Soon after the opening of Congress in 1861, Mr. Shannon, from
California, made the customary call at the White House. In the
conversation that ensued, Mr Shannon said: “Mr. President, I met an old
friend of yours in California last summer, a Mr. Campbell, who had a
good deal to say of your Springfield life.”
“Ah!” returned Mr. Lincoln, “I am glad to hear of him. Campbell used
to be a dry fellow in those days,” he continued. “For a time he was
Secretary of State. One day during the legislative vacation, a meek,
cadaverous-looking man, with a white neck-cloth, introduced himself to
him at his office, and, stating that he had been informed that Mr. C.
had the letting of the hall of representatives, he wished to secure
it, if possible, for a course of lectures he desired to deliver in
Springfield.
“‘May I ask,’ said the Secretary, ‘what is to be the subject of your
lectures?’
“‘Certainly,’ was the reply, with a very solemn expression of
countenance. ‘The course I wish to deliver is on the Second Coming of
our Lord.’
“‘It is of no use,’ said C.; ‘if you will take my advice, you will not
waste your time in this city. It is my private opinion that, if the Lord
has been in Springfield once, He will never come the second time!’”