Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31

came to discussion Of the political con-
ditions, and then. for the first time, saw
Lincoln in all the grandeur of his char
acter. Three of the southern states had
already seeded, so that secession at
that time was already in progress
and certain to involve all of the
cotton states. Mr.. Lincoln then be-
came the chief talker, and / listened
pressons as to the peculiar obligations
which were imposed upon him and the
gravity Of the issues which confronted
him. | speedily forgot that he was home
ly in person and ungraceful in action as
he warmed up to the singularly delicate
and sravely responsible duties which con
fronted him. He exhibited the highest
attributes. not only of craftsmanship, but
of integrity and fidelity to the sacred
trust that had been commit ted to him, and
j left him profoundly impressed that the
government, even i'm the EXTREMIST peril
that ever confronted it. in the safest
possible hands. and that judgment was
vindlcated until the day of his death.
x
/ was one of those who participated in
arranging the famous Lincoln midnight
journey from Harrisburg to Washington
on the night of the I'D of February, 1861 .
When Mr.. Lincoln arrived at Philadel-
ph!a on the evening of the 21st he was
met by Mr. FELTON,, president of the Phila-
d"lphia, Wilmington and Baltimore rail-
road. and by Allan Pinkerton, the founder
Of the Pnkerton Detective Agency. and
notified that he could not go through Ba.-
tirnOrc on the I'D, as was his program
from Harrisburg, and hope to pass
through that city alive. They earnestly
urged him to allow himself to be taken
To the Baltimore depot and board a train
that left at II o'clock THAT night for
Washington without others knowing any
thing about it. He declined. and on the
I'D. after he himself had raised the flag
over Independence Hall and delivered d
brief address. went to Harrisburg on u
special train and was received by the leg
lSlature III the house of representatives.
Gov. Curtin invited him to a dinner at )
o clock at one of the principal hotels OF
the capital. and there were seventeen or
eighteen who attended the dinner, Of
whom | am the sole survivor. Gov. Cur
tin was advised of what had transpired in
Philadelphia the night before. and had
consulted with several of his friends on
the subject, and it was decided that Lin
coins program must be changed in some
way
The dinner was served at > o'clock.
and. by direction of the governor. was
hurried as speedily as possible. and at
the end of an hour the governor dis
missed the servants from the room.
closed the doors, and announced to the
guests at the dinner the information that
had been received and had been commune
caled 10 Mt. Lincoln at 1>nlIduelpnia the
night before. and suggested that It was
now a necessity to change the program of
the President. Col Scott, vice president
of the Pennsylvania railroad, was one OF
the guests at the dinner and the governor
inquired of him whether he could not de-
liver Mr.. Lincoln to Washington that
night, to which Col. Scott responded that
he could do So without difficulty.
After Curtin had stated these facts.
every one at the table cordially responded
to the proposition to send the President
through to Washington that night. Lin
coin alone was silent. | sat close TO him
and noticed. with interest, his sad. but I'M
expressive face. The governor finally sad
to him. You seem to be the only one that
Is silent. What is your view of this prop
osition?' To which Mr.. Lincoln answered.
with a pathos that greatly impressed
every one present, II can't assent to it,
What would the people think of their
President stealing into his capital like a
thief in the night?'
Gov. Curtin promptly responded that 1t
was not a question for Mr. Lincoln to
consider. 1t was the duty of those pres
ent TO decide the case for him. and il was
unanimously decided that he must leave
as Col. Scott had given the assurance
that he could deliver him in Washington
that night. and Lincoln simply submitted
in silence. II at .once decided that
ono man should accompany the President,
and that he should make the selection.
lie selected Mr.. LamOn who was one Of