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A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 17 NUMBER 1 SPRING 2015 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

WWW.ABRAHAMLINCOLNASSOCIATION.ORG

A PSALM TO OUR MARTYRED PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Delivered by Frederick Douglass assassinated. And for this he, today, whom he did so much, have space at on June 1, 1865 commands our homage as a glorious least, for one stone in that monument, martyr. one stone which shall tell to after- coming generations the story of the Today, men all over have been thinking colored people’s love and gratitude to of Abraham Lincoln. Our statesmen, Abraham Lincoln. scholars, and poets have been celebrat- ing as never before the memory of our Those love most to whom most is for- martyred president. It is well. He is given. One of the most touching scenes worthy of it all, and it is becoming in all connected with the funeral of our la- to join, however humbly in these tokens mented President Lincoln occurred at of respect and veneration. the gate of the presidential mansion: a colored woman standing at the gate One thing will be at once conceded by weeping was asked the cause of her all generous minds. No people or class tears. ‘Oh! Sir,’ she said, ‘we have lost of people in this country have a better our Moses.’ ‘But,’ said the gentleman, Performed by Fred Morsell reason for lamenting the death of Abra- ‘the Lord will send you another.’ ‘That on February 12, 2015 ham Lincoln, and for desiring to honor may be,’ said the weeping woman, ‘but, and perpetuate his memory than have ah! We had him.’ To her mind, one ‘as I come before you this evening with the colored people of this country. And good,’ or ‘better’ might come in his much diffidence: the rarest gifts and the yet, we are about the only people who stead—but no such possibility to her best eloquence might well be employed have been in any case forbidden to ex- was equal to the reality—the actual here and now, and yet fail of justice to hibit our sorrow. The attempt to ex- possession—in the person of Abraham the dignity and solemnity of this occa- clude colored people from his funeral Lincoln. sion, as well as the character of the il- procession in New York was one of the lustrious deceased we tonight remem- most disgraceful and sickening mani- The colored people of America, from ber. festations of moral emptiness ever ex- first to last, fully believed in Abraham hibited by any nation or people profess- Lincoln. Though he sometimes wound- Had Abraham Lincoln died from any of ing to be civilized. ed them severely, yet they firmly trust- the numerous ills to which flesh is heir; ed in him. This was, however, no blind had he reached that good old age of What was Abraham Lincoln to the col- trust unsupported by reason. They early which his vigorous constitution and his ored people of America or they to him, caught a glimpse of the man, and from temperate habits gave promise; had he as compared with his predecessors? the evidence of their senses, they be- seen the end of the great work which it Abraham Lincoln, while unsurpassed in lieved in him. They viewed him in the was his good fortune to inaugurate, our his devotion to the welfare of the white light of his mission, and viewing him task this evening though sad and painful race, was also in a sense emphatically thus they trusted him, as men are sel- would be very simple. the black man’s president: he was the dom trusted. first to show any public respect for their But dying as he did die, by the red hand rights as men. Under Abraham Lincoln’s beneficent of violence, snatched suddenly away rule, they saw themselves being gradu- from his work without warning—killed, To our white fellow countrymen there- ally lifted to the broad plain of equal murdered, assassinated, not because of fore we say, follow your martyred pres- manhood. Under his rule, they saw personal hate, for no man who knew ident to his grave, lay the foundation of millions of their brethren proclaimed Abraham Lincoln could hate him; but his monument broad and strong—let its free and invested with the right to de- solely because he was the president— capstone rise towards the sky, do hom- fend their freedom: under his rule, they the faithful, loyal president of the Unit- age to his character, forever perpetuate saw the Confederate states broken to ed States—true to his country, and true his memory; but as you respect genuine pieces and swept from the face of exist- to the cause of human freedom, for sorrow and sincere bereavement, let the these reasons he was slain—murdered, colored people of this country—for (Continued on page 2)

2 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

(Continued from page 1) in ourselves and in our country. This All the great nations of this earth, no occasion, tonight, therefore, though sad matter how isolated their location, no ence. Under his rule, they saw the inde- and solemn is not one of gloom, when matter how carefully they exclude the pendence of Haiti and Liberia recog- we consider the future of the country. light of new ideas—are fated to pass nized and the whole colored race steadi- There is here joy as well as sorrow, through certain grand epochs, coming ly rising into the friendly consideration gratulation as well as grief, great gain upon them whether they will or not. of the American people. as well as great loss. These epochs come when they are ready to come and they depart when And so, we speak here tonight not This last drop in our cup of bitterness their work is done. merely as colored men and women, but was perhaps needed. No nation ever as American citizens, and we find the passed an ordeal better fitted to try its As a people, we are no exception to the prospect bright and glorious. strength or to test the value of its char- rule. One such period as this happened acter. ‘Know thyself’ is a wise admoni- to us, four score and nine years ago, The greatness and grandeur of the tion to nations as well as to individu- when our delegates sat in solemn as- American republic never appeared more als—a self-knowledge that has been sembly in Philadelphia and openly de- conspicuously than in connection with imparted to us by the four years of war clared our independence of Great Brit- this death of Abraham Lincoln. Though and by this last act of the war. ain. Then the American people with a great and powerful, this nation seemed courage that never quailed and a faith to have need of some great and wide- It had long been the settled opinion of that knew no doubt marched through spread calamity, some overwhelming European statesmen that our ship of bloody fields during all the length of sorrow, to reveal to ourselves and the state was too weak for stormy weather. seven years to make that declaration a world all the elements of our charac- They predicted that though beautiful to reality. Another and mightier than that ter—our national strength. the eye, and swift upon the wave, our is the one compressed within the nar- gallant bark would go down in the first row limits of the last four years. Noth- While it cannot be affirmed that our great storm. They had little faith in the ing strange has happened unto us. We long torn and distracted country has wisdom or virtue of “We—the peo- have been playing our appointed part in reached the desired condition of peace, ple”—and in the form of our popular the machinery of human advancement it may be said that we have survived the government. I have no reproaches for and civilization. terrible agonies of a fierce and sangui- these foreigners of little faith, for it can- nary rebellion and have before us a fair not be denied that many thoughtful and We had within our midst a gigantic prospect of a just and lasting peace. patriotic men here at home, have doubt- system of injustice and barbarism. ed and trembled while contemplating Slavery was a shocking offense against Already a strong hand is felt upon the the possibility of just such a conflict as the enlightened judgment of mankind— helm of state; the word has gone forth that through which we have now so a system which the world had out- that traitors and assassins, whether male nearly passed. grown, one which we were required by or female are to be punished: loyal and the necessity of our existence to put true men are to be rewarded and pro- I will not here argue the value of the away—peaceably if we could, forcibly tected. Slavery, that damning offense results of our conflict. I will, however, if we must. of generations, is to be entirely and for- argue the inevitability of the conflict. It ever abolished: the emancipated negro, was beyond the power of human will or What men have done, men will do; so long outraged and degraded is to be wisdom to have prevented what has what great nations and states have done enfranchised and clothed with the digni- happened. We should never forget that great nations and states will do. During ty of American citizenship: the poor this dreadful war was a part of and this tremendous struggle for national white man of the south, scornfully de- sprung out of the fundamental elements unity and national identity, so fierce, nominated by the rich slaveholders, as of our national structure, and was una- bitter and sanguinary, so long protract- the ‘poor white trash,’ are to be deliv- voidable. We have but reaped where ed and so desperate, we have illustrated ered from their political and social de- we have sown. and exemplified the best and noblest basement: the loyal and patriot dead, qualities which distinguish human na- whether dying of wounds on the field or When slavery was first planted in the ture, as well as those which most blot of starvation in rebel prisons are to be national soil, treason, rebellion, and and disgrace it. gratefully remembered and honored assassination were planted with it and forever. their bloody fruit was bequeathed to the The history of this war for the union present generation. and for free institutions will possess Henceforth there is to be no north, no many thrilling chapters but none which south in American politics, but a com- And if in the coming reconstruction or will so interest, so astound mankind as mon country of all for all. restoration we shall incorporate any of that which shall contain a faithful rec- the seeds of injustice, any of the re- ord of the events and scenes which have Out of the vast and dreadful concatena- maining seeds of slavery, we shall re- transpired in our country during these tion of evils which have environed us, peat the mistake of our fathers, with the last seven weeks. during these four years of treason, re- certainty that our children will reap a bellion and assassination, we still can similar harvest of blood to that we have see the blue sky above; we believe still just experienced. (Continued on page 3)

FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 3

(Continued from page 2) ners, or in the crime itself to separate and terrible. In his ten days wandering him from the south—or that should after committing his crime, he must We have here seen and felt the concen- make the south disown him. have suffered more than a hundred trated virus—the moral poison— deaths. I can conceive of no torture accumulated by more than two centu- Let us not mistake public opinion either more extreme than his. ries of human slavery, pouring itself out at the north or the south. Such a mis- upon the nation as a vial of wrath, in take is the danger. We have done too This world is old, and its experience one dreadful and shocking crime—the much of this. Public journals all over vast, but was there ever such an hour, first of its kind in the annals of this na- the north, have had sympathies with the caused by the announcement of the tion. rebels and traitors. Take the federal death of any monarch, as was caused by soldiers from the Confederate states the news of the death of Abraham Lin- That accursed thing—slavery—so long today, and tomorrow the very elite of coln? Was ever any people so instantly defended in the name of the Bible and the south will drink to the memory of and so universally overwhelmed with religion, in the name of law and order, Booth the assassin. grief? Did ever a great and victorious

properly celebrates its own death by a You see, assassination accords well nation so suddenly pass from exaltation crime that sends a shudder around the with the horrid profanation of the and joy to the very dust and ashes of world by this appropriate exhibition of graves of our brave soldiers and making mourning. I know of none and this slaveholding hate. It is well that slav- ornaments of their bones. It accords world knows of none. ery should give this mean and bloody well with the system of starvation sign at its death. It is meet that it adopted by the Confederate government The blow came when we were rejoicing should go to its grave under a storm of in its treatment of our prisoners. Men in great and decisive victories. The execration from every quarter of the who whip women with their hands tied, rebel capital had fallen, General Lee globe. and burn their names into their flesh had surrendered; the loyal press had put with hot irons, cannot be allowed any off the wrinkled front of war, and was Hereafter, when men think of slavery, especial abhorrence of assassination. appealing for clemency on behalf of the they will think of murder; hereafter defeated rebels. The feeling of resent- when men think of slave-holders, they Friends, southern responsibility for the ment and wrath was everywhere giving will think of assassins; hereafter, when assassination is found in the fact that way to a spirit of forgiveness; the men think of southern chivalry they this crime was freely talked of at the whole national horizon seemed fringed will think of our starving prisoners at south, and the time and the place were with the golden dawn of peace; when Andersonville; hereafter, when men specified previously to Mr. Lincoln’s all at once we were startled, amazed, think of southern honor, they will think first inauguration. His journey to struck down by this most foul and of the assassination of Abraham Lin- Washington was the time and Balti- dreadful murder of the gentle man from coln. Deny it who will, doubt it who more was the appointed place for the Springfield, Illinois, who had malice may, that hell-black deed—the murder planned tragedy. Men at the north gave towards none, but charity towards all. of our president, sprang from the very us to understand—that though elected, heart of the aristocratic class of south- Mr. Lincoln could never be inaugurat- We remember vividly the circumstanc- ern “honor.” ed. That the evil prophecies were not es. While seated with his wife, in a fulfilled, we all know, was owing to his private box at Ford’s Theatre, set apart I know that some of the leaders of the travelling by an irregular train and ar- by its proprietor for the president and rebellion have affected to deplore it, but riving in Baltimore at an unexpected his family—while putting off the bur- slave-holders know we know, and the time. John Wilkes Booth only did at dens of state for the moment, observing world knows where the responsibility the last what was meditated, threatened, the play entitled Our American Cousin, for this crime belongs. The assassin— and expected at the very outset of the which he had been specially invited to John Wilkes Booth—not less than any rebellion. witness—all unconscious of danger to member of the late Confederate govern- himself or to the state, Abraham Lin- ment, represented a cause and was the Booth, however, is not one whit guiltier coln was shot down by an assassin who very image of that cause. than General Lee and President Davis. stood behind him, and died from the They were all servants and brothers in a wound the ensuing morning. Along Booth the assassin is of the south. His common cause, a common conspiracy with it came that stunning announce- affiliations were of the south. He fired and a common crime. The beginning of ment that Secretary of State William H. his deadly shot in the interest of the the rebellion was assassination and the Seward had been assassinated in his south; his motto of defiance after com- end of the rebellion is assassination. It chamber, and that both himself and his mitting the atrocious crime was copied is consistent throughout. It ends as it son must die from the terrible wounds from the south “sic semper tyrannis,” began. inflicted by the assassins. Fortunately, or “thus ever to tyrants.” After he that news was incorrect. leaped onto the stage he shouted “the It has been sometimes regretted that south is avenged.” From the first of the Booth was not captured alive. I waste Then came the intimation that these war he took sides with the south. His no regrets upon this point. The ends of assassinations were not individual out- first thought, upon the commission of justice in his case have been satisfied. breaks of malign passions. The assas- the crime, was escape to the south. His punishment has been indeed swift There is nothing in his morals or man- (Continued on page 4)

