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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 290The cartoon given here in facsimile was one of the posters which decoratedthe picturesque Presidential campaign of 1864, and assisted in making theperiod previous to the vote-casting a lively and memorable one. This posterwas a lithograph, and, as the title, "The Rail-Splitter at Work Repairing theUnion," would indicate, the President is using the Vice-Presidentialcandidate on the Republican National ticket (Andrew Johnson) as an aid inthe work. Johnson was, in early life, a tailor, and he is pictured as busilyengaged in sewing up the rents made in the map of the Union by thesecessionists.Both men are thoroughly in earnest, and, as history relates, the torn placesin the Union map were stitched together so nicely that no one could havetold, by mere observation, that a tear had ever been made. Andrew Johnson,who succeeded Lincoln upon the assassination of the latter, was aremarkable man. Born in North Carolina, he removed to Tennessee whenyoung, was Congressman, Governor, and United States Senator, beingmade military Governor of his State in 1862. A strong, stanch Union man,he was nominated for the Vice-Presidency on the Lincoln ticket toconciliate the War Democrats. After serving out his term as President, hewas again elected United States Senator from Tennessee, but died shortlyafter taking his seat. But he was just the sort of a man to assist "Uncle Abe"in sewing up the torn places in the Union map, and as military Governor ofTennessee was a powerful factor in winning friends in the South to theUnion cause."FIND OUT FOR YOURSELVES.""Several of us lawyers," remarked one of his colleagues, "in the eastern endof the circuit, annoyed Lincoln once while he was holding court for Davisby attempting to defend against a note to which there were many makers.We had no legal, but a good moral defense, but what we wanted most of allwas to stave it off till the next term of court by one expedient or another."We bothered 'the court' about it till late on Saturday, the day ofadjournment. He adjourned for supper with nothing left but this case todispose of. After supper he heard our twaddle for nearly an hour, and then