The National tribune., 1900-05-03
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
CONTINUED from first page. }

give them a little lesson. He listened will
great attention, and seemed to be
much impressed by their presence and theil
statements. Then he replied, very de
lberately: Gentlemen, I am by the Con
stitution Commander-in-C Chief of the Arm!
and Navy of the United States; and, as q
| matter of law, can order anything done thai
| is practicable to be done. But, as a matter
of fact. am not in command Of the gun
| boats or ships of war; as a matter of fact,
do not know exactly where they are, bu
presume they are actively engaged. 1t is
impossible for me, in the present condition
OF things, to furnish you gunboat. The
credit of the Government is at very low
ebb; greenbacks are not worth more thar
40 or so cents on the dollar; and in this
cond ton of things, if l was worth half as
much as you, gentlemen, are represented tc
be, and as badly frightened as you seem to
be, would build gunboat and give it to
the Government" A gentleman who ac
companied the delegation says he never
saw 100 100000 sink to such insignificant
proportions as the committee recrossed
the threshold of the White House, sadder
but wiser men.
ANOTHER ADVISORY COMMITTEE"
Mr.. Joshua F. Speed relates that on one
occasion, when Kentucky was overrun,
Nelson had been beaten in battle near
Richmond, and lay wounded in Cincinnati
and Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois were
alarmed, and Kentucky was aroused, a
self-constituted committee of distinguished
gentlemen determined to visit and advise
with the President as to what would best
be done. Il happened" says Mr.. Speed
to be present at the interview. The COM
mittee was composed of able and distin-
guished men. Senator Lane opened for
Indiana, Garrett Davis followed for
Kentucky. and other gentlemen for Ohio
and Illinois. They all had complaints to
make of the conduct of the war in the West.
Like the expression in the prayer-book, the
Government was doing everything it ought
not to 90, and leaving undone every thing
it ought to do. The President sat on a
revolving chair, looking at every one till
they were all done. | never saw him
exhibit more tact or talent than he did on
this occasion. He said, Now, gentlemen,
L am going to make you curious kind of "a
speech. l announce TO you that | am not
Of you have asked me to do. But it is due
to myself and to you that | should give my
reasons He then from his seat, answered
each man, taking them in the order in which
they spoke, never forgetting a point that
any one had made. When he was done,
he rose from his chair and said, Judge
List, this reminds me of an anecdote which
heard son Of yours tell in Burlington,
Iowa. He was trying to enforce upon his
hearers the truth of the old adage that
three removes are worse than fire AS
an illustration, he gave an account of a
family who started from western Pennsyl-
vania, pretty well off in this worlds goods
when they started. But they moved and
moved, having less and less every time they
moved, till after while they could carry
everything in one wagon. He said that
the chickens of the family got so used to be-
ing moved, that whenever they saw the
wagon sheets brought out they laid them
selves on their backs and crossed their
legs, ready to be tied. Now, gentlemen,
if 1 were t. ne guided by every committee
that comes in at that door, might Just as
well cross my hands and let you tie me.
Nevertheless, am glad to see you." I"
WHOSE LEG WAS THE LARGEST.
Hon. Daniel W. Gooch, member Of
Congress from Massachusetts, who saw
much Of Mr.. Lincoln during the war, says
that one day gentleman from his District
asked to be introduced to the President
BE took him 20 the White House. and after
the introduction the gentleman entered
upon rather pornpous. discourse on public
affairs. urging the adoption of certain
measures, and giving a good deal Of advice
generally. The President listened pa
tiently to it all, seeming to be much i'm
pressed; and at the conclusion thanked the
gentleman, and promised to consider what
he had said. Then, turning to Mr.. Gooch,
who sat near, he slapped him Familiarity on
the leg, and exclaimed, 'Gooch, your leg is
a good deal bigger than mine! How does
your leg happen To be SO thick. and mine so
thin?" and so went on, laughing and iok-
ing, until the Massachusetts gentleman
retired, greatly pleased to think he had
made so favorable an impression on the
President.
HE FORGANE HIN.
Among the innumerable nuisances and
'cranks" who called on Mir. Lincoln at the
White House, were the many chaps who
sought 10 win favor by claiming 10 have
been the first 10 suggest his nomination
as President One Of these claimants, who
was the editor of weekly paper published
in a little village in Missouri, called one
day, and was admitted 10 Mr. Lincoin's
presence. He at once commenced stating
70 Dir. Lincoln that lie was the man who
first suggested his name for the Presidency,
and pulling from his pocket an old, worn,
dciaced copy OF his paper, exhibited to the
President an item on the subject. DO
you really think" said Mr. Lincoln, "that
was the occasion Of my
Certainly" said the editor.
the suggestion WAS so opportune that il
was at once taken up by other papers, and
the result was your nomination and
"Ahl WELL" said Mr. Lincoln.
with a sigh, and assuming a rather gloomy
countenance. Il am glad to see you and to
know this; but you will have to excuse me-
| am just going TO the War Department TO
see Mr.. Stanton" well" said the editor,
u will walk over with you" The President
with that apt good nature so characteristic
OF him, took up his hat and said: Come
along" When they reached the door Of tho
Secretary's Office, Mr.. Lincoln turned TO his
and said: Il shall have to see
Mr.. Stanton alone, and you must excuse
me- and taking him by the hand no con-
tinued, "Good-by. i hope you will feel
perfectly easy about having nominated
me; don't lie troubled about it; l forgive
you"
A PASS TO RICHMOND IN 1862.
One day, in the Spring Of 1852, a gentle
man from some Northern city entered Mr..
LincOln's private office, and earnestly re-
queSted q pass to Richmond. "A pass to
exclaimed the President.
Why, my dear sir, if ] should give you one
il would do you no good. You may think
it very strange but there's a lot of fellows
between here and Richmond, who either
can't read or are prejudiced against every
man who totes Il pass from Inc. [ have
given Mcclellan and more than 2OO. 600
others passes to Richmond, and not n