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FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT AS GOD GIVES U3 TO SEE THE IlIGHT. Lincoln.
1 awHg fapct-grwtd to golittcs, fitrature, lomgn, omc anil UlioccUiinccus tciv$, k fa.
VOL. X
WAYNESBURG. PA., WEDNESDAY, MABCII 20, 1867.
NO. 41.
IS V hill' WKDMISDAY MOKMNU,
JAS. E. 8AYER3.
OrFlCK IN 8 AY Hits' llCIUUNO, KA8T OF TUB
COURT llOIISIi.
TKKMS OK SlIiStltll'TlOX.
Two dollars a jour, payublu invariably in
advance One dollar fur six mouths, payable,
Invariably in advance
Advkutiskmknts inserted at ijil fid per square
forthroo insertions, and iioots. a square fur each
additional Insertion; (ton liues or less counted
a square.;
Local advertising and Si'Kcial Notices, in
cents per line lor oNKinseruon, wnu
(3-A liberal deduction niado to yearly ad
vcrtisers.
Ailvnrttumnnnta nnt. miirked with Mm n'Ull
ber of insertions desired, charged fur until
ordered out.
(3-Obituary notices and tributes of respect
Inserted as advertisements. They must
bo paid for in advance
FIRST MT10ML UNI,
ok
D. Bonkr, Frcs't. J. C. Fi.knsikkn, Cashier.
DISCOUNT DAY TUESDAYS.
May 1C, 'G0.-ly.
W. E. GAP EN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
WAYNESBURG, PA.
CSrOiTicE In N. Clark's building,
fnbnriiiitf .
R A. M'fiOSHBLL. J. J. HOFFMAN.
M'CQMNELL & HUFFMAN
. Attorneys and loanscllors at law
Wntjmsburq, Fenn'a.
(3-Ofi'iOK n the " Wright House," East
doore. CoUeuliws, &c, will receive prompt
attention.
Wnyneslmrg Auiust 20, 18(12. If.
LEWIS DD-ATST,
DEALER IN Brinks, Sdttioncry, Wall Pnpcr,
Window Paper, tn. Sunday School
Books of all kinds constantly on hand, Way
ncsburif, Pa., opposite Post Olllco.
May !, "(iG.-ly
MERCHANT TAILOR,
ROOM IN lll.AOIH.KY'S lltm.DISU, WAYNrSIU'liO.
WORK made to order, in finest and best
style, Cutting and Fitting done prompt
ly, and' according to latest fashion plates.
Stock ou 'mnd and for sale. May 2, tf
WATCHES AND JEWELRY.
main 8-rttRKT, oitositb cou t iioi;se.
KEEPS ON HANDS ALWAYS A clioico
nnd select assortment of watches and
jowelry. Repairing dono at the lowest rates,
apl, iy
"SHiftiaAN HOUSE,"
JUST OPENED HY
TH03. Bradloy
POSITIVELY the most complete Hotel in
our town. Everything combined to fur
nish the host accommodation ever yet ollered
to the public.
Meals furnished nt nil hours, table provid
ed with the best of the season. Also, a fine
icecream tmlooii lilted up mul attached to tho
bouse, nnd a hah unrivalled for tho variety
and quality of its contents. Choice wines and
brandies, good whiskey, nlo, lino cigars, &c,
form a few among tho prominent items.
Travellers and those desirous of refreshment
Will do well to call, "Tom" still retains ins old
reputation of an accommodating gentleman,
and hospitable landlord. House, the one for
merly occupied bv tho "Messenger" Olllce.
May 0, 'UG.-ly. (
PEOPLE'S. LINE'
STEAM Ell "CHIEF
TAIN," R. 11. Ahiiams,
Commander, Capt It.
C. Mason, Clerk; leaves
Brownsville daily at 7 a, m., for Pittsburgh,
and leavo that citvat S r. m., daily,
STEAMER "ELECTOR," Roiiert Phil
lips, Commander ; R. G. Taylor, Cleric j
leaves Greensboro, for Pittsburgh Mondays,
Wednesday and Friday, and return on Tues
day, Thursday and Saturday, leaving Pitts
burgh at 2 p. h. May lG,'UG.-6m.