4 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

(Continued from page 3) brother—one sister—knows another, colored man. and they loved him as one brother—one sins had only accomplished a part of the sister—loves another. He was not only I found him as you all know him to bloody work. Murder was to have had the president of this country, but a have been a plain man. There was nei- a more extended circle. All the heads member of each loyal family in this ther paint nor varnish about him. His of the state and the head of the army country. The very picture of his plain, manners were simple, unaffected, un- were to have fallen. Men everywhere American face was loved as the picture studied. His language was like himself, recognized in these horrors the head and of a dear relation. strong, sinewy and earnest. I never met heart of the rebellion. The life taken a man who could so easily and swiftly was not the life the murderers sought. Abraham Lincoln was not exotic. He state just what he wished to make ap- It was not the president but the coun- was thoroughly American in all that parent. There are probably few men try—this nation—us—you and me—the distinguishes his character. There was who could. He was conscious of the United States of America—they would not a fibre in his whole composition vast responsibilities resting upon him, strike down through him. that did not identify him with his coun- but bore himself as one able to bear try. He was a self-made man and the them successfully. His dignity as the What a day! What a day to the Ameri- American people saw in him, a full- president never stood in the way of his can people was that fourteenth of April. length portrait of themselves. In him amiability as a man. He was the same For a moment we were suspended over they saw their better qualities represent- man from whichever side you viewed a howling abyss of anarchy and social ed, incarnated and glorified and as such him. Far from feeling restrained in his chaos; a hush went out over the land. they loved him. Other men have, per- presence, he acted upon me as all truly Men spoke to each other with bated haps, been as much honored, but no great men act upon their fellow men— breath, voices broken and scarcely audi- American has been so much loved by as a liberator. From the first five ble. What a tumult of emotions the American people. minutes I seemed to myself to have throbbed in all loyal hearts that day. been acquainted with him during all my We were smitten with a feeling of You see, friends, tonight we stand too life. He was one of the most solid men shame for the fiendish possibilities of near the newly made grave of Abraham I ever met, and one of the most trans- human nature. For a moment there Lincoln, either for a just analysis of his parent. stole through men’s hearts a strange character, or for a dispassionate review distrust of each other. They looked at of his official life. The wound caused Born in Kentucky, living in Illinois, he their fellow citizens with a searching by his death is yet too deep, too fresh, was accustomed to seeing the colored glance, for no one could tell how far the the sorrow too lasting and the mind too man in most unfavorable conditions, dark spirit of assassination had travelled excited with the scenes of sorrow for but, once in office, Mr. Lincoln came to nor where the blow could next fall. just criticism or an unbiased eulogy. look upon the black man as an Ameri- can citizen. As I look back seven weeks to that day, The sad and solemn pageantry of his the one feeling—the one that stirred funeral has not yet faded from our vi- During my first interview with him, his deepest the hearts of men, and caused sion: the long and imposing procession secretary twice announced that Gover- their eyes to alternate between tears at winding its way through distant states, nor Buckingham of Connecticut, one of one moment, and sparks of fire at an- towards the setting sun is still in sight. the most patriotic of the loyal governors other, was a feeling of sorrow, a sense The booming of distant cannon pro- of the time, was in an adjoining room. of personal bereavement. What was the claiming a nation’s grief, has hardly Mr. Lincoln said, “Tell the governor to cause of this deep sorrow? Who can ceased to reverberate, the national flag wait for I want to have a long talk with explain whence came the hold this man still waves sadly at half mast. The im- my friend, Fred Douglass.” I interposed had upon the American people? His age of him who has gone lingers in our and begged that the president would high, official character, no doubt had hearts and minds, like the last smile of a receive the governor at once, as I could something to do with it, but very evi- loving mother just quitting the shores of wait; but no, President Lincoln persisted dently not all. Other presidents have time. and I remained a full hour after this died, though none have been assassinat- with him, while Governor Buckingham ed before; yet none were ever so It was my privilege to know Abraham waited patiently in an adjoining room. mourned as has been our president, Lincoln and to know him well. I saw This was probably the first time in the Abraham Lincoln. and conversed with him at different history of this democratic republic times during his administration and when the chief magistrate of the country What, then, was the cause of our grief? upon two occasions at least, by his spe- kept the popular governor of an im- Humbly, may I affirm that it was not cial invitation. He was the first Ameri- portant state waiting in another room because the country had lost a presi- can president, who thus rose above the for an interview, while he, the presi- dent; it was because the world had lost prejudice of his times and country. I dent, held a protracted conversation a man—a man whose like we may not mention this as a proof of his independ- with an ex-slave and a member of a see again. The fact is the people of ence, because he knew that he could do despised, persecuted and widely hated America, in the very depths of their nothing which would call down upon race. From the manner of Governor souls, loved this man. They knew him more fiercely the ribaldry of the Abraham Lincoln, and knew him as one vulgar than by showing any respect to a (Continued on page 5)

FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 5

(Continued from page 4) have often in these past weeks—and me some special hold upon his friend- probably will for years to come— ship. I know the main thing was that I Buckingham when he was admitted, he regretted that I allowed a previous en- represented in some measure the colored was about as well pleased with what gagement to come between me and this people of the republic and could help in Mr. Lincoln had done as I was. In the invitation to the Soldiers’ Home. No his great work of suppressing rebellion time spent with him, I felt myself in the such opportunity had ever come to me and restoring the American Union. atmosphere of a great soul—one alto- before in this country and as I look gether too great to remind me of my back to it, I might well have been ex- Conscious always of the tremendous humble condition or my inferiority as to cused by a pretty large crowd to have responsibility which the crisis devolved race or color. I learned quickly that the such a meeting with our friend, Abra- upon him, and conscious always of his man Mr. Lincoln was greater than the ham Lincoln. own insufficiency, at the last he was still president Lincoln. resolved to do what he could to save the We can truthfully say that this was a country and to receive counsel from even While I am perhaps bragging of the great man. His memory will never the humblest quarter to that end. Abra- relations subsisting between this man cease to be sacredly cherished by a ham Lincoln felt himself to be the presi- and myself, I may add that I found one grateful and loyal nation, and we like dent of the United States of America, but night—at the door of the house where I the colored woman attending his funer- the great dignity of the presidency never was stopping—the carriage of one of al seen crying at the gate of the presi- stood in the way of his availability as a the directors of the Department of Indi- dential mansion, when reminded that man. From which ever side the observer an Affairs—Secretary Dole—with an the Lord will send another, we can say: beheld him, Abraham Lincoln was al- invitation from President Lincoln to ‘That may be,’ ‘but, ah! We had him.’ ways the same man—animated by the take tea with him at the Soldiers’ same great purpose: Union and Liberty Home, where he spent his nights. I I hope I did not take his attentions to me for all. have seldom allowed anything to in- altogether as due to my personal qualities duce me to break an engagement which while the fact of my being like himself it was possible for me to keep, but I after a fashion—a self-made man—gave

“LINCOLN’S LEGACY OF JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY: OUR CHALLENGE A CENTURY AND A HALF LATER”

Dr. Edna Greene Medford

Professor and Chair of History, Howard University

1:45 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2015

Ballroom, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Springfield, Illinois

Free and open to the public.

Doors open to the public at 1:30 p.m. following a ticketed luncheon.

For information about and obtaining reservations for the luncheon see www.lincolnfuneralcoalition.org

The Lincoln Funeral

The Abraham Lincoln Association has published The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln: May 3rd and 4th, 1865, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Abraham Lin- coln. The 275-page book was a gift to those attending the 2015 Lincoln Day Banquet.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, please send a check for $25 plus $8.00 shipping and handling to: Abraham Lincoln Association, P. O. Box 729, Bloomington, Illinois 61702 or order on line at:

