Chauncey M. Depew says that Mr. Lincoln told him the following story,
which he claimed was one of the best two things he ever originated: He
was trying a case in Illinois where he appeared for a prisoner charged
with aggravated assault and battery. The complainant had told a horrible
story of the attack, which his appearance fully justified, when
the District Attorney handed the witness over to Mr. Lincoln, for
cross-examination. Mr. Lincoln said he had no testimony, and unless he
could break down the complainant’s story he saw no way out. He had
come to the conclusion that the witness was a bumptious man, who rather
prided himself upon his smartness in repartee and, so, after looking at
him for some minutes, he said:
“Well, my friend, how much ground did you and my client here fight
over?”
The fellow answered: “About six acres.”
“Well,” said Mr. Lincoln, “don’t you think that this is an almighty
small crop of fight to gather from such a big piece of ground?”
The jury laughed. The Court and District-Attorney and complainant all
joined in, and the case was laughed out of court.
“NEVER REGRET WHAT YOU DON’T WRITE.”
A simple remark one of the party might make would remind Mr. Lincoln of
an apropos story.
Secretary of the Treasury Chase happened to remark, “Oh, I am so sorry
that I did not write a letter to Mr. So-and-so before I left home!”
President Lincoln promptly responded:
“Chase, never regret what you don’t write; it is what you do write that
you are often called upon to feel sorry for.”