Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07
Copyright.

II FIJI AFTER my TtIuEh pAA hN
hN3H England in 1854, but It was not
kak- until about the time when 1
46NM26N cast my vote for Abraham Lin
SIS@S coin as president that the en-
tries began to be of public interest. This
was my first vote, for l was not quite OF
age in the preceding campaign, and l am
happy now to recall that 1 voted for so
good and great a man. Let the youth OF
the present day think over this fact and
guard well their suffrages that although
half a century has since rolled away, a
citizen has cause to still remember with
pride and emotion the vote he cast for
president of the United States.
When the war took place l fitted out sew
eral bundled union volunteers at my own
expense. the offer to that effect appearing
in the New York Herald of April, 1861.
Being physically incapable of bearing arms.
though l was anxious and offered to do so,
/ devoted my energies to the cause of the
union and discussion of patriotic questions.
Among my earliest efforts was a pamphlet
entitled Gold Money and Paper Money"
1t was this book furnished the occasion of
an interview with Mr.. Lincoln. This oc-
CURED in the midsummer Of 1868.
The president received me kindly and
took notice OF two passages in the book
which had some bearing on subsequent
events. One passage alluded to those
higher passions Of our nature which lead
us to see fame only in the happiness and
prosperity OF our country" The other was;
There are higher motives with which to
appeal to the ambition or even interest
OF an executive-motives that exhibit to
him the glorious destiny OF being regarded
the savior OF his country, the protector oil
its liberties, and the preserver OF its tame;
almost a forecast OF Lincoln's subsequent
enshrinement in the hearts of his country
men. During the same year, upon being
introduced to Seci Chase. as the
author of the papers subsequently pub
lished In a pamphlet called the Paper
Bubble "a protest against excessive issues
of greenbacks), he laughed good naturedly
and remarked that the articles contained
at least one principle worthy OF elabora-
tion-namely: that under the influence OF
sudden accessions of currency, prices do
not respond simultaneously, but in a sort
OF rotation or procession, governed by the
relative importance and marketability OF
the articles affected. Acting upon this sug-
Eestion, published an elaborate treatise
on the subject. All OF these works are
long since out OF print and forgotten, al
though copies Of them are still to be found
In some OF the public libraries.
mr.. Seward's Escape.
A few days after the surrender of General
Lee at Appomattox court house the kim
hearted president vas stricken down by the
hand of one assassin. and both Mr.. Seward
and his son were terribly wounded by an
other, the design having been to also Kill
tho vice president. Andrew johnson, and &c
cripple the administration. but through
SCI chance the latter escaped. Six oil
seven years afterwards, while sitting with
Secretary seward upon the back porch Of
his residence in Washington. 1 asked hin
to show me his wound. He exhibited &
chastity cicatrix extending from the righr
ear almost to the collar bone
That he was not killed outright was al
most a miracle; yet his vitality was 80
great tina he recovered before his son
though both of them fingered for a lonl
time under the anxious care OF the surgeon
general.
The assassination of the president threw
the country into the creates confusion
General johnson had not yet surrendered
0CACAo 0ASA AogAOA IA az cOhNAA oAAA 0c
eral Kirby Smith in the transmississipp
were still In arms. and nothing but tn,
prompt and decided action of Presiden
Johnson prevented a recrudescence Of tn,
desperate struggle. He was at once sworI
into office as president. making his head
quarters in the treasury building. from
whence he promptly issued several i'm
portant p~roclamations as president ant
f.
One proclamation expressed his detesta
ticn OF the great crime that had been com
mitted and his stern determination to pur
sue and punish its authors. a promis,
which he kept to the letter. Another on,
offered a reward OF 100000 for the apprs
hension OF the criminals. Another one re
lated to the operations OF the armies. an,
still another to the union navy and tn,
confederate privateers.
Delegations from Illinois, Ohio. New Yorl
indeed. from almost every state In tn
union-visited him from day TO day. heade,
by the most distinguished men in the coun
try, ali anxious to obtain assurances 4
sympathy with the excited state OF tn
nation and 10 hear from his lips the cours
he intended 10 pursue. These assurance
were most ample and satisfactory.
Frying Crisis.
The delegation applauded the president
remarks. especially where he emphasize
his determination to punish the authors c
the assassination; and the press almost un
versally declared that Mr.. Johnson at
! most trying crisis had faithfully ~refleete
! the wishes OF the people and borne himseI
with great dignity. propriety and credit.
T was over and over again boosted that /
, those clauses of the constitution which pre-
/ vided for the assumption OF the presidents
, office by the vice president. In the cas-
r OF the death OF the former. the fathers {
) the republic had made the best possibI
: provision for such a calamity as that whic
4 had befallen the country. Mr.. Johnson
1 election to the vice presidency as a unto
: democrat. his experience as q union 90,
> ernor OF Tennessee. and the retention {
; Mr.. Llncoln's cabinet just as his deaf
: bed had left II were regarded as sufficieE
: assurances that the new president Woul
: continue the aam0 Dolicy toward thu aoutf