Gettysburg Address

[RJNorton]

Galusha A. Grow spoke very highly of President Lincoln. He wrote:

"He never rubbed Congress the wrong way. He was masterful in diplomacy as in politics, and with the aid of this quality he brought members to see his way who the day before were looking in the opposite direction; a power he possessed beyond any man who has appeared in our public life and which was absolutely essential to his trying position. I often wondered what would have happened if Seward had beaten him in the convention. Seward was one of the wisest men in his generation, but Seward never understood the art of wise selection and handling of men. It is a question if he could have kept such a cabinet as Lincoln selected in harness two weeks without broken traces, cracked whiffletrees, and a general smash-up. But those on the ground knew how Lincoln managed them and made them do great work, although Chase and Cameron and later Stanton tried his masterful patience almost to the parting of the ways, and did it many times in the very days when he most needed their loyal sympathy and help. To work with them and through them and get the best out of them was much — far more than it was in Seward to have done.

I spent many hours with the President during the darkest days of the war. He remained always
the same fearless, brave man whose personality and calm, patient spirit were incomparable. I was with him often when he was receiving news of some great battle, and whether our side won or lost his great heart seemed to shudder at the slaughter of soldiers.

As I recall those hours, spent with our greatest President, "who stood alone, no ancestors, no fellows, no successors " [said Grow], I know why "a remembering world will never forget that on his sad and tragic face was deeply graved the divine patience of destiny. He spoke at times as no man spoke except the lowly Nazarene, and he clothed his words with justice and mercy."
Always simple, even in his joking moods never undignified, he made me feel completely at home in his presence. With such a beginning as he had to reach the heights that he did was miraculous. Born in a pitiful hovel, surrounded by squalor and want, he became the mightiest personality of his day — homely in body and divine in spirit."