The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-02-09
THE GENIAL LINCOLN.
CorataI Recebt1on BY the President Elect Of a
Petition From Nc70sbaber Men.
copyright, 1899. ~ c. T. Button.l

Soon after the presidential election
of 1860 petitions were circulated among
prominent journalists and periodical
publishers in New York and other east
ern cities, regardless of their political
affiliations. recommending to the pres
ident elect Schuyler Colfax of Indiana
for postmaster general. Mr.. ColfaX was
at the time member of congress and
as chairman of the house committee on
postottices and post roads introduced
measures commended by the press gen.
orally. Moreover he was an old news
paper man, and this, 1t was thought,
would predispose the craft in his ia
vor. With but few exceptions. the de-
sired autographs signatures were OBJ
tanned Harper & Bros. heading the
list. Among these exceptions may be
mentioned Charles A. Dana, Henry S.
Raymond, who were absent from the
city nj the time; Horace Greeley, and
James Gordon Bennett. Messrs. Gree
ley and bennett based their refusal up
on the same general idea-viz, that Mr..
Colfax was then in his proper sphere
and it would be folly to take him from
the congress and shelve him in the cab
met. When Mr.. Lincoln was told of
this later, he replied, II reckon they
are about right"
Mr.. Bennett, however, emphasized
his refusal by stating that it was an in
flexible rule with him not to sign petit
tons recommending persons for pub
IL. l. 4. 4.
able to serve Mr.. Colfax in some other
way. He Is a rising and deserving
young man. 1 know him we'll" AS
the names of Frederick Hudson, Alex
ander Hall and others connected with
The Herald office were enrolled, il Is
to be presumed there was an under
standing between Mr.. Bennett and Mr.
Hudson regarding the matter.
When the New York city list was
completed, the names received from
other cities were added and the whole
was elegantly bound and so arranged as
to present a fiat surface when unrolled.
| was delegated to present the petition
| to Mr.. Lincoln, took it to Springfield,
and went directly to his residence. In
| front of 1t found two men who eyed
! me and the roll carried, yet asked no
! questions. | took them to be detect
| ives and later found my surmise was
/ correct. As stepped upon the portico
a messenger met me and asked my
| business. 81 am an acquaintance OF
Mrs. Lincoln. Please hand her my
card" Mrs. Lincoln came out into the
hall, greeted me kindly, saying that
Mr. Lincoln and friends were occupy
ing the parlor on private matters, and
asked me into the dining room. eN-
cused my intrusion upon her privacy,
told her my business and my desire to
present the petition privately. After
a little 'destltory conversation, in
course of which she stated that she
would be pleased to arrange for the
interview, as she was warm friend
of both Mr.. and Mrs. ColfaX. she re-
quested me to call on her again that
evening. AS l was leaving she said to
the man at the door, when this gen.
tleman calls tonight. bring him again
into the dining room" | made the
call about 3 p. IN. | found Mrs. Lin
coin waiting for me. and very shortly
Mr.. Lincoln himself came in. He led
me to bedroom adjoining, gave me
a chair and sat down upon the bed to
unroll the petition. After glance at
it he said: THAT Is a good showing
Does Colfax know anything Of it" |
told him l thought not. For a few
moments thereafter he seemed to be
musing, with half closed eyes, as
had often seen him on the rostrum
during the great debate when Judge
Douglas would make some new point
Rouslng himself from his reverie he
said: IL hardly understood from Mrs
Lincoln the exact nature of your bust
ness, although she informed me 1t had
something to do with Mr.. ColfaX.
find this paper most interesting, as il
brings up pleasant recollections.
must go over the list one by one For
tunately this is my public reception
night and 1t does not Come Off till 8
o'clock. and | have no private engage
ments for the evening. Mrs. Lincoln
also will be interested. We will return
to the dining room where there is a
better light"
Here he called to the messenger and
gave instructions to avoid Interruption
cannot hope after this long interval
of time to give his exact words or re-
call incidents in chronological order,
but the substance herein given is cor
rect, Seated at the long extension ia
BILE, with the petition before him, Mrs,
Lincoln at his right, he commenced the
work, reading the names and comment
ing thereon. Harper & Bros" II
met the ex-mayor when last in New
York; fine man; good adviser. We
must have him in our kitchen cabinet"