A Story Concerning a Second Term

A gentleman, it is said, some time ago hinted to the President that it was deemed quite settled that he would accept a renomination for his present office, whereupon Mr Lincoln was reminded of a story of Jesse Dubois, out in Illinois.  Jesse, as State Auditor, had charge of the State House at Springfield.  An itinerant preacher came along and asked the use of it for a lecture.

“On what subject?” asked Jesse

“On the second coming of our Savior,” answered the long-faced Millerite.

“O bosh,” retorted Uncle Jesse testily: “I guess if our Savior had ever been to Springfield, and had got away with his life, he’d be too smart to think of coming back again.”

This, Mr. Lincoln said, was very much his case about the succession.

As a further elucidation of Mr. Lincoln’s estimate of Presidential honors, a story is told of how a supplicant for office of more than ordinary pretensions called upon him, and, presuming on the activity he had shown in behalf of the republican ticket, asserted, as a reason why the office should be given to him, that he had mad Mr. Lincoln President.  “You made me President, did you,” said Mr. Lincoln, with a twinkle of his eye.  “I think I did,” said the applicant.  “Then a precious mess you’ve got me into, that’s all,” replied the President, and closed the discussion.

SOURCE: New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, Friday, February 19, 1864, p. 5, and copied from the New York Evening Post, New York, New York, Wednesday, February 17, 1864.