www.abrahamlincolnassociation.org/funeral.aspx

6 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

From Mr. Lincoln to Abraham Lincoln, from the Personal to the

Historical: Google’s Ngram Viewer as a Research Tool

ducting a case-insensitive search, a re- Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, and President Lin- searcher must enter the phrase or word ex- coln are mentioned most frequently. actly how one wishes for it to be searched. For instance, should a search include Mr. As one would expect, 1858, the election Lincoln with the period to mark the abbre- year in which Abraham Lincoln and Ste- viation of Mister, or should it leave the phen Douglas engaged in a series of well- period off as is customary with British publicized debates, is when Lincoln made English and search Mr Lincoln? What is his mark with the American public. This is exciting about the Ngram viewer is that the reflected in the books and periodicals pub- engine can search both simultaneously. lished at the time. While Abraham Lincoln Christopher J. Young and, strangely, President Lincoln begin to Indiana University Northwest Furthermore, the Google Books Ngram be mentioned enough for a showing on the Viewer allows one to search multiple lan- graph, it is Mr. Lincoln that is by far the Digital platforms provide refreshing ways guages. One can search scanned books preferred term when discussing Abraham to look at the familiar. Whether it is map- written in English (English in general, Lincoln in the contemporary literature. ping or searching digitized newspapers, the American English, British English, or Eng- Anyone familiar with nineteenth-century digital revolution is certainly forcing us to lish Fiction), Chinese, French, German, American life would not be surprised by reconsider how we do research while open- Hebrew, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. All the formal salutation of “Mister” when dis- ing up new opportunities for the scholar- the languages listed above, with the excep- cussing a prominent member of a commu- ship of discovery. One such digital vehicle tion of Chinese, Hebrew, and Russian, nity or a country or even, for that matter, is the Google Books Ngram Viewer. While yielded results for Abraham Lincoln. This one’s husband. the Ngram Viewer may or may not shed is not entirely surprising since the latter new insights on Abraham Lincoln (or any languages use different characters. The three most-used terms reach their apex research topic, for that matter), it certainly in 1865 when the Civil War—and Lin- encourages us to view and understand the When the terms Abraham Lincoln, Abe coln’s life—ended. What may surprise us man—or how people thought and remem- Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln, Pres- today is that mention of Lincoln in the dec- bered him—from a new perch. ident Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, and Mr Lincoln ade that followed his death takes a are entered for the purpose of graphing in nosedive, reaching its nineteenth-century The Google Books Ngram Viewer allows Google Books Ngram Viewer, some things nadir during the late 1870s, around the con- for a word or phrase search of all the books become immediately apparent. Those of us troversial 1876 election. This suggests that and other printed material from 1500 to in the Midwest may be surprised to learn the business of reconstruction and redemp- 2008 that have been scanned by Google. that Abe Lincoln is not used very often. tion, among other issues not pertaining To begin, go to books.google.com/ngrams. While in terms of the vernacular this may specifically to Abraham Lincoln, occupied There you will find a sample chart that il- be surprising, when it comes to books and the minds of those publishing and reading lustrates a search result using the key terms periodicals it is not. Abe Lincoln is much books and periodicals in English. Albert Einstein, Sherlock Holmes, and too informal for written work. Likewise Frankenstein. To proceed, go to the search Mr Lincoln (without the period after the Around 1890, Mr. Lincoln remained the box, delete the three names listed, and abbreviation) and President Abraham Lin- preferred mode of referring to the deceased commence your own search by entering a coln are used so little in English language sixteenth president of the United States, but word, or words, a phrase, or phrases, sepa- texts in general as to be statistically insig- a change begins to happen with the other rating each by a comma. While there is a nificant. In English language books checkbox that provides the option for con- scanned by Google, the terms Abraham (Continued on page 7)

Figure 1. The Ngram Viewer illustrates word frequency in books and other printed material scanned by Google.

FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 7

(Continued from page 6) British English. As for the latter, even 1920 dedication in Parliament Square of a though the British liked to think of Lincoln replica of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s Lin- two most used terms. At this time, the as one of their own in the wake of the coln: The Man (or more readily known as words Abraham Lincoln bypass those of Great War, the Ngram Viewer results sug- Chicago’s “Standing Lincoln”). On that President Lincoln. This, I believe, marks gest that he becomes a historical figure rainy summer day, the prime minister told the first phase in Lincoln’s apotheosis into much sooner in Great Britain (1891) than the crowd that Abraham Lincoln was “also the pantheon of historic American heroes. in the United States (1912). One might our possession and our pride.” “In his life While the memories of veterans and other expect this trend since there would have he was a great American,” the prime min- adults who lived during the Civil War may been fewer emotional ties to the person ister added, but he “is no longer so. He is have begun to fade, there were still enough and the president in Great Britain than in one of those giant figures, of whom there contemporaries of Lincoln among the liv- America. are very few in history, who lose their na- ing that in the literature written in English, tionality in death.” Mr. Lincoln remains the preferred way of The ability to expand the scope of the referring to Abraham Lincoln. search beyond the United States, or even Likewise, when the mayor of Berlin, Willy Great Britain, allows us to further our un- Brandt, visited Springfield in 1959, he told Following the eclipse of the term President derstanding of President Lincoln’s interna- attendees at the sesquicentennial celebra- Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln continued to tional standing, especially in the years and tion that Lincoln “spoke of the eternal grow in usage, but not quite reaching the decades following his death. When view- struggle between democracy and tyranny.” more formal Mr. Lincoln. The ups and ing the search results of different lan- The struggle of which Lincoln spoke, downs of usage of the two terms mirror guages, it becomes clear that Lincoln’s Mayor Brandt told the audience, “has torn each other until 1915, during the first full popularity transcended time and space apart the European continent and . . . has year of the Great War. It is at this time during times of global crisis, most notably assumed world-wide dimensions.” that Lincoln, the graph suggests, truly be- during the two world wars. For contempo- comes a historic figure, and not the presi- raries of both of these defining twentieth- As the graphs in this article suggest, the dent of one’s personal memory. After this century events, Lincoln was the one leader Ngram Viewer is another tool in the histo- moment in time, the term Mr. Lincoln goes who lived through a crucible of carnage rian’s toolbox for considering similar or into steady decline, with a brief resurgence and destruction, ultimately forfeiting his dissimilar trends over time. It helps con- during World War II, but never coming own life and becoming one of its final vic- duct an additional layer of analysis that close to recovering its former status, espe- tims. complements the qualitative evidence of cially in comparison to its nomenclature Lincoln’s international influence as ex- competitor, Abraham Lincoln. More than any other American leader, pressed in the words of Brandt and Lloyd transatlantic friends of the United States George. The Ngram Viewer hints at the The results become both more interesting identified with Abraham Lincoln. British scope of influence Abraham Lincoln had and complicated when we divide our Prime Minister David Lloyd George ex- on a world increasingly racked by military search between American English and pressed eloquently this resonance at the violence.

Figure 2. During World War I, Abraham Lincoln became more thoroughly a historical figure, judging by the use of Abraham Lincoln instead of Mr. Lincoln.

Figure 3. This graph depicts the frequencies of terms associated with Abraham Lincoln in British English. The term Abraham Lin- coln is used much earlier than in American English and English in general, suggesting an earlier transformation from the personal to the historical.

8 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

Figure 4. This graph illustrates the usage of the words Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, and President Lincoln in the German literature. The uptick during major conflicts and times of tension are reflected in other Europe- an languages as well.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE ALA

Linda Moulton We welcome 20 new members. They Your membership is essential to the are from 10 states. New Berlin, Illinois ALA’s success. It allows the ALA to provide you with the For The People Donnell Nantkes Brian Barnes newsletter and the Journal of the Abra- Orlando, Florida ham Lincoln Association and to spon- Merrillville, Indiana sor many worthwhile programs related Wanita Niehaus to the life of Abraham Lincoln. Please William Bennett Arlington, Virginia Champaign, Illinois join. Alan K. Nudelman William G. Shepherd, John Bybee Milford, Connecticut Membership Chairman Vermont, Illinois William Parker If you have not renewed your Howard Knapp Paradise Valley, Arizona Waterloo, Iowa membership for 2015, George Rodosky please do so now. Dale Kroop Barrington, Illinois Hamden, Connecticut Give a gift membership to Dana Shadrick Robert Lawless Barrington, Illinois someone you think might Champaign, Illinois enjoy the ALA. Dale Swisher John Leis Cincinnati, Ohio It is easy to do so by using the ALA Laurel, Maryland website at: Richard and Marilyn Thies abrahamlincolnassociation.org Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall Urbana, Illinois Burr Ridge, Illinois Or call the ALA personal shopper Randall Thomas Mary Shepherd toll free at (866) 865- James D. Mathews Springfield, Illinois 8500. Baldwinsville, New York

Brooks Simpson: Thank You for Your Service

Brooks Simpson has been a member of the Board of Directors of the ALA since 1998. He has served the ALA in many capacities from his perch at beautiful Arizona State University. During my term as Presi- dent, he was most generous with wise advice and counsel. I know that his generosity continued under Presidents Lenz and Stuart. For the last six years, Brooks has chaired the ALA Benjamin P. Thomas Symposium Committee, and the programs he created for us stand as an ALA high point.