GEORGE S. JEFFERY.
TVoalcr In Books nnd Stationery, Magazines,
l) Dally Papors Fancy Articles, &c, Way
csburg, Pa. apl.'CO-ly
S.
B. HOLLAND,
Sa.rox'oft cfis Co.
Importers an Jobbors of Staplo and Fancy
Dry Goods. Cloths. Cassimers, Blankets,
Linens, White Goods, &c,, &c,
Uos. 405 & 407 MAnicisT Street,
Above Fourth, North Side,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
ETMr. Holland takes occasion to advise tho
retail merchants ot Greene, Washington and
Adjoining counties that he will cull upon them
nd solicit their custom for the above named
bouse. Those wishing to address him can do
eo at Beallsvllle, Pa full 18 '7-tf.
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE-
LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on tho
estate of A. WILSON, Sr. late of Marion
township, Greene county, dee'd., having beon
'granted to tho undersigned, notice Is heroby
given to all persons Indebted to said estato
to make Immediate payment and those hav
ing claims to present them immediately, prop
perly authenticated for settlement. .
' W. T. E. WEBB,
ANDREW WILSON,
. of Marlon township Ad Jiiuislrators.
fob.l8,'7-6w ,i
GOING HOME.
j Where are you going so fast, old man ?
Where are yon going so fast ?
There's a valley to cross and a river to ford
There's a jchisp o' tho hand uud a parting
word.
And a tremulous sigh for the past, old man;
lho bcuutitul, vanished past.
The road has been rugged and rough, old
man ;
To your feet it's rugged and rough j
But you see a dour being with gentlo eyes
Has shared your labor and sacrifice,
Ah ! that has been sunshine enough, old
man j
For you and me, sunshine enough.
How long since you passed o'er the hill, old
man,
Or life? o'er the top of tho bill ?
Were there beautiful vail cs on tho ct'icr side 1
Were thero flowers and tret3, with their
branches wide,
To shut oH the heat of tho suu, old nir.n i
The heat of the fervid sun ?
And how did you cross tho waves, old man;
Of sorrow; the fearful waves ?
Did you lay your dear treasures by, oho by
ono,
With nn aching heart and "God'? will be
done,"
Undcr the wayside dust, old man ;
In the grave 'neatli tho waysido dust ? f
There is sorrovhnd labor for all, old man ;
Alas I thero is sorrow for all ;
And you, pera lvonture, have had your share,
For eighty loug winters have whitened your
hair,
And they've whitened your heart as well,
old mau ;
Thank God, your heart as well.
I
You're now at tho foot of the hill, old man; I
At last at tho foot ofthe hill.
The sun lias gone down in golden glow,
And tho Heavenly City lies just below.
Go in through the pearly gate, old man
Tho beautiful pcarly.'gato.
AI10UT PRINTERS.
I wish I was a printer,
I really do, indeed ;
It seem to nu tlut printers
Get every thing they need
(EX'iept money.)
Tlioy get tho largest and Hie best
Of every tiling that grows,
Aad get free into circmses
And other kind of shows
(B paying au equivalent.)
Thoblsgcst bug will speak to thorn,
No matter how they dress ;
A shabby coat is nothing ' ,
If they own a printing pres.
(Policy.)
At ladies' fairs they're almost htlgiio 1
By pretty girls who know
That they will praise up every thing
Tho ladies have to show.
(That's so.)
And thus they get a blow out free
At every party feed,
And the icas.m is because they write,
And other people read.
(That's what's the matter.)
A11RAHAJI LINCOLN.
A talk wiiii thkLatis I'husidkst'b Law
PaI.TNKR.
Correspondence of tho New York Tribune.
Si'itiNQi'iur.D, 111., Jan 25, 18G7.
When history ruckes up its mind to
commemorate a place, no special cor
respoiuluiico can keep pace with it
After Mr. Lincoln' nomination to the
Presidency tho most Republican of all
coujis d'elal the littlo city of Springfield
ascended at a bound from tho comnion
placo to tho memorable. Caravans ot
patriots from all tho other States wended
across the prairies to visit it. From a
market town, whea eggs were duly ex
changed for calico, and tho father of tho
family reported himself twico a year to
get stone drunk, it rose to bo tho homo
of a President, and scut him across the
continent to usefulness and martyrdom.
