Mr. Lincoln had assisted in the prosecution of a fellow who stole some
fowls. The lawyer jogged homeward in the company of the jury foreman.
He eulogized the young man for his good work in the prosecution, and,
when the other returned the compliment by speaking warmly of the jury's
prompt and speedy deliverance of the verdict, the fereman replied:
"Yaas, the vagabond ought to be locked up. Why, when I was young and
pearter than I am now, I didn't mind packing a sheep or two off on my
back--but stealing hens--faugh! It is low and shows what the country is
coming to!"
* * * * *
"THE STATE AGAINST MR. WHISKY!"
When Lincoln was a briefless barrister, frequenting the courts on their
own peregrinations, to catch the eye of client or judge, he was at
Clinton, Illinois, where a case came up of a very modern nature. To be
sure, "the Shrieking Sisterhood" was then invented for the advocates of
female suffrage and anti-slavery. But these twelve or fifteen young
women presented themselves in custody for a novel charge. They had
failed to induce a liquor dealer to restrict his license, and "smashed"
his wine-parlor incontinently. Although public sympathy was theirs for
the act, as well as for their youth, prettiness, and sex, none of the
lawyers would take up their defense on account of the influence of the
brewers' and distillers' agent. In this emergency, Abraham Lincoln
stepped into the breach and volunteered to defend the defenseless.
"I would suggest, first," began he, "that there be a change in the
indictment so as to have it read 'The State against Mr. Whisky!'
instead of 'The State against these women.' This is the defense of
these women. The man who has persisted in selling whisky has had no
regard for their well-being or the welfare of their husbands and sons.
He has had no fear of God or regard for man; neither has he any regard
for the laws of the statute. No jury can fix any damages or punishment
for any violation of the moral law. The course pursued by this liquor
dealer has been for the demoralization of society. His groggery has
been a nuisance. These women, finding all moral suasion of no avail
with this fellow, oblivious to all, to all tender appeal and a like
regardless of their tears and prayers, in order to protect their
households and promote the welfare of the community, united to suppress
the nuisance. The good of society demanded its suppression! They
accomplished what otherwise could not have been done."--(_The Lincoln
Magazine_.)
* * * * *