, leaving his place among counsel, took a seat in the
audience. Despite his injured feelings he was filled with admiration
for Stanton's able and successful conduct of the case. Lincoln,
probably referring to a slur of Stanton reported to him, said that he
would have to go back to Illinois and "study more law," since the
"college-bred" lawyers were pushing hard the "cornfield" ones.

The second reference is to Stanton's criticism of Lincoln's
conservative course during the first months of his Presidency; "that
imbecile at the White House," he called him. Stanton as
Attorney-General at the close of Buchanan's administration had done