His body lies near by it ashrine which
any city might covet and bis prim
framo residence practical and mud color
ed. I have walked around these two
nights to find my curioi'ity shared by
halt a dozen couples, looking upon it as
if the tall ghost ot the owner might pos
sibly appear.
I came here to lecture. Two days
leisure spared me, I have passed one
half of each in conversation with a man
who knew the great oitizea of Springs
field for twenty years anterior to his
Chief Magistracy better and closes than
any human being. Until very lately
you might have read upon a bare stair
way, opposite tho State House Square,
tho sign ot Lincoln & Herndon. A
year ago it gave place to tho names
Herndon & Zane. Ascending the stairs
ou flight, you see two doors oponing to
your right hand. That in the rear leads
to what wai for on generation the law
ofliee ot tho President. Within it is adis
mantled room, strewn with faded briofs
and leaves of law-books; no desks nor
chairs remaining; its single bracket of
gas darkened in tho centre: by whose
flaine ho whom our children's children
shall reverently naino, prepared, per
haps, his gentle, sturdy utterances, aiid
out of its window you get a sweep of
stablu-roofs and dingy back yards, where
he must have looked a thousand tinico,
pondering Freedom and Empire with
his cyo upon ash-heaps and crowing
cocks and young Americans sludging
or bullplaying. As simple an ofiice,
even for a country lawyer, as ever I saw
in my life, it is now in the transition
condition of being prepared tor another
tenant. In the middle of the r-iom tho
future President Bat at a tab'.o side, and
in the adjoining front room this table
and all the funituro of the place is still
retained, while in its back corner, look
ing meditatively at the cylinder stove,
you see Mr. Herndon, t ho partner and
authority I bavo referred to.
He has given mo permission to write
what I please ot himself and his dead
friend, and among all tho men I havo
ever met, ho is the readiest to under
stand a question and to give even and
direct answers. Ho resembles Mr.
Lincoln so much, and in bis present
quarters, garb, and worldly condition,
is so neaily a reproduction of A. Lin
coln, lawyer, as ho lived before Fame
drove a chariot thnngli this second
btory, that we may as well take a turn
around Ihe surviving man and the room
Liuculn was the taller and older, and
senior puilner. lie had boon in two or
thi ee associations with lawyers; one of
his early partners, by fraud or misman
agement, got him into debt and he car
ried the burden of it about ten years
His latest partner, excepting Herndon,
was anxious to bo a candidate for the
legislature, and as Mr. Lincoln desired
the same honor at the same lime, a dis
solution was inevitable, and then to
Heindoii's g''e.Tt surprise, tor he was
very young nnd obscure, Lincoln said:
'Hilly lot us go into business together.'
Herndon accepted tho proposition thank,
fully,' Mr, Lincoln arranged the terms
of partnership, ami the new 'shingle'
went up directly, never to be removed
till the bullet ol lJjoth had done us er
rand. How young Ilemdnn rnig'it hive
looked tWtMity-tive years ago wo can
scarcely infer Irom tho sailYon-t iued.
blue-black haired man before us, bearded
bushily at the throat, disposed to shut
ono eye for accuracy in conversation,
his teeth discolored by tobaoeo, and over
his angular features, which suggests,
Mr. Lincoln's in ampleuess and shape,
the same halt' tender inulanelioly, the
result in both cases, perhaps, of hard
frontier work, poor pay, thoughtful ab
straction, and a disposition to share the
sorrows of mankind.
O, why should the spirit of mortal bo proud
is tho sentiment ot Herndou's face, as it
wos of Mr. Lincoln's a gravity that
befits greatness well, when it comes,
and iu the dress ot tho firm of Lin
coln and Herndon you see this
sentiment practicalissud. 'Mr. Ltnooln,'
said Mr. II e r n d o n, 'cared so
little about clothoB that sometimes he
did not put all ot them on. He was
brought up barefoot.' Mr. Herndon
my parallel wears to. day a bright yel
low pair ot breeches, turned up twice at
the bottoms, and looks to bo a wind
hardened farmer, rather than ono of the
best lawyers iu tho State, and as a pub
lic man, is charged with delivering the
best stump speeches in Illinois, on the
Republican side, during the last election.
