a means Of affecting the
judgment and the feeling and the anti
cipation of those in rebellion 1t was
believed that the amendment to the
Constitution would be equivalent to
new armies in the field, equivalent to
sending a hundred thousand men to
fight, because this would be an intel
lectual army, and an intellectual force
that would tend to paralyze the enemy
and break the continuity of his idea.
In order to amend the Constitution 1t
was necessary first to have the pro-
posed amendment approved by two
thirds of the States, and when that
question came to be considered the is
sue was seen to be SO close that one
State more was necessary. Then the
State Of Nevada was organized to an
swer the purpose, and was admitted to
the Union. / have heard people some
times complain of Nevada as a super
fluous and petty State, not big enough
to be a State: but when 1 hear that
complaint 1 always think Of Abraham
Lincoln's saying: 1T is easier to ad-
nit Nevada than to raise another mill
ion of soldiers"
Well when the question finally came
around to be voted upon in the House Of
Representatives, it required three-quar-
ters of the votes, and this vote, this final
decision, was canvassed earnestly, in
tensely, most anxiously for a long time
beforehand. At last, late one afternoon,
the President came into my Office, a
room in the third story Of the War De-
partment. He used to come there some
times rather than send for me, because
he was very fond Of walking, and liked
to go about a good deal. He came in
and shut the door.
Dana" he said, IT am very anxious
about that vote. 1t has got to be taken
next week. The time is very short. 1t
is going to be a great deal closer than
wish it was
There are plenty Of Democrats who
wish to vote for it, replied, "and who
will vote for it. There's Governor Eng
lish of Connecticut I think he is sure,
isn't he?"
"Oh, yes, he is sure, on the merits Of
the question"
Then said I, there's Sunset Cox
of Ohio. How is he?"
He is sure and fearless. But there
are some others that I am not sure
about. There are three that you can
deal with better than anybody else, per-
haps, as you know them all. wish you
would send for them"
He told me who they were. It isn't
necessary to repeat names here. One
man was from New Jersey and two
from New York.
What will they be likely to want?" !
asked.
II don't know" said the President; 81
don't know. It makes no difference,
though, that we carry this vote or be
compelled to raise another million and
don't know how many more men, and
fight no one knows how long. 1t Is a
question OF three votes or new armies. +"
"Well, SIR" said I, what shall I say
to these genuemen?"
II don't KNOW" said he, 'but I say
this to you, that whatever promise you
make to these men, will perform it.''
Well, now, this is a fact that do not
think is recorded in any history. don't
believe my friend, Thomas c. Acton,
who sits back there, ever heard Of it be-
fore. I sent for the men, and saw them
one by one. I found that they were
afraid Of their party. They said that
some fellows In the party would be down
on them. Two Of them wanted Internal
Revenue Collectors appointed. Said I
"You shall have it." Another one want
ed a very important appointment about
the Custom-house of New York.
knew the man well whom he wanted to
have appointed. He was a Republican,
though the Congressman was a Demo-
crat. had served with him in the Re-
publican party County Committee OF
New York. The office was worth per-
haps $4,000 a year. When the Con-
gressman stated the case asked him
do you want that?"
YES" said he.
Well" I answered, "you shall have
it."
II understand, of course" said he,
that you are not saying this on your
own authority
ooh, no." said I. IT am saying it on
the authority Of the President"
Well, he voted; the amendment was
carried, and slavery was abolished by
constitutional prohibition in all of the
United States. That was done, and ]
felt that the little piece Of side politics
was one of the most judicious, humane
and wise pieces of executive authority
that I ever assisted in or witnessed.
(Applause)
But this appointment in the New
York Custom house was to wait few
weeks until the term Of the actual in
cumbent had run out. My friend, the
Democratic Congressman, was quite
willing. He said: That's all right; I'm
in no hurry" Well, before that time had
expired, Mr.. Lincoln was murdered and
Andrew Johnson became President.
had gone away, and was in the West,
when one day I got telegram from
Roscoe Conkling: "Come to Washing
Tor, ca I manf He said.