My favorite memories of Brooks occurred during the 2009 Bicentennial. Brooks’s daughter Becca was present, and Brooks was a most loving father in making sure that she was up front and participating in all of the events of that special period — especially the appearance of President Obama. Brooks’s wife Cheryl was always a wonderful addition to any ALA event. What a marvelous family.

Brooks is now retiring from his Chairmanship and as a Director of the ALA. Brooks, thanks for your service and Godspeed to you and your family in all future endeavors. We will miss you. Richard E. Hart

FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 9

Commemoration of 150th Anniversary of Ratification of the 13th Amendment by State of Illinois

On February 3, 2015, the Illinois State Senate James Cornelius, Matthew Holden, and Bob commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Davis. The Lincoln Land Community Col- ratification by the Illinois General Assembly lege Choir sang the National Anthem to begin of the 13th Amendment to the United States the proceedings and concluded them with the Constitution. The program of this commemo- “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The State ration began with the Color Guard of the Senate also adopted a resolution commending 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Reactivated its predecessor state senators who in 1865 led by ALA Board member Jim Patton. were the first legislative body in the United

States to ratify the constitutional amendment st Also contributing to the program were a num- that abolished slavery. 1 Sgt. Carrell, Pvt. Buckles, Sgt. Leinicke, Sgt. Schachtsiek, Pvt. Morrow, Sgt. Pasko (Bugler), and ber of other ALA Board members, including William Shepherd Lt. Col. Patton Why Illinois Could be Called the Emancipation State

By Michael Burlingame A member of the House later recalled that order] that the Union might live, that by this Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair fateful day: “The time for the momentous sublime act this dark, foul blot might be in Lincoln Studies vote had now come, and no language could wiped from her proud escutcheon, appeared to University of Illinois Springfield describe the solemnity and impressiveness of drive out every other thought. Men spoke in the spectacle pending the roll-call. The suc- whispers, as if standing among the tombs of Illinois played a supremely important role in cess of the measure had been considered very the past, and before them was the angel of the destruction of American slavery, which doubtful, and depended upon certain negotia- light and liberty pointing to the glorious fu- was abolished nationwide by the Thirteenth tions, the result of which was not fully as- ture of the Republic.” Amendment in 1865. Not only had President sured. . . . The anxiety and suspense during Abraham Lincoln paved the way with his the balloting produced a deathly stillness, but Many of the legislators’ constituents rejoiced. 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and other when it became certainly known that the A Chicago Tribune reporter in Springfield steps, but Lyman Trumbull of Alton and Chi- measure had prevailed, the cheering in the noted that when the senate vote was an- cago, chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary densely packed hall and galleries surpassed nounced, “The result was hailed by terrific Committee, was co-author of the document. all precedent and beggared all description. applause from the floor, the lobby, and the On February 10, 1864, Trumbull reported out Members joined in the general shouting, galleries.” The Tribune spoke for many of its the following amendment to the Constitution: which was kept up for several minutes, many readers when it expressed pleasure in the re-

embracing each other, and others completely sult: “The last shackle is gone from the limbs SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary surrendering themselves to their tears of joy.” of Freedom. There is henceforth no shelter for servitude, except as a punishment for crime the oppressor in all the land. The man-seller whereof the party shall have been duly con- Immediately after the House voted, Senator and the woman-whipper, the negro-driver and victed, shall exist within the United States or Trumbull telegraphed Illinois Governor Rich- the man-hunter, may read their doom gone any place subject to their jurisdiction. ard J. Oglesby, imploring him: “Let Illinois forth in the record of yesterday, which will

be the first to ratify.” Next morning, Oglesby shine on the page of all time with the greatest SECTION 2. Congress shall have power to complied, urging the General Assembly to events that have blessed our race. In the halls enforce this article by appropriate legislation. “Let Illinois be the first State in the Union to where pro-slavery, rancor, and hate through

ratify by the act of her Legislature this pro- long years held Liberty bound and gagged to The wording was borrowed from the North- posed amendment to the Constitution of the be buffeted by her enemies, Freedom has west Ordinance of 1787, which had prohibit- United States. It is just, it is humane, it is been decreed, and a glad nation comes rejoic- ed slavery from expanding into what became constitutional, it is right to do so.” In re- ing to its remotest bounds. Liberty is the law Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, sponse, the state senators suspended the rules, of the land. No barbarism out of the past will and part of Minnesota. To become part of the listened to a reading of the resolution endors- threaten a nation whose law-givers have dared Constitution, Trumbull’s amendment had to ing the amendment, briefly debated it, nar- to hold fast to the primal law of human pro- win approval by two-thirds of each house of rowly defeated a motion to table it, and gress — human rights. This gigantic stride in Congress and by the legislatures of three– passed it by a vote of 18-6, with five Demo- our progress towards national purity, univer- fourths of the states. crats joining all the Republicans in favor. sal liberty, and righteous peace will be hailed

The House then concurred by a straight party with deep exultation and religious gratitude After much debate, the Senate passed Trum- vote: 48 to 28. by our liberty-loving American people. We bull’s amendment in April 1864. In June, congratulate the friends of Freedom in the however, the U.S. House failed to do so, vot- William Bross, the lieutenant governor then present Congress that they have redeemed the ing in favor of the amendment by a majority presiding over the state senate, later recalled fame of that body. They have removed, so far of less than the required two-thirds. On Janu- the “deep solemnity which accompanied the as they had the power, the last moral stain ary 31, 1865, the House reconsidered its earli- passage of the resolution. The whole history from our National escutcheon — the only er action and approved the amendment. (That of the struggles of mankind for freedom disgrace from our flag.” story has become familiar thanks to Steven through all the ages seemed pictured on the Spielberg’s recent film Lincoln.) minds of the members. Especially did visions (Continued on page 10) of the dear ones sleeping their last sleep [in 10 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

The Abraham Lincoln Association PRESIDENT ROBERT A. STUART’S GREETING

Robert A. Stuart, Jr. President Fellow members of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Kathryn M. Harris Vice President The Abraham Lincoln Association does not have the largest membership for a James M. Cornelius Secretary not-for-profit association, nor does it have a huge endowment. But it has a wealth of talent within its ranks and a multitude of members with passion for our Douglas M. Barringer Treasurer mission of preserving Mr. Lincoln’s legacy. This was evident over the last sev- th Robert J. Lenz eral months, culminating in the activities surrounding our February 12 birthday Immediate Past-President celebration.

