Lincoln's Yarns and Stories [115]
law; and the moral law, or law of God.
"First the law of self-protection is a law of necessity, as evinced by our forefathers in casting the tea overboard and asserting their right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness: In this case it is the only defense the Ladies have, for Tanner neither feared God nor regarded man.
"Second, the law of the land, or statute law, and Tanner is recreant to both.
"Third, the moral law, or law of God, and this is probably a law for the violation of which the jury can fix no punishment."
Lincoln gave some of his own observations on the ruinous effects of whiskey in society, and demanded its early suppression.
After he had concluded, the Court, without awaiting the return of the jury, dismissed the ladies, saying:
"Ladies, go home. I will require no bond of you, and if any fine is ever wanted of you, we will let you know."
AVOIDED EVEN APPEARANCE OF EVIL
Frank W. Tracy, President of the First National Bank of Springfield, tells a story illustrative of two traits in Mr. Lincoln's character. Shortly after the National banking law went into effect the First National of Springield was chartered, and Mr. Tracy wrote to Mr. Lincoln, with whom he was well acquainted in a business way, and tendered him an opportunity to subscribe for some of the stock.
In reply to the kindly offer Mr. Lincoln wrote, thanking Mr. Tracy, but at the same time declining to subscribe. He said he recognized that stock in a good National bank would be a good thing to hold, but he did not feel that he ought, as President, profit from a law which had been passed under his administration.
"He seemed to wish to avoid even the appearance of evil," said Mr. Tracy, in telling of the incident. "And so the act proved both his unvarying probity and his unfailing policy."
WAR DIDN'T ADMIT OF HOLIDAYS.
Lincoln wrote a letter on October 2d, 1862, in which he observed
"I sincerely wish war was a pleasanter and easier business than it is, but it does not admit of holidays."
"NEUTRALITY."
Old John Bull got himself into a precious fine scrape when he went so far as to "play double" with the North, as well as the South, during the great American Civil War. In its issue of November 14th, 1863, London "Punch" printed a rather clever cartoon illustrating the predicament Bull had created for himself. John is being lectured by Mrs. North and Mrs. South-- both good talkers and eminently able to hold their own in either social conversation, parliamentary debate or political argument-- but he bears it with the best grace possible. This is the way the text underneath the picture runs:
MRS. NORTH. "How about the Alabama, you wicked old man?" MRS. SOUTH: "Where's my rams? Take back your precious consols-- there!!" "Punch" had a good deal of fun with old John before it was through with him, but, as the Confederate privateer Alabama was sent beneath the waves of the ocean at Cherbourg by the Kearsarge, and Mrs. South had no need for any more rams, John got out of the difficulty without personal injury. It was a tight squeeze, though, for Mrs. North was in a fighting humor, and prepared to scratch or pull hair. The fact that the privateer Alabama, built at an English shipyard and manned almost entirely by English sailors, had managed to do about $10,000,000 worth of damage to United States commerce, was enough to make any one angry.
DAYS OF GLADNESS PAST.
After the war was well on, a patriot woman of the West urged President Lincoln to make hospitals at the North where the sick from the Army of the Mississippi could revive in a more bracing air. Among other reasons, she said, feelingly: "If you grant my petition, you will be glad as long as you live."
With a look of sadness impossible to describe, the President said:
"I shall never be glad any more."
WOULDN'T TAKE THE MONEY.
Lincoln always regarded himself as the friend and protector of unfortunate clients, and such he would never press for pay for his services. A client named Cogdal was unfortunate in business, and gave
"First the law of self-protection is a law of necessity, as evinced by our forefathers in casting the tea overboard and asserting their right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness: In this case it is the only defense the Ladies have, for Tanner neither feared God nor regarded man.
"Second, the law of the land, or statute law, and Tanner is recreant to both.
"Third, the moral law, or law of God, and this is probably a law for the violation of which the jury can fix no punishment."
Lincoln gave some of his own observations on the ruinous effects of whiskey in society, and demanded its early suppression.
After he had concluded, the Court, without awaiting the return of the jury, dismissed the ladies, saying:
"Ladies, go home. I will require no bond of you, and if any fine is ever wanted of you, we will let you know."
AVOIDED EVEN APPEARANCE OF EVIL
Frank W. Tracy, President of the First National Bank of Springfield, tells a story illustrative of two traits in Mr. Lincoln's character. Shortly after the National banking law went into effect the First National of Springield was chartered, and Mr. Tracy wrote to Mr. Lincoln, with whom he was well acquainted in a business way, and tendered him an opportunity to subscribe for some of the stock.
In reply to the kindly offer Mr. Lincoln wrote, thanking Mr. Tracy, but at the same time declining to subscribe. He said he recognized that stock in a good National bank would be a good thing to hold, but he did not feel that he ought, as President, profit from a law which had been passed under his administration.
"He seemed to wish to avoid even the appearance of evil," said Mr. Tracy, in telling of the incident. "And so the act proved both his unvarying probity and his unfailing policy."
WAR DIDN'T ADMIT OF HOLIDAYS.
Lincoln wrote a letter on October 2d, 1862, in which he observed
"I sincerely wish war was a pleasanter and easier business than it is, but it does not admit of holidays."
"NEUTRALITY."
Old John Bull got himself into a precious fine scrape when he went so far as to "play double" with the North, as well as the South, during the great American Civil War. In its issue of November 14th, 1863, London "Punch" printed a rather clever cartoon illustrating the predicament Bull had created for himself. John is being lectured by Mrs. North and Mrs. South-- both good talkers and eminently able to hold their own in either social conversation, parliamentary debate or political argument-- but he bears it with the best grace possible. This is the way the text underneath the picture runs:
MRS. NORTH. "How about the Alabama, you wicked old man?" MRS. SOUTH: "Where's my rams? Take back your precious consols-- there!!" "Punch" had a good deal of fun with old John before it was through with him, but, as the Confederate privateer Alabama was sent beneath the waves of the ocean at Cherbourg by the Kearsarge, and Mrs. South had no need for any more rams, John got out of the difficulty without personal injury. It was a tight squeeze, though, for Mrs. North was in a fighting humor, and prepared to scratch or pull hair. The fact that the privateer Alabama, built at an English shipyard and manned almost entirely by English sailors, had managed to do about $10,000,000 worth of damage to United States commerce, was enough to make any one angry.
DAYS OF GLADNESS PAST.
After the war was well on, a patriot woman of the West urged President Lincoln to make hospitals at the North where the sick from the Army of the Mississippi could revive in a more bracing air. Among other reasons, she said, feelingly: "If you grant my petition, you will be glad as long as you live."
With a look of sadness impossible to describe, the President said:
"I shall never be glad any more."
WOULDN'T TAKE THE MONEY.
Lincoln always regarded himself as the friend and protector of unfortunate clients, and such he would never press for pay for his services. A client named Cogdal was unfortunate in business, and gave