His address is homely in form, com-.
meneing with, 'Friend 1 I'll answer you;'
and this ho does without equivocation,
with his long foroBngor extonded; and
with such fund of new information upon
the revered memory in question that
although the Lincoln biogrnphors, from
Holland down, have talked with him, ho
seems to be brimful ot now reminiscen
ces. With extraordinary momory,' great
facility of inference, and a sturdy origi
nality of opinion, he had the effect upon
mo to stagger all my notisns ot the dead
President's character. Ho has been a
wonderfully desultory reader, and in his
law library you may see tho anomalous
companions for a Prairio attorney of
Bailey's Fesuu, Suhlegel's Critiques,
Coiute's Philosophy, Louis Blane and
many ofthe disobedient essayists. He
ban one ot the best private librarios in
the West, and in this respeot is unlike
Mr. Lincoln, who seldom bought a new
book, and seldom read ono. Mr. Lin
coin's education was almost entirely a
newspaper ono. He was ono of tho
most thorough ncwapaper readers in
America, and for filteon years before bis
election to tho Presidonoy subscribed
regularly to the Uichmwd Enquirer and
the Charleston Mercury. He grew slowly,
thoreforo, as publio opinion grew, and
as an unti-slavory man a gradual con
vert, whereas Herndon, years before,
embraced at a leap all tho oooiul reforms,
read all tho agitators, and talked human
liberty to Mr. Lincoln, gravely listening
till a fraternity ot sentiment developed,
and about tho year 1811 tho coming
emancipator declared himself an enemy
of sliveholding.
It is worth whilo to stop and ponder
that while Rhett and Wise, with Slavery
in full feather, wroto every day the in.
violatcnoss of Secession and the divinity
of bondage, theso two Illinois lawyers,
iu thoir littlo 8iua:'o ollico road evorv
d word; paid to read it,
and educated themselves out of UiPir
mutual indignations the one to a grand
agency, the other to as grand an abhor
rence. Mr, Lincoln haJ seme-six or seven
places of residence during his life; ho
was of full ago before ho left his family
never to return, and tho p'ea-a'itiBt of
his remenisences wero of his mo.hor, ti
whom ho imputed tho best and the
brightest qualities ho had inherited. Ho
broke out oncn to Mr, Herndon, as they
were returning from court in another
county;
Billy.all I am or can be I o ire to my an
gel mother.
As a boy Lincoln mado a fronlier
mau's living by hard work.poling a flat
boat, getting out cedar and chestnut
rails even sawing wood. The scene
of his early struggles was lu Indiana,
and t'leio he developed into a sort of
amatuoi' publio clerk', writing letters tor
folks to whom a steel pen was a mys
lory, giving miscellaneous advice on law
and busiuoss, and excelling particularly
iu the ingenuities of amo loto and illut-fration-
The story telling reputation ho
retains was no fib ilous qualifij ition.nor
was it an idle and gossipy recreation,
but a iii,':ins ot in iking intelligence plain
io rude uii.nl i A' this stage of his life
he wore ni icoa-.iiis and a hnn'.inj shirt,
an 1 tvi- iu great request by thick head,
ed people, because of his clearness and
skill in narration. The jury always gut
from him a fair Htatoinout ot any ease in
hand, and years later it was remarked
y tho Chief Justice of Illinois that when
Lincoln spoke ho argued both sides of
ihe case so woll that a speech in responso
was always superfluous. Tho habit ho
had of enforcing a fact with an anecdote
eo far survived his inoeaaHin days that it
seems to havo beon constitutional in a
sense. No man ever told so many
sturies, and ho was seldom known either
to repeat ono twico, or to tell ono that
was hackneyed. His long, variable and
altentivo cxporienco with common,
native people, mado him acquainted
with n thousand oddities, and ho Iud a
familiar way of relating thorn that was as
piquant aa his application of them It
is also truo that some ot theso stories
were more cogont thau delicate, yet in
no sing'e enso was ho ever remembered
to have told on exceptional anoodoto for
the sake of that in it which was excep
tional. Mr. Hurndon remembers a
person' who so far mistook Mr. Lincoln
once as to toll a coarse story without
purpose. During its recital Mr. Lin
colu's face woiked impatiently. Wren
tho man had gone he said i
'1 had nearly put that" fellow out of
tho office, lie disgusls me.'
