Abraham Lincoln Converses with a Canadian Editor.

The editor of the London (Canada,) Free Press writing form Washington to his paper, describes an interview with the President.  Having been readily introduced to the august presence, the editor expressed his gratification with the easy means of access, whereupon quoth Abraham:

“President—‘Yes, this ready means of access is, I may say, under our form of government, the only link or cord which connects the people with the governing power; and, however unprofitable much of it is, it must be kept up; as for instance, a mother in a distant part, who has a son in the army who is regularly enlisted, has not served out his time, but has been as long as she thinks he ought to stay, will collect together all the little means she can bring to her here to entreat me to grant him his discharge.  Of course, I cannot interfere, and can only see her and speak kindly to her.  How far is your place from Detroit, sir?’

“‘About one hundred miles east from Detroit; we have no water communications, but have a very nice little inland city.  I intend remaining in Washington for a few days; all seems stir and commotion here.’

“President—‘Yes, there never was anything in history equal to this.’

“Your position must indeed be responsible and trying, President.’

“Yes, to think of it, it is very strange that I, a boy brought up in the woods, and seeing, as it were, but little of the world, should be drifted into the very apex of this great event.’

“‘I read your proclamation of this morning calling for more men; it will, no doubt, be filled up.’

“President—‘Yes, sir, it will be filled up.’

I then rose, saying—‘I thank you, Mr. President, for your kindness and courtesy.’

“President shakes hands again, and says: ‘I am most happy to have made your acquaintance.’

The President, in this interview, has exposed a popular error.  It has been supposed that in this country the people are the governing power and that the executive and legislative officers are only the servants of the people, under the Constitution—the supreme law of both the rulers and the governed.  We are now informed by the “Executive Government” that the ready means of access to the President is, “under our form of government, the only link or cord which connects the people with the governing power.”  It is not strange that “a boy brought up in the woods and seeing, as it were, but little of the world,” should entertain such crude notions of our form of government; but it seems strange, “as it were,” that this boy “should be drifted into the very apex of this great event.”  “To think of it,” we don’t understand the purposes of an over-ruling Providence in this matter, any better than the President.”

SOURCE: Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, New York, Tuesday, August 2, 1864, p. 2