Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-13
Lincoln Anecdote
A great-grandson of Abra-

ham Lincoln, it was revealed
yesterday, has presented to
the Library of Congress a let
ter written by Lincoln to his
wife on the night preceding
his Cooper Union address Of
February q, 1860.
This reminds me of an
association I had with one of
the interesting men of the
early years of this century,
when I was connected with
the United States Court of
Claims. The chief justice of
the court was Hon. Charles
C. Mott. an eminent jurist,
formerly prominent in the
practice of the law in New
York City.
The chief justice had been
a colonel in the United States
Army during the Civil War.
and in his young manhood
was a member of the board
of control Of the Young Mems
Republican Club of New York
City. He conducted the cor
respondence with Mr.. Lin
coin which led to his Cooper
Union address at the Cooper
Institute.
Chief Justice Mott assem-
bled the letters passing be-
tween him and Lincoln, and
published them, together with
the address itself, and a FORE
word stating the circum-
stances and conditions sur
rounding the meeting where
LINCOLN spoke. I have his
autographed copy, and dis
cussed the publication with
him.
The chief justice noted
that William Cullen Bryant
presided at the meeting, and
that among the distinguished
men present was Horace
Greeley. editor of the New
York Tribune. In the fore
word it is stated that 1.-THE
great New York press on the
following morning carried
the address to the country,
and before Mr.. Lincoln left
New York he was telegraphed
from Connecticut to come
and aid in the campaign in
the approaching spring elec-
ton. He went, and when the
fateful moment came in the
convention (the nominating
convention in 1860. Connect
lieut. was one Of the Eastern
States which first broke away
from the Seward column and
went over to Mr.. Lincoln.
When they did so, the die
was cast"
After the address, Mr.. Lin
coin was taken by Hiram
Barney and Mr.. Mott to their
club. the Atheneum, where
a very simple supper was
ordered, and informal con-
versation ensued. When the
party broke up, those present
shook Mr.. Lincoln's hand
and. as they put on their
overcoats, one said that Mr..
Mott was going downtown
and that he would show their
guest to the Aston House.
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Mott
started on foot, but Mr.. Mott
observed that Mr.. Lincoln
was walking with difficulty.
and asked him If he was
lame. Mr.. Lincoln replied
that he had on new boots
and that they hurt him. They
thereupon boarded q street.
car, and when they came to
the place where Mr.. Mott was
to leave the car. he shook
Mr.. Lincoln's hand and told
him the car would go directly
to the side door Of the Aston
House. Mr.. Mott alighted, but
said afterward that he re-
GREETED he had not gone clear
to the Aston House, as Mr..
Lincoln looked very pathetic.
with his head bowed. the
only passenger in the car.
The next time Lincoln
came to New York he went
down Broadway to the Aston
House standing erect In. q
barouche drawn by four
white horses. He was cheered
by thousands in the windows,
on the sidewalks, and on the
house tops, as he paused in
New York in his journey to
Washington to be sworn In
as President.
In forwarding a copy Of
the address to Lincoln, Mr..
Mott made various sugges-
tons as to changes, and
Lincoln's replies were most
interesting, showing the
study and care with which
he had prepared this. his
most important address UP
to that time.
John ID. Rhodes,
Oficial Reporter Of De-
bates. United States
GSsaka