Finally ho settled at Springfield. Mr.
Lincoln found tho law jealous and nig
gard. He was always able to keep a
horse, and was very loud of riding; but
ho made a poor income, though ono
not inoommousurnto with tho gonoral
smalluess of his colleagues at tho Illinois
bar. Now and then ho was pinched to
distress, and went to bed with no notion
how ho should meet tho morrow's
claims.
For nearly a titth part of , his whole
lito he owed money that ho could not
pay, and although of easy disposition,
tho debt gallud him and hastened his
wrinkles. Ho cleared himself linnlly on
his return from Washington City.whero
ho sat as a representative in Congress.
When he quitted Springfield for the
v nn.0 uouso ue was worm just asao,-
000.
nevor moody nor petulant, ho yet
loved solitudo and self communion, and
has beon known to sit Bix hours lu one
placet to lie on his back, for exiunpU on
tho floor of his house, looking absently
at tho veiling, or to inn - himself silting
upon a f'eiico or in a hay-mow all the
day, passing tho proooisei of plan
through his miud, or forming some poli
tical liuigmeiu.
The leiiderness of his nature was not
always manifest, yet ho had his romance
in early manhood, and ot this Mr. Ileru
At last ho camo to his office tor the
last tunc.
'Billy.' ho said, 'wo must say good'
bye."
Until of thera cried speechlessly.
.V-.. ..I. ..It !....' -
-xou snaii Keep up mo linn namo,
Billy, if it will be of any use to vou.'
They shook hands upon it with tears
in ineir eyes.
'I love tho people here, Billy, and owe
don had spoken in publio, I asked pnr-
ucuiany auoui it.
At Sangamon, Illinois, a pretty and
high spirited girl, without fortune, made
havoo in many hearts, and Mr Lincoln
constituted oneot three earnest suitors,
who wanted her in marriage. She
preferred the address of a young mer
chant of tho town, and gave tho other
two thoir conic Her afliauecd soon
uUorwards went East to buy goods, but
as he returned was taken with brain
fever in somo waysido town, nud lay
raving for three mouths, unknown by
name or residence to Ins entertainers.
A rumor started that ho lial run away
to avoid marrying his lady, and. wait
ing some timu in vain to hear from hi.n.
shu received anew tho attentions of
Mr. Lincoln. About the time when
they passed trom courtesy to tenderness,
and maniago between them was more
than hinted at, the sick man returmd
like a ghost, guaged the condition of
afliair.", and upbiaidod the lady with
fickleness. Sho had a delicate sense ct
honor, and felt keenly the shame ot
having seemed a triflei with two gen.
llenien at once ; this preyed upon her
mind till her body, not very strong, sill
fered by i-yinpulhy, and Mr Herndon
has oral and written testimony that tho
girl died out i f regret nt tho equivocal
position she had tiiiwillinj;ly assumed
The names ofal! tho parties ho bus giv
en me, but I i!o not care to print them.
On tho dead woman's gravo Mr.
Lincoln promised himself never to mar
ry, 1 Ins vow ho kept very long. His
marriage was iu every respeot advan
tageous to him. It whetted his ambi
lion, did not nurse- too much n pen
chant for homo iudolenco that ho had,
and taught him particularly that thero
was something called society, which
observed one's boots as well as his iirin
uipies. uo was always a loyal ana rev
erent husband, a gentle but not positive
..!.!.- IT .1 , , ,
latner, nun his wiiu saw the 1'residency
i.:... i,. (,.- 1 1. .i i.. .1..- . ,
1UI llliu UU1VIC UIU IMUUJUI Ul I llOUU1
led him.