Mary F. Shepherd Executive Manager From celebrating in the reconstruction of the Gate into Oak Ridge Cemetery,

which will play a significant role in the reenactment of Lincoln’s funeral in April Board of Directors and May of this year, to the selection and presentation of the Lincoln the Lawyer Kenneth L. Anderson award to Richard Thies, to the tireless efforts in putting the symposium and ban- William E. Bartelt J. Steven Beckett quet together, at every stage our members were there and working both up front Roger D. Billings, Jr. as well as providing the labor behind the scenes. Justin A. Blandford Roger D. Bridges Michael Burlingame If you were present, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you had to miss these events, I hope Nancy L. Chapin Robert J. Davis you will mark your calendar to attend next year. Jim Edgar Guy C. Fraker Sara Vaughn Gabbard It is a true privilege for me to serve with such dedicated individuals and to count you as a loyal sup- Joseph E. Garrera porter. Enjoy this newsletter produced from the passion and efforts of yet another tremendous member W. Joseph Gibbs Donald R. Graham and which reflects on these activities. Allen C. Guelzo Richard E. Hart We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and having you become further involved in the Fred B. Hoffmann Matthew Holden Abraham Lincoln Association. Barbara Hughett Robert A. Stuart, Jr., President David Joens Thomas S. Johnson Ron J. Keller Richard W. Maroc Edna Greene Medford Lucas E. Morel James W. Patton III (Continued from page 9) began yesterday. I have the honor to The Illinois State Journal speculated Mark A. Plummer inform those present that Illinois has that by leading the way, the action William G. Shepherd The editor of Springfield’s Republi- already to-day done the work. Mar- of the twenty-fourth General Assem- Kay Smith Ronald D. Spears can newspaper, the Illinois State yland was about half through; but I bly of Illinois “will render the Legis- Daniel W. Stowell Journal, immediately wired the feel proud that Illinois is a little lature of 1865 immortal.” Louise Taper N. Ron Thunman president: “Joint resolution ratifying ahead.” Donald R. Tracy amendment to the Constitution has Delaware is so proud that it was the Andy Van Meter just passed both branches of our As soon as the General Assembly first state to ratify the U.S. Constitu- Daniel R. Weinberg Robert Willard Legislature with a great hurrah.” had finished voting, a journalist in tion that it calls itself “The First Stewart L. Winger That evening, Lincoln told a crowd Springfield accurately predicted that State,” a title displayed on its license

of well-wishers who had gathered “Probably Illinois will prove to be plates. Illinois might justly call itself Honorary Directors outside the White House to celebrate the first state to ratify this second “The Emancipation State,” but as a President Barack Obama the amendment’s adoption by Con- Magna Charta of human liberty.” In Lincoln scholar, I would not recom- Governor Bruce Rauner gress: “The occasion was one of fact, Illinois just barely did win the mend changing the current language Senator Richard Durbin Senator Mark Kirk congratulations to the country and to race to be the first state to ratify the found on our state’s license plates. Congressman Rodney Davis the whole world. But there is a task amendment. The following day, Congressman John Shimkus Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride yet before us, to go forward and February 2, the legislatures of Mayor Michael J. Houston consummate by the votes of the Rhode Island and Michigan fol-

States that which Congress so nobly lowed the Prairie State’s example. Emeritus Directors

Molly M. Becker Brooks Davis CALL FOR ARTICLES Cullom Davis Earl W. Henderson, Jr.

Do you have an article that would be suitable for publication in the newsletter? Don’t be Distinguished Directors shy, as this newsletter is a forum for the exchange of new material and viewpoints. Also, if Doris Kearns Goodwin you have a student who has written a particularly fine paper, consider submitting that pa- Lewis E. Lehrman Wayne C. Temple per. All are invited to make a submission to: Garry Wills Richard E. Hart Editor, For The People 217-553-0055 [email protected]

FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 11

Remarks to the Illinois State Senate, February 3, 2015: Illinois’s Black Laws and Their Repeal Matthew Holden, Jr. as well as South, Illinois as well as my native There were other restrictions. Wepner Distinguished Professor in Political Mississippi.

Science, University of Illinois Springfield People of African origin: Illinois had not allowed legal slavery per se, Mr. President, Members of the Senate, Ladies but its legal restrictions upon Blacks were Could not sit on juries and Gentlemen: very severe. The Illinois Black Laws Could not vote Could not hold office My assignment is to offer some remarks as a amounted to a system of near-slavery with- Did not have the right to marry whites basis for discussion on the Black Laws and out anybody claiming ownership. Could not send their children to public their repeal in 1865. It is, of course, a great schools. professional honor to be asked to participate Understanding the Black Laws in a session to make some remarks related to Illinois was not the only place without legal Reconsideration of the Black Laws the Lincoln Presidency, as we come to the slavery but with these special laws upon per- end of the 150th year after Lincoln’s death. sons of African ancestry. Ohio, Michigan, Ms. Heinzel writes, “At stake was who could The Thirteenth Amendment was the step to Indiana, and Wisconsin were the other four belong in Illinois—physically and ideologi- make chattel slavery thereafter out of the states of the former Northwest Territory. cally.” This is a way of stating what I have question. Marion B. Lewis, reviewing a study of all come to see as Lincoln’s Third Problem, these states, says, “The record is stark: virtual whether the freed African population could be On February 1, 1865, the day that Congress slavery at its worst and domination at its “forever free,” as much as anyone else was. sent forth the Thirteenth Amendment, the best.”

Illinois legislature ratified it. Eleven months Mr. President, the first consideration was to and seventeen days later, December 18, 1865, Mr. President, few of us, myself included, make the restrictions more severe. In 1853, Lincoln was dead, but the Thirteenth Amend- have studied the Black Laws and their con- just five years before Lincoln and Douglas ment was in motion. The Secretary of State nection to the Thirteenth Amendment in debated for the U.S. Senate, the legislature declared by proclamation that the amendment depth. There would be great value in a de- adopted an anti-immigration act that made it had been ratified by three-fourths of the States tailed documentary history of the Black Laws, illegal for African Americans to move to and had become part of the Constitution. their introduction, group support, sponsor- Illinois. Those found violating this act were Illinois, and your very body, led the nation. ship, actual administration and change, but subject to being fined, and if unable to pay, We are here today to pay recognition to that some essentials should be described here, the law ordered the offenders to be sold “at Illinois role in starting the states on to ratifica- particularly as summarized from Ms. Sally public auction.” tion. Heinzel’s recent work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. President Lincoln faced three strategic prob- If a person — man, woman, or child — were lems. There are many “detail” problems of Perhaps the most severe restrictions were sold at public auction, who would the buyer government, but there are a few strategic those put on purely personal behavior. You be? Such a buyer would be an owner, and the problems. were the least free if you were indentured. prohibition on slavery would amount to very Indentured servants could be whipped if they little. Problem Number One was maintenance of the were “lazy” or “disorderly,” traveled more Union. That was mystical. It was practical as than ten miles from their master’s home with- Moreover, it was a Democratic state. From well. Without maintaining an effective Union out a pass, or assembled in groups of three or the beginning, all the governors had been government, nothing else would have been more for the purpose of “dancing or revel- Democrats, at a time when the Slave Power achieved. ing.” was dominant in interest groups and parties. Dissident anti-slavery Democrats and former st Problem Number Two. We, in the 21 centu- How was your movement and behavior to Whigs, including Abraham Lincoln, con- ry, should re-learn that the interests (the Slave be policed? Under the Black Laws, people verged and took on the “Republican” name.

Power) put forth a strong demand that chattel could be required to register their families The new Republicans had some political trou- slavery should be recognized as constitutional with a circuit court clerk. ble in dealing with the Black Laws. In 1857 anywhere the American flag flew. As the — the year of the Dred Scott decision, and a Senate knows already, the Emancipation If a Black person, such as Jameson Jenkins or Proclamation was a war measure and applied year before the Lincoln-Douglas campaign — William Fleurville — Lincoln’s barber, a House committee considered abolishing where the military was. friend, and law client — who are well known some of the state’s Black Laws. House mem- to Springfield historians, moved to Illinois, he bers voted 50-17 to maintain the laws as they The Lincoln accomplishment in this second or she had to produce a certificate of freedom problem was leadership in emancipation, were. In this body were 31 Republicans. A and give a bond. substantial group of them voted to uphold the though Frederick Douglass and others prod- Black Laws. The Republicans were not that ded him to move earlier and faster. The statutes also provided fines for those who strong and secure a party at the time. They harbored, aided, or employed any Black per- were obviously afraid of white public opin- The Thirteenth Amendment highlights son who lacked a certificate of freedom. ion. Problem Number Three. If the Thirteenth Amendment was to mean anything in In 1819, the first general assembly passed practice, it would have to be respected in the legislation that disqualified Blacks from testi- laws and administration of every state, North fying in court cases involving whites. (Continued on page 12)

12 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

In 1858, Lincoln ran against Douglas for the Governor Yates in his outgoing message to the children to public schools. Then in 1874, the U.S. Senate, but lost. In the same year, Illinois state legislature, and Governor Richard Ogles- state adopted a statute that allowed “colored chil- Senator Lyman Trumbull — who today gets by, in his inaugural address, also backed im- dren” to attend schools with white children. high praise from Lerone Bennett — showed mediate emancipation. Within two days of Alton still operated in an abrogated mode in what I interpret as a public opinion fear. convening, both houses of the general assem- 1896, and limited Black students to two Black Trumbull said he wanted “to have nothing to bly introduced bills to repeal the Black Laws. schools. The authorities evaded the state Su- do, either with the free negroe or the slave preme Court’s decisions — five times — even negroe.” He said the Republican party “was Five days after the legislature ratified the Thir- in the face of a severe criticism from that court the white man’s party and (he) believed it bet- teenth Amendment, the Senate voted for repeal (211 Illinois 548). The Alton authorities suc- ter that [the Black people] should not be by a vote of 13-10 and the House voted by 49- cessfully fought to maintain segregation at among them.” 30. In both houses the Black Laws repeal vote least as hard as the Southern states later fought strictly followed party lines. Brown v. Board of Education. Alton never Lincoln became nationally famous as a result brought its schools into compliance until about of the 1858 campaign and was elected Presi- On the Black Laws, in contrast to the Thir- 1952. dent in 1860. The Republicans won the state teenth Amendment, Illinois was still catching in 1860. They had never had control of the up to Lincoln. The repeal, important as it was, Concluding Observations basically was limited to the personal re- state government before. Lincoln went ahead Mr. President, I repeat a question posed earli- in 1862 to announce an emancipation decision strictions on indentured persons and on per- sonal rights. er. “If the people of African origin were and to proclaim it officially for the first of ‘forever free,’ as the Emancipation Proclama-

January 1863. However, as a result of war tion said, would they have the full freedom of While the Illinois Republicans could not know losses and anti-emancipation feeling, they had all? This question is also tied to what the Thir- it in February, outgoing Governor Yates, who a big mid-term electoral loss in 1862. teenth Amendment, and the repeal of the Black kept in touch with Lincoln, might well have Laws, has meant in practice even into the 21st known that Lincoln needs were shifting. The President’s party, in the President’s state, century, for today’s issues and tomorrow’s was put under considerable pressure to get in issues. line with what the President would need. He The new General Assembly convened in Janu- wrote a public letter almost eight months after ary, and in April Lee surrendered at Appomat- the Emancipation Proclamation and sent it to tox. President Lincoln, knowing that the “rest his Springfield friend James Conkling. The of the world” expected something from him, Conkling letter drew the line. Lincoln made it referred to allowing the vote in Louisiana to clear that he would continue to use Black the “very intelligent” and “those who have troops; he would not break faith by renouncing fought with us.” This was beyond what Lin- the Emancipation Proclamation. coln had previously allowed his imagination to display in public. The Republicans got out of their political fears Robert Davis, Dorothy Holden, Matthew Holden, and supported Lincoln. Belief in his policy Even after the repeal, Illinois statutes had not and James Cornelius on the floor of the Illinois was one thing. Practical politics also had to gone far enough to provide for African Ameri- Senate for the commemoration of the state’s have been in the picture. Illinois Republicans cans to sit on juries, to vote, or to hold office. ratification of the 13th Amendment had more than their share of the Federal pat- Members of this Senate will be aware, for ronage. In February 1865, they would have instance, that the first African American offi- What is equally worth thinking about, Mr. expected to deal with him for four years more. cial in the state was John Jones, a tailor from President, is the potential reach and influence The President left the Illinois Republican lead- North Carolina, elected as Cook County Com- of the Thirteenth Amendment in dealing with ers no option. missioner in 1872. The rights to vote and to current and emerging problems and the poten- hold office were acquired by the provisions of tiality of a broader public consensus in that The Democratic senators split on accepting the the Illinois Constitution of 1870 and the fur- direction. Mr. President, I am deeply grateful Thirteenth Amendment, but they did not split ther influence of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth for your generous invitation and your courte- Amendments. on the Black Laws. The Illinois State Register ous consideration.

warned its audience that the Republicans Resources would repeal the Black Laws: Some forward change was occurring. John Laws of Illinois, 1819. W.E. Thomas, another native North Carolini- “White voters of Illinois! Are you prepared an, was eighteen years old in 1865. Eleven Lerone Bennett, Forced Into Glory. Chicago: for that? . . . But if you will effectually pre- Johnson Publishing Company, 2000, pp. 295-297. years later, he was elected to the House of vent a result of this sort, the way is plain— Representatives, and then again in 1882 and Great Speech of Hon. Lyman Trumbull, On the vote for the Democratic candidates. They will Issues of the Day (Chicago, 1858), p. 8. 1884. Thomas’s legislative influence contrib- not only keep the negro in his proper inferior uted to the state civil rights legislation that was Herman V. Ames, The Proposed Amendments to position, but will keep them out of the state.” Illinois’s response to the adverse U.S. Su- the Constitution of the United States During the preme Court’s negation of the Federal Civil First Century of Its History. Washington: Gov- ernment Printing Office, 1897, p. 218. Rights Act of 1875. Members of this Senate The white voters of Illinois – I emphasize that will have their own views of the state laws The Cost of Secession. Abraham Lincoln Presi- the law allowed no Black voters – also did see adopted in response to the civil rights cases of dential Library and Museum/Abraham Presiden- an option. In November 1864, the Republi- tial Library Foundation, 2010. DVD. 1883. cans got 54.4% of the votes, all state offices, Marion B. Lewis, “Review of Stephen Middleton,

and majorities in both houses of the state legis- The Black Laws in the Old Northwest: A Docu- The Black Law provision still remained that lature. mentary History,” in Journal of the Early Repub- prevented African Americans’ sending their lic, 14: 1 (Spring 1994), p. 112.

FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 13

Lincoln Birthday Events 2015

The Benjamin P. Thomas Symposium

Center: James Conroy, presenting; Brooks Simpson, Chairman of the Symposium Committee; and Chris DeRose The Evening Reception

Fred Morsell, who movingly performed Frederick ALA Past President Robert Loretta Durbin and ALA Board Members Admiral Douglass’s little-known Eulogy to Lincoln at the Lenz and his daughter, N. Ron Thunman and Robert Willard ALA Banquet, and ALA Board Member Robert Keri Lenz Nekrasz Davis

ALA Board Member William E. Bartelt, ALA Board Member Michael Burlingame, Chris- Francie Staggs, Karla Krueger, and Patricia Davis Theodore Bruzas, and Kathryn Bartelt topher Stratton, Amy Hathaway, Robert and Tricia Shaw

ALA Board Member Robert Willard, Wan- Rene Brethorst, Aly Grady, Jan Kemmerling, Kim and Lou Dixon and Cori Stuart da and ALA Past President Don Tracy and Amy Martin, IHPA Director

Thank You, David Blanchette

As he has done for a number of past banquets, David BlanchetteBrooks took Simpson, all of Jamesthe 2015Oakes andbanquet photographs. His photographs Ethanare alwaysRafuse wonderful and we thank Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon ALA Board Members William Shepherd and him for his contribution. James Cornelius on either side of Richard Shepherd John Maxfield and James Langfelder

14 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

Lincoln Birthday Events 2015

The Evening Reception and Banquet

The Messengers for Christ, Monroe Street Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois. Participants: Diane Geary, Linda Goza, Roderick Britts, and Roger Goza. 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Reactivated

Fred Morsell per- formed Frederick Douglass’s Eulogy to Sarah Struck, 2014 Rev. Blythe Denham Lincoln at the ALA ALA President Robert Stuart presents ALA Vice President Kathryn Harris Lincoln Essay Prize- Kieffer, Westminster Banquet. the Lincoln the Lawyer Award to addressing banquet winner, leads the Presbyterian Church, Pledge of Allegiance. Springfield, Illinois Richard L. Thies.

Thanks to The Illinois National Bank for Sponsoring the Banquet

Dr. Wayne C. and Sunderine Temple Julie Cellini, Sarah and Pat Phalen, and Bill Cellini ALA Board Member Guy Dr. Temple is an ALA Distinguished Director. Fraker and Symposium presenter Chris DeRose

ALA Board Members Dave Joens and ALA Board Member Ron Keller, Michael and ALA Board Member Richard L. Thies accepts the Justin Blandford on either side of the ban- Anne Moseley, and Dennis Suttles Thomas S. Johnson Lincoln the Lawyer Award. quet keynote speaker Fred Morsell announces the Lincoln the Lawyer Award recipient.

For The People (ISSN 1527-2710) is published four times a year and is a benefit of membership of The Abraham Lincoln Association. Richard E. Hart, Editor. James M. Cornelius and Robert Willard, Assistant Editors.

15 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

Richard L. Thies is Presented “Lincoln the Lawyer” Award By Thomas S. Johnson field. Thies is the eleventh person to receive support of countless civic and charitable or- Chairman of Lincoln the Lawyer Award the award since its inception in 1985. The ganizations, and has provided leadership to and ALA Board Member Award recognizes individuals who reflect the the legal profession,” said the ALA Board character and ideals of Abraham Lincoln in Committee that nominated Thies for the Urbana attorney Richard L. Thies was pre- their legal careers. award. “Richard is an unfailing, unflinching sented the prestigious “Lincoln the Lawyer” exemplar of civic virtue and personal honor Award by The Abraham Lincoln Association “For more than half a century, Richard Thies who is, in Vachel Lindsay’s words, ‘Lincoln during the organization’s annual Lincoln’s has served the interests of his clients with skill hearted’ – Lincoln hearted in every good Birthday Banquet on February 12 in Spring- and integrity, has worked enthusiastically in way.”

David and Jodie Thies, Richard and Marilyn Thies, Nancy Thies Marshall, and John Thies

Remarks of Richard L. Thies upon Accepting building here in Springfield. As I reflect on coln experienced in his early life could the Lincoln the Lawyer Award at the that day, I recall that one of my thoughts have done what he ultimately did. Abraham Lincoln Association Banquet was that I had become a member of the February 12, 2015 same profession as Abraham Lincoln and The practice of law is much more complex that I could practice in the same courts as today than when Abraham Lincoln prac- My good friend Tom Johnson, President he did. I couldn’t believe it. ticed. Indeed it is even more so since I Stuart, Members of the Abraham Lincoln began practice in 1955. The fundamental Association, and Guests: A few days after being sworn in I was principles of the legal profession are, how- asked to go from Urbana to Petersburg, the ever, still the same. Loyalty to clients that I would first like to introduce to you mem- county seat of Menard County, to present a transcends self-interest; advocacy for and bers of my family who are here and have matter in a partition case that our office was protection of the rights of people and for given me so much that has made this possi- handling. At that time, I was reading Carl justice, human dignity, and the rule of law; ble. Sandburg’s multi-volume work on Lincoln and conformance to high ethical standards so I knew of the Ann Rutledge - Lincoln in dealing with clients, lawyers, judges, and I cannot adequately express the feeling that connection in Petersburg. I also knew that the public. Abraham Lincoln devoted 23 I have at this moment. To be recognized New Salem was nearby. After appearing in years of his life to the practice of law and to from among the members of my profession court I decided to go to the local cemetery these principles. I have also been privi- as a lawyer who, in a small way, embodies and see if I could find the grave of Ann leged to have been a member of the legal the qualities displayed by Abraham Lincoln Rutledge. It was cold, the wind was blow- profession, and I am honored and humbled the Lawyer is beyond my comprehension. ing and it was starting to snow, but I found by your recognition that in a small way I,

th the monument, and as I stood there I too, have tried to exemplify those principles I am in my 60 year in the practice of law. thought about the great man who wanted so during my professional life. I was admitted to the Bar on November 29, much to be a lawyer. I then went a few 1955, and I took the oath at the Centennial Brooks Simpson, James Oakes and miles to New SalemEthan whereRafuse I pondered how Again, thanks to the Association for this building across from the Supreme Court anyone Lieutenantwho had Governor gone throughSheila Simon what Lin- extraordinary honor.

16 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR THE PEOPLE Non-Profit Organization The Abraham Lincoln Association U.S. Postage 1 Old State Capitol Plaza PAID Springfield, Illinois 62701-1512 Springfield, Illinois Permit No. 263

Return Service Requested

Abraham Lincoln, head-and-shoulders por- trait, traditionally called “last photograph of Lincoln from life.” Library of Congress

Endowment Fund

The Endowment Fund of the Abraham Lincoln Association was established in 2004. Today, eleven years later, it is judiciously managed and prescribed income is used to allow the ALA to diversify and enlarge its schedule of publications, programs, and sponsorships. This is evi- dent in the wide spectrum of events reported in this newsletter.

The Endowment Fund now underwrites the Benjamin P. Thomas Symposium lectures given on each February 12th. It has also allowed the ALA to participate and lead in the com- memoration of the Emancipation Proclamation in 2013 and the 13th Amendment and the Lincoln Funeral in 2015, including publication of a commemorative book, The Funeral of Abra- ham Lincoln: May 3rd and 4th, 1865.

If you believe in what the ALA is doing and wish it to continue and expand, please express yourself by making a contribution to the Endowment Fund. A growing endowment will allow these new efforts and assist the ALA in fulfilling its mission in the 21st century.

Those contributing $500 or more will receive A Day Long to Be Remembered: Lincoln in Gettysburg by Michael Burlingame with photography by Robert Shaw. Published by Fire- light Publishing, Heyworth, Illinois, in association with John Warner IV.

Won’t you plan now to make a gift to the Endowment Fund in 2015?

Send your check made payable to the Abraham Lincoln Association Endowment Fund to:

The Abraham Lincoln Association, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62701