Speaking of the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg and
President Lincoln’s famous address, delivered on that occasion, Nov.
19, 1863, Gov. Curtain, of Pennsylvania, said that there had been much
discussion as to how and when that address was written, and he continued:
“I can tell you all about that. Of course I was there, and the President
and his cabinet had arrived and were at the hotel. Soon after his
arrival, as we were sitting around in the parlor, Mr. Lincoln looked
thoughtful for a moment or two, and then said: ‘I believe, gentlemen,
the committee are expecting me to say something here to-day. If you will
excuse me I will go into this room here and prepare it.’ After a time he
returned, holding in his hand a large, yellow government envelope, on
which he had written his address.
“‘Here, gentlemen,’ he said, ‘I want to read this to you to see if it
will do;’ and sitting down he read it to us, and then said: ‘Now for your
criticisms. Will it do? What do you say?’
“Several spoke in favor of it, and one or two commended it in strong
terms. ‘Well,’ says the President, ‘haven’t you any criticisms? What do
you say Seward?’
“Mr. Seward made one or two suggestions, bearing on some slight verbal
changes, which I believe Mr. Lincoln incorporated.
“‘Now if you will allow me, gentlemen,’ continued the President, ‘I will
copy this off;’ and again withdrew and made a copy of the address.”