Ho built tho frame house in Sprinc
i I, i. . . .
uoiu wnicn is now so oi tetiraied, at a
comparatively recent peri d. I went
oyer it yesterday with amusement at
its utter practicality. It stands upon a
prosaic corner, in an interior quarter ot
tne town, and was tlio design ot a car
penter, not an architect. A narrow
yard and palings shut it from tho street;
the door is in tho middle, nnd is ap
proached by four or five wooden steps ;
on tho abut i: cut beside theso lie xtood
after his nomination, in the blaze of pine
torches, the thunder ot huzzas breaking
around ins nead, tho only solemn man
in Springfield. Ho might havo telt
that all these grntulations wero such
as the Aztecs spent upon the beautiful
captivo who was to be taorafieed in tho
leoiutUis.
Asa lawytr, ho was a closo student
ot those cases that interested him. Slow
to take them into his mind, passing in
their consideration from stage to stage,
and if he found beneath an embodied
principle his heart grew into tho work
of developing it. Ho frequently sat up
nil night preparing somo favorite argu
ment, and never tailed to present it so
petspiiuinusly that dull intellects grow
appreciative and shrewd ones absorb
ed. Some of his legal arguments nre
di soribed ns having been classical. Yet,
boneath all tho drudgery of his orntt, ho
was nt soul a politician rather than an
attorney. Every legal study carried
linn beyond itself to the mysteries
of publio infirmity. 'Ho sat,' says'
Ileriidon, 'looking through a brief to the
construction d' society nnd tho moral
Government' of God.' Now nnd then
ho shut liim'elf up nil night, and lay on
his ofliee floor in his careless garments,
revolving some problem set by a vil
lage client, that had expanded to n
great human principle. At these times
lie seemed to bo a dreamer reasoning
Again, hu drove miles over tho prairies
with his lips close shut, wrinkling, soft
ly humming, and returned again at
night strangely white and exhausted.
Before his great publio call came he
had passed tho world through his hileut
thought, as if it hud been a legal case
td be stated and argued.
'Did ho over quarrel, Mr. Ilorndon V
Seldom, friend 1 but sometimes,
Onco I saw him incensed at a Judgo
for giving an unfair decision. It was a
terrible spectaelo. As he was grand in
his good nature, so ho was grand in
his rage. At another time I saw two
men come to blows in his presence i je
picked them up separately and tossed
them apart like a onuplu of kittens, He
vas the strongest man I ever knew,
and has been known to lift a man oi hie
own weight and throw In in over a
worm fence. Oneo, in Springfield, tho
Irish voters meditated taking possession
ot tho polls. News oamo down the
itreot that they would permit nobody
to vote but those of their own party.
Mr. Lincoln seized an nxo handle from
a hard-waro store and wont alone to
open a way to the ballot-box. Hisap.
pearanco intimidated them, and wo had
noither threats nor collisions all that day.
He was never sick during the whole of
our long acquaintance, but being a man
of slow circulation, and ot most regu
lar habits, cajiable ot subtiialing nnori a
morsel, ho was wiry and indurnte'd be
yond the best ot our Wiatern men, and
even with Booth's bullet in hirbrain ho
lived ten hours. IJU life, in general,
was sinoth and unruflled. He had no
prejudices against any class, preferring
uio uernians to any oi tho toreign ele
ment, yet tolerating as I (Herndon)
never coum even llie irisn-'
'Did he ever drink V
'Or.ly in Indiana, whr.n ho took whisk-
ey as ague medicine. After his nomi
nation for the Presidency it was sug
gested to him that tho Visiting Coin
initteo would require somo hospitality.
'Very well, lie said, 'any' food that is
proper I have authorized to be purelns
ed
'But thei'c gentlemen will expect somo
liquors.
'I can't permit to strangers what I do
not do myself. 2o liquors, Billv 1 there's
the taeru.'
Of miscellaneous books, Mr. Lin
coln's favorites were Shakespearo and
I ope. lie uever read Byron and ot
cotemporary American poets preferred
by lhc patriotic selections chiefly, Milt
on he knew by heart, and was a good
literary reader ot the Bible. His friends
were selected with regard to their sin
cerity, chiefly; he loved not cliques, and
those who knew him best were young,
er than he. Ho was cautious in friend
ships, no hero-worshipper, and tor Mr.
