The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
LINC0LN'S RELATIONS
WITH CONGRESS IN 81,
Bx sHELRY n CrIInu-

Congress, in the DAYS Of Lincoln. was
a conservative. hard working BODY. ieaI-
Gus Of its prerOgstives. just as il has al
ways been. but there vas far more in
tense excitement. bitter feeling. and gen
eFal interest in Congress than there is
to-day. President Lincoln vas freely
criticised: he had bitter opponents in
Congress. as he had outside: but there
were others who. with the great ma joritv
OF the people. placed implicit faith in
him and felt certain that he would carry
the country through the awful crises and
eventually save the Union. This was e.
pecially true among those who knew him
best With the war dragging its bloody
trail the entire length OF his administra-
ton, the national credit poor. taxes
mounting upward, problems inuumerable
only 10 be solved by Congress. It can be
readily seen that il vas exceedingly i'm
pOrtant that the President should know
intimately and judge correctly the men
whose support he must seek IN nearly
every project he was called upon 10 IN
dertake- Lincoln did know his men.
There was never a President Of the Un.t-
ed States who could 50 well and so cor
rectiy judge men as Abraham Lincoln.
and he was seldom, If ever. mistaken
In his judgment
called upon him at the White House
a few months before he was aSsaSsi-
mated and short time after my elec-
ton as member OF the House Of Repre-
sentatives. I had been visiting in Wash
ingtOn. and spent considerable time
around Congress. talking with members
and Senators, and il seemed 70 me that
scarcely any OF the strong men were in
favor Of the President I was greatly
impressed and concerned on account Of
the number Of adverse criticisms I had
heard Before leaving Washington I
called upon the President and ! asked
him. Mr. Lincoln. do you allow anybody
70 talk 10 you about yourself He said:
Certainly. sit down. J told him that I
wanted 10 talk with him a little about
what ] had seen and heard around Con
gTesS since coming here, and said that II
seemed 10 me that most Of the strong
men We're against him. He replied with
a smile, It is not quite 50 bad as that -
and with thar ne took I'D a COPY Of the
Congressional Directory, with the remark
that there were many Congressman on
his side and turning 10 the list Of Sen
ators and Representatives. he went over
II for my benefit. ] saw that nearly ev-
cry name was marked, and as he went
down the list he commented On each. as
for instance: This man Is FOR me-,
The best friend I have" Hes not for
me now. but ] can win him over. and
so on. found that he knew almost posi-
lively how every man stood. and the
great majority OF them we're for him.
II was an interesting catalogue Of per
sonal characte ristics. and I knew then
that Abraham Lincolns habit OF study
ing men had not iapSed when he went Ia
Washington: and ] saw. too. that he had
a perfect knowledge Of Congress and its
personnel.
well recall comment ! heard him
make. concerning James c. Blaine, who
was then in the House. Blaine had made
a speech that day that had attracted at
tention. Lincoln said Of him: Blaine Is
one % The rising young men Of our coun-
try. an assertion which succeeding years
proved TO be true
To Lincoln was given bst glimpse or
the promised land. He lived 10 see the
power Of rebellion broken. but was sent
to his eternal reward before he saw The
authority OF the Union established in Ali
the rebeiliOus States. He was permitted
TO go ND into the mountain. Nebo. and -
catch a glimpse OF the promised land OF
a restored nation. but his weary feet
were not permitted 70 cross the border
that separated 1t from the wilderness
Of civil war.