Recollections of Abraham Lincoln 1847-1865 Part 25

BLOOMINGTON (ILL.), Feby. 25, 1861.

DEAR HILL,--Nothing of moment has occurred since your departure.

Do write me immediately explaining the cause of your mysterious transit through Maryland.

Here let me say a word about Was.h.i.+ngton. It is the worst place in the world to judge correctly of anything. A s.h.i.+p might as well learn its bearings in the Norway Maelstrom, as for you people to undertake to judge anything correctly upon your arrival there.

You are the subject of every artful and selfish appliance. You breathe an air pregnant with panic. You have to decide before you can discover the secret springs of the action presented to you.

There is but one rule and that is to stand by and adopt the judgment you formed before you arrived there.

The atmosphere of Was.h.i.+ngton and the country are as unlike as the atmosphere of Greenland and the tropics.

The country is moved and moves by its judgment--Was.h.i.+ngton by its artificial life. The country really knows nothing of Was.h.i.+ngton and Was.h.i.+ngton knows nothing of the country. Was.h.i.+ngton is drunk, the Country is sober and the appeal from your judgment there to your home judgment is simply an appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober.

Please give these ideas in better language than I have done to Mr.

Lincoln. I know his sound home judgment, the only thing I fear is the bewilderment of that city of rumors. I do ache to have him do well.

Yours truly, LEONARD SWETT.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON, March 2, 1861.

DEAR SIR,--I have received your request and shall take great pleasure to do what you wish in respect to Delaware.

Very truly your friend, WINFIELD SCOTT.

WARD H. LAMON, Esq.

DANVILLE, ILL., March 5, 1861.

DEAR HILL,--Have just read Lincoln's inaugural.--It is just right and pleases us much. Not a word too much or too little. He a.s.sumes the tone and temper of a statesman of the olden time. G.o.d bless him--and keep him safely to the end.--Are you coming home to see us ere you depart hence? You could unfold to us a chapter that would be spicy, rich and rare.

We were at first disposed to regret Lincoln's hasty trip from Harrisburgh. But the action of the crowd at Baltimore convinces us that it was the most prudent course to pursue....

O. F. HARMON.

ON BOARD STEAMER WARSAW, March 8, 1861.

DEAR LAMON,--I got home a week ago. I have heard a good many things said pro and con about the new administration, and as far as I have heard the ma.s.s of the people have confidence in Mr. Lincoln, and this applies to the people of the border slave states as well as the free states. But it is not worth while to disguise the fact that a large majority of the free states in the Northwest are opposed to _Ultra measures_ and the people of the slave states are almost unanimous against coercion. Many appointments that have been made by the new administration were unfortunate. It must necessarily be so with all administrations, and Mr. Lincoln has had more than his share of trouble in making his selection. I fear that a majority of the Senators on our side care but little for his success further than it can contribute to their own glory, and they have had such men appointed to office as they felt would serve their own purpose without any reference to Mr. Lincoln and but little for the party....

As far as I could see when at Was.h.i.+ngton, to have been an original friend of Mr. Lincoln was an unpardonable offence with Members of Congress....

I have the utmost confidence in the success of Mr. Lincoln but I do not expect his support to come from the radical element of our party....

Your true friend, HAWKINS TAYLOR.

HON. W. H. LAMON.

STATE OF ILLINOIS, SECRETARY'S OFFICE, SPRINGFIELD, March, 18, 1861.

WARD H. LAMON:

DEAR HILL,--My brother is foolish enough to desire an office.--When you see him, and this, if he still _insists_ that he has as good right to a place as anybody else, I want you to do for him, what you would for me. No more, no less--...

Your friend, O. M. HATCH.

March 19, 1861.

MY DEAR COLONEL,--When I left Was.h.i.+ngton I handed to Judge Davis a letter setting forth what I wished him to do for me in Was.h.i.+ngton if it met his views.

I desired to be detailed as acting Inspector General of the Army in place of Emory promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of the Cavalry. This appointment needs only an order of the Secretary of War. Mr.

Cameron promised Judge Davis to attend to it at once, but I presume he has overlooked it. Will you do me the favor to see Cameron on the subject? He knows all about it and precisely what to do.

I hope you are having a good time in Was.h.i.+ngton. I presume you are as you seem to have very much enjoyed the excitement along the road and in Was.h.i.+ngton. I shall always cherish a most pleasant remembrance of our journey and of the agreeable acquaintances and friends I made on the road. Among the last I have rated you and Judge Davis with peculiar satisfaction and I hope you will always believe that I shall cherish the warmest personal regard for you.

Very truly your friend, JOHN POPE.

MARCH 23, 1861.

DEAR HILL,--The public mind is prepared to hear of the evacuation of Sumter, but it is a great humiliation. Still if Mr. Lincoln gives the order you may swear that such is the public confidence in him it will be at once taken as a necessity of the situation.

W. H. HANNA.

BLOOMINGTON, ILL., March 30, 1861.

DEAR HILL,--I saw the "Telegraphic Announcement" of your prospective trip to Charleston before your kind and cordial letter was received. Yesterday, the "Telegraph" announced your return to Was.h.i.+ngton, which gratified us all. The papers represent you as quite a Lion. I have no doubt you bear your honors meekly....

I am anxious about the country. Are we to be divided as a nation?

The thought is terrible. I never entertained a question of your success in getting to and from Charleston.

How do things look at Was.h.i.+ngton? Are the appointments satisfactory? No foreign appointments for the border slave states?

Is this policy a wise one? Off here it does not look so to me.

Did Hawkins Taylor of Iowa get anything?...

Your friend, D. DAVIS.

URBANA, Apr. 6, 1861.

DEAR HILL,--The Judge and I are now attending Court at this place, the only wreck of that troupe which was once the life and soul of professional life in this country. I see Judge McLean has departed this life. The question is who shall succeed to the ermin so worthily worn by him. Why should not David Davis who was so instrumental in giving position to him who now holds the matter in the hollow of his hand? Dear Hill, if retribution, justice, and grat.i.tude are to be respected, Lincoln can do nothing less than to tender the position to Judge Davis. I want you to suggest it to Lincoln.... Of course you will. I know your n.o.ble nature too well to believe that you would not think of a suggestion of this kind as soon as myself. Write me.

Yours, L. WELDON.