A few days before the President’s death, Secretary Stanton tendered
his resignation as Secretary of War. He accompanied the act with a most
heartfelt tribute to Mr. Lincoln’s constant friendship and faithful
devotion to the country, saying, also, that he, as Secretary, had
accepted the position to hold it only until the war should end, and that
now he felt his work was done, and his duty was to resign.
Mr. Lincoln was greatly moved by the Secretary’s words, and, tearing in
pieces the paper containing the resignation, and throwing his arms about
the Secretary, he said:
“Stanton, you have been a good friend and a faithful public servant, and
it is not for you to say when you will no longer be needed here.”
Several friends of both parties were present on the occasion, and there
was not a dry eye that witnessed the scene.
“JEFFY” THREW UP THE SPONGE.
When the War was fairly on, many people were astonished to find that
“Old Abe” was a fighter from “way back.” No one was the victim of
greater amazement than Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate
States of America. Davis found out that “Abe” was not only a hard
hitter, but had staying qualities of a high order. It was a fight to
a “finish” with “Abe,” no compromises being accepted. Over the title,
“North and South,” the issue of “Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper”
of December 24th, 1864, contained the cartoon, see reproduce on this
page. Underneath the picture were the lines:
“Now, Jeffy, when you think you have had enough of this, say so, and
I’ll leave off.” (See President’s message.) In his message to Congress,
December 6th,
President Lincoln said: “No attempt at negotiation with the insurgent
leader could result in any good. He would accept of nothing short of the
severance of the Union.”
Therefore, Father Abraham, getting “Jeffy’s” head “in chancery,”
proceeded to change the appearance and size of the secessionist’s
countenance, much to the grief and discomfort of the Southerner. It was
Lincoln’s idea to re-establish the Union, and he carried out his purpose
to the very letter. But he didn’t “leave off” until “Jeffy” cried
“enough.”