The Washington herald., 1921-07-17

II
of The great President The memoirs acre fm h'o 'o"de'
form by J. l.. ConrtcIL of Washington
RESIDENT LINCOLN about the Is OF jan
- uary 1904 sent my name to the Senate OF
the United States for the office OF judge ad-
vocate in the army with the rank OF major the hrs'
I heard of il being when Senator told me that the
Senate had confirmed the appointment. ] went to
Mr. Lincoln and thanked him for his confidence IN
me- but said that | had no knowledge OF military
law "Wel" he said mo common lawyer has, but
you will learn soon as anybody know oil. our
Surgeon General is charged with mateasance IN OIL
6ce and he must be tried before court-martiaL
want you to try him because I am sure he is inno-
cent and you will find him out and protect him.
This again shows something OF Lincolns great char
acter He was no sleuthhound hunting people down.
nor did he desire soldiers to be robbed OF theh
supplies but the Surgeon General was convicted,
cashicred and dismissed On another occasion
called on Mr. Lincoln about the time he sent mes
sage to Congress regarding the emancipation OF the
slaves in the border States with compensation and
talked with him that subject WELL. he says,
"this is not much question of principle now as
policy | want the border States to be friendly with
us, at least not against us"
protested to Mr. Lincoln that we had right
10 nav compensation for slaves. Though it was his
habit when he was not satisfied any great question
to drop it and not talk around it, discovered in the
tone of his language to me that night that he was
drifting toward absolute emancipation
When Lincoln took the oath of office on the 4ti
day of March, 1865, stood by him and heard every
word read from his inaugural address and was greatly
impressed with the same, and it seemed to me that
there was a strange emotion about him at that time
that | never observed before and which impressed
me very deeply. When he had finished his address
and had taken the oath OF office, he retired, followed
by the Senators and Representatives, to the Presi-
dents Room and with the crush it took me good
while to get to him. When ] found him he was rest
hair
be a good deal shaken by some Apprehension 90
not know why but as | spoke to him. congratulating
him upon his Inauguration and very appropriate and
beautiful address, Re gave me Lis hand but spoke
not wcrd
WENT up to his office short time afterward
to spend the evening of the last OF March, 1865
with him. This the last time l ever saw
him alive and | had quite talk with him, which was
very entertaining me. but the exact words OF which
7 cannot recall now He talked about the condition
of things in general to the and government
His proclamation of emancipation had been issued
and we talked or less about that He was very
calm and quiet during the conversation and his quaint
bumor at times manifested itself. He said, MI
Rinphan did YOU ever read 'Nasby's Letters L
said "Yes sir have read some Of them" He said,
"Dd YOU ever see his letter about the sadde-colored
negro and his wife and children" and answered
not He said it very interesting and he went 10
his desk and took the letter and read 1t to me.
He got interested that ne turned AROUND OH '"e
table like big boy with his feet dangling down.
He read Nasby with great skill and seemed to enjoy
il very much Knowing Lincoln well as l did, l
have been panied hear that suggestion that he was
q vulgar man in his conversation. On this demur
/ have conversed with him very frequently alone
and in company with Others but have never heard
him utter vulgar word or make a vulgar suggestion
However there are few could illustrate
pont better than Lincoln by homely story There
was always playful humor about him which seemed
to be thoroughly incorporated in his nature as
kind of offset against his constitutional sorrow ane
sadness Lincoln was the saddest of all our people
during these trying times He was the saddest mar
ever met. He bore about with him by Day th
so-row of all our people during these trying times
Of human Life