''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 184alarmed, and frequently upbraided me for having aided him to degradehimself at the very moment in all his life when his behavior should haveexhibited the utmost dignity and composure."Neither he nor the country generally then understood the true factsconcerning the dangers to his life. It is now an acknowledged fact that therenever was a moment from the day he crossed the Maryland line, up to thetime of his assassination, that he was not in danger of death by violence,and that his life was spared until the night of the 14th of April, 1865, onlythrough the ceaseless and watchful care of the guards thrown around him."MARKED OUT A FEW WORDS.President Lincoln was calm and unmoved when England and France wereblustering and threatening war. At Lincoln's instance Secretary of StateSeward notified the English Cabinet and the French Emperor that as ourswas merely a family quarrel of a strictly private and confidential nature,there was no call for meddling; also that they would have a war on theirhands in a very few minutes if they didn't keep their hands off.Many of Seward's notes were couched in decidedly peppery terms, someexpressions being so tart that President Lincoln ran his pen through them.LINCOLN SILENCES SEWARD.General Farnsworth told the writer nearly twenty years ago that, being inthe War Office one day, Secretary Stanton told him that at the last Cabinetmeeting he had learned a lesson he should never forget, and thought he hadobtained an insight into Mr. Lincoln's wonderful power over the masses.The Secretary said a Cabinet meeting was called to consider our relationswith England in regard to the Mason-Slidell affair. One after another of theCabinet presented his views, and Mr. Seward read an elaborate diplomaticdispatch, which he had prepared.Finally Mr. Lincoln read what he termed "a few brief remarks upon thesubject," and asked the opinions of his auditors. They unanimously agreed