Douglas, his most prominent antagonist,
had much less a 'miration than repul
sioii. Douglas was uneasily arrogant
in Lincoln's presence, tho latter never
sensitive nor flurried, so grew by his
impertubility, that hen ho reached
the White House, Mr. Douglas was less
surprised than anybody else, The groat
Senatorial campaign, in which thev
figured together, is remembered by
every Springfielder. Douglas, with his
powerful voice and facile energy, went
into it under full steam. Lincoln beaan
lucid'y and cautiously. When they
came out ot it, Douglas was worn down
with rage and hoarseness, and Lincoln
was fi caller than ever. Ho prepared
all the spo 'dies ot tins campaign by si
lent meditation, silting or lying alone,
studying tho flies on tho ceiling. The
bet evidence ot bis superiority in this
debate, is the fact that tho Republicans
circulated both sols of speeches as a
campaign document iu 1800, nud Mr.
Douglas' friends reins, d to do so.
The most remarkable episodo ol Ileru
don's couvi rsation w bio I am repealing
by memory, only relates to Mr. Lin
coin's Presidential aspirations. In com
mon with most pooplo, I had concluded
that this great honor camo to Mr. Lin
coin without paving, as unexpected as
it was unsolicited, nnd to mm a stag
gering piece ot luck, like a lottery prize.
Thin estimate is a charming one, but it
is not a truo cno. When tho Douglas
and Lincoln contest was ended, the de
feated man said to bis partner i
'Billy, I knew I should miss tho place
when I competed fir it. Th's defeat will
make mo President:'
Ho refused, in the interim, any pro
position looking to his acceptance of a
lesser ofliee, and this with the concur
rence of his friends and family. At tho
Rarno time ho took no immcdiato means
to precipitate his opportunity, rather,
like a man destined, sat nioro closely to
study and vigilance, read all the issues
as they developed, and waited for his
call.
It camo at last, in a special invitation
to visit New York and speak in Ihe
Cooper institute. lie felt intuitively
that this was the Hubicon, and, with a
human thrill, paused and hesitated.
It is possible that at this moment, had
any closo friend whispered 'stay,' the
Republic might uo dead and Abraham
Lincoln living.
'Go, Mr. Lincoln,' said Herndon,
'make your best effort. Speak with
your usual lucidity nnd thoroughness,'
Homo said 'Go,' also.
lie appeared in New York, as all ot
you remember, nnd his success thero
drew tho attention of tho country to his
name. The West can originnte men,
the East must pass them, and the firm
ot Lincoln and Herndon did, in reality,
when the convention met at Chicago.
He had by this lime reached tho high
est usefulness in his State, of which his
nature was capable.
Tho best lawyer in it, tho hero of a
debate equivalent to a Senator, hip, with
a mind too broad and grave tor a mere
gubernatorial place, and already by
four yoars destiny nnd preparation
President of tho United States, he
went up to to tho post with dignity and
ensothut made men stare, because they
had not seen th steps hoy took upon
tho road.
them all that I am. If God spares my
lito to the end, I shall como bnck among
you and spend the remnant oi my
ilnvs.'
lie never returned to Springfiold till
trlorv brought him home under her
nlunios. a completed life, and tho prairie,
like a neighbor, opened its door and
took him in.
When Mr. Herndon saw him. again
at Washington City, he was furrowed
and trotted with State cares. They
talked awhile ot tho clients, and the
town, and then tho war rolled between
them once more. 1
One sentence Mr. Ilorndon recolleots
of the President before his departure for
Washington that is memorable as low
ing his purposo.
'Billy,' be said, 'I hope there will bo '
no trouble but I will mako the South a '
grave-yard rather than see a Slavery
gospel triumph, or successful secession,
lose this government to the cause of the
people ami representative institutions.'
To this Mr. Herndon . added : 'Mn.'
Lincoln was merciless in the abstract.
Buttles never moved him unless he trod ,
among thoir corpses. Ho would have
carried on tho war forover.or as long as
the people intrusted him its manage
ment, rather than give up.
Speaking among tho associations of
his working lito, tho years of Abraham
Lincoln began to return in the vividuess
ot their monotony, bleak and unrcniu
ncrated, hard and practical, full ot pati-
ent walk down a road without turning, '
brightened by diittf'ulnoss alono.pointed,
but not cheered by waysido anecdote,
and successful, not so much bocauso ho
was sanguine of himself, as because he
rated not eminence nnd honor too high .
or too difiiuiilt. When ho found him
self competing for tho Senatorship, with .
tho quickest, tho least scrupulous, and
the most flattered orator in tho Union,
ho saw nothing odd or dramatio about
it. His Presidential opportunity sur
prised everbody but himself not that
he had self-conceit, but that ho thought
tho office possible. He was none ot
your Bichelieus, meditating aside the
frreat uses to which Providence had put
him. He never mado n bid for the fa
vor or forgiveness of history, but ruled ,
the nation as if it were practicing law and
practiced law as if it were rul.ng' the
nation,
This real greatness ot mind, oblivi
ousness of circumstances, ascending from
a practice of three thousand dollars a
year to twenty five thousand, as it thcra
wero no ontrsst between thorn, giving
'Billy' permission to uso ihe firm style
as beforo, without a corsious poctio
trait; yet ever in absent moments look-.
ing very long away pondering the dis- ,
tanco of rowardj, promises, vindications,
with a longing that was poetry, these
composo some of the character ot one
whose tamo differs vastly from bis life,
and tuu.-t do so by the anomaly of the
man.
Tho strongest of his loves and faiths
was the People. Ho had more rever-.
onco for them in bulk than tor thoir
highest publio exemplars. Religiously
ho was a reverent man without crcp.d,
believing in a beneficent Gcd no more.
No denomination has a special claim to
him ; he was not a regular church
goer; tho lew clergymen whom he liked
recommended themselves ou personal
grounds ; he refused to arguo oil religU
ous matters, but inclined toward Con
gregational independence. His mother'
and sisters were fond of camp meetings,
nnd a rather humorous lettor held by
Mr. Ilorndon, says that a portion ot
their family was regularly converted
every year, and baokslid in the Winter, ,
I know of no belter illustra'.ion ot diN
forence betweon the real life and the re
nown ot Mr. Lincoln than you can get.
by visiting his grave. A horse railroad ,
two niilCjp long, leads to it in the ceme
teiy of Oak liidge. Behind you, is
his real life. Springfield a Western
market town, set upon the monotonous
prairie, half the year noisy with the
chatter of politicians, plethoric with
lawyers, tor all ot whom thero is less
than enough to do, and savoring much
ofthe frost and frontier ; a pretty prairie
city, but capitalized so that what the
State has not dono tor the town, and
what the people expect to do, make it '
an unfinished desultorincss. All at onco '
as you approach tho Sangamon river,
tho sceno changes, Stalwart young
oaks of natural growth become plenti
ful. The landscape is plowed with leafy
ravines. Bold knolls start, up. A orooit
goes splashing around tho abrupt hills. .
Shadow, murmur, nnd surprises succeed
tho levil ot life in tho city. And among ;
all theso mysteries, ilBelf tho great mys-
tery of our ago.the vault of the President
caps a hill, a temporary edifice of brick, '
and the great edilioe of ono of tho hand.
s miest cemeteries in the Union, winding
brook beneath it,
'Tho last,
As 'twere the cape of a long ridge of hills.'
and all the white tombs martial about;
it: button wood, maple and ash trees
cluster at its base. Hero is to bo his
monument. About 75,000 havo been
collected for it up to this time, and it is.
supposed tho biale will vote onotigh to
mako $200,000 in all. It would be
blasphemy to mar the dead mail's grave
with any mere prettyness ot marble or .
smartness of brouzo. Let tho fiery, un
tamed Western genius be of timid chisel ,
hero. 'Abraham Lincoln is a good
epitaph if plainly lettered. And, after'.
all, will any monument ue nice tne
man, tor no such one was ever tho
sculptor's theme before. Cauova could
got no notion ot Mr. Lincoln An
allegory would be unlike him, a shaft
too formal, a statue too inexpressive
If the Pacific Hatlroad could be called
by his name, that would be better than'
e ther; bat this man will trouble any
attist in that he wis so unlike any'
model. mi "