During the Lincoln-Douglas joint debates of 1858, the latter accused
Lincoln of having, when in Congress, voted against the appropriation
for supplies to be sent the United States soldiers in Mexico. In reply,
Lincoln said: “This is a perversion of the facts. I was opposed to the
policy of the administration in declaring war against Mexico; but
when war was declared I never failed to vote for the support of
any proposition looking to the comfort of our poor fellows who were
maintaining the dignity of our flag in a war that I thought unnecessary
and unjust.”
He gradually became more and more excited; his voice thrilled and his
whole frame shook. Sitting on the stand was O. B. Ficklin, who had
served in Congress with Lincoln in 1847. Lincoln reached back, took
Ficklin by the coat-collar, back of his neck, and in no gentle manner
lifted him from his seat as if he had been a kitten, and roared:
“Fellow-citizens, here is Ficklin, who was at that time in Congress with
me, and he knows it is a lie.”
He shook Ficklin until his teeth chattered. Fearing he would shake
Ficklin’s head off, Ward Lamon grasped Lincoln’s hand and broke his
grip.
After the speaking was over, Ficklin, who had warm personal friendship
with him, said: “Lincoln, you nearly shook all the Democracy out of me
to-day.”
“AARON GOT HIS COMMISSION.”
President Lincoln was censured for appointing one that had zealously
opposed his second term.
He replied: “Well, I suppose Judge E., having been disappointed before,
did behave pretty ugly, but that wouldn’t make him any less fit for the
place; and I think I have Scriptural authority for appointing him.
“You remember when the Lord was on Mount Sinai getting out a commission
for Aaron, that same Aaron was at the foot of the mountain making a
false god for the people to worship. Yet Aaron got his commission, you
know.”