The first night after the departure of President-elect Lincoln from
Springfield, on his way to Washington, was spent in Indianapolis.
Governor Yates, O. H. Browning, Jesse K. Dubois, O. M. Hatch, Josiah
Allen, of Indiana, and others, after taking leave of Mr. Lincoln to
return to their respective homes, took Ward Lamon into a room, locked
the door, and proceeded in the most solemn and impressive manner to
instruct him as to his duties as the special guardian of Mr. Lincoln’s
person during the rest of his journey to Washington. Lamon tells the
story as follows:
“The lesson was concluded by Uncle Jesse, as Mr. Dubois was commonly,
called, who said:
“‘Now, Lamon, we have regarded you as the Tom Hyer of Illinois, with
Morrissey attachment. We intrust the sacred life of Mr. Lincoln to your
keeping; and if you don’t protect it, never return to Illinois, for we
will murder you on sight.”’