Abraham Lincoln statues

[David Lockmiller]

The ultimate purpose of Nikole Hannah-Jones in creating the “1619 Project” is for reparations to be paid, in the thousands of dollars, to each and every descendant (man, woman, and child) of the four million slaves that were freed as a direct result of the American Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the “king’s cure” of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. President Abraham Lincoln played a crucial role in these three requisites to achieve the permanent freedom of all African-American slaves at the end of the American Civil War.

It disgusts me that specious attacks upon the character and reputation of President Abraham Lincoln have been made by Nikole Hannah-Jones in her 2020 Pulitzer Prize winning publication in pursuit of this goal.


12-04-2013, 06:39 PM Post: #37
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RE: My "150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address"

When Lincoln was on his way to the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, an old gentleman told him that his only son fell on Little Round Top at Gettysburg, and he was going to look at the spot.

Mr. Lincoln replied:

"You have been called on to make a terrible sacrifice for the Union, and a visit to that spot, I fear, will open your wounds afresh.

"But, oh, my dear sir, if we had reached the end of such sacrifices, and had nothing left for us to do but to place garlands on the graves of those who have already fallen, we could give thanks even amidst our tears; but when I think of the sacrifices of life yet to be offered, and the hearts and homes yet to be made desolate, before this dreadful war is over, my heart is like lead within me, and I feel at times like hiding in deep darkness."

--E. W. Andrews in "Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln" at pages 510-11.

Don E. Fehrenbacher's negative opinion entry for this author reads as follows:

"Edward W. Andrews (1825 - ?) Lawyer and former Congregational minister who entered the Army as a Captain of Volunteers and later transferred to the Adjutant General's staff. Lincoln's words, as Andrews recalls them, do not ring true."

I reread this morning the Chapter XXIX (Pages 501 - 518) by E. W. Andrews in the book "Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln by Distinguished Men of His Time," collected and edited by Allen Thorndike Rice, Editor of the North American Review, (1888). I disagree with Professor Fehrenbacher's assessment of all three quotations from the E. W. Andrews publication. His words in all three quotation examples cited by Professor Fehrenbacher ring true for me.

For example:

Mr. Andrews "drew up a paper addressed to the President, concisely stating the case [for the mother], and asking a parole for the boy [her son.] She signed it; the surgeon certified it. She was advised to call on the President, and given directions how and when to get an interview.

"After an absence of three days, she returned to Fort McHenry. As she approached the desk of the officer commanding, tears glistened in her eyes, but they were tears of gratitude. Her whole countenance was luminous with joy. Handing to me the same official envelope which had enclosed the document prepared for her to present to the President, she pointed to an order written in pencil upon it, and exclaimed with deep emotion:

"My boy is free! Thank God for such a President! He is the soul of goodness and honor!"

I asked her how the President received her when she met him?

"With the kindness of a brother," she replied. "When I was ushered into his presence he was alone. He immediately arose, and, pointing to a chair by his side, said: "'Take this seat, madam, and then tell me what I can do for you.'

"I took the envelope, and asked him if he would read the enclosures."

"'Certainly,' he said, and proceeded to read the statements I had signed very deliberately. When he had finished reading it he turned to me, and, with emotion, he said:

"'Are you, madam, the unhappy mother of this wounded and imprisoned son?'

"'I am,' I said.

"'And do you believe he will honor his parole if I permit him to take it and go with you?'

"'I am ready, Mr. President, to peril my personal liberty upon it,' I replied.

"'You shall have your boy, my dear madam,' he said. 'to take him from the ranks of rebellion and give him to a loyal mother is a better investment for this government than to give him up to its deadly enemies.'

Then, taking the envelope, he wrote with his own pencil the order which you see upon it. As he handed it to me he said:

"'There! Give that to the commanding officer of Fort McHenry, and you will be permitted to take your son with you where you will; and God grant he may prove a great blessing to you and an honor to his country.'"

It need hardly be added, that the young prisoner was soon removed from the garrison; and, under the tender nursing of this heroic and devoted mother, was able, after a few months, to resume his studies in one of our Northern colleges. A beautiful and most touching letter, subsequently received at Fort McHenry from Mrs. Winston, expressed, in touching terms, her gratitude and that of her son to all who had rendered her aid in that hour of her great trial.

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

To William W. Morris [1]

Executive Mansion,
To the Commandant at Fort McHenry: March 13, 1863.

General:--- You will deliver to the bearer, Mrs. Winston, her son, now held a prisoner of war in Fort McHenry, and permit her to take him where she will, upon his taking the proper parole never again to take up arms against the United States.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Annotation
[1] Allen T. Rice, ed., Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln, p. 507. As described by E. W. Andrews in his reminiscence, Lincoln's order was written on an envelope containing a letter from Andrews to Lincoln stating the case of Mrs. Winston's wounded son. Andrews does not give Mrs. Winston's full name, nor that of the son, but states that she resided near Nashville, Tennessee. For details see the source.

I would encourage anyone who has the book edited by Allen Thorndike Rice to read chapter XXIX and post their own opinion on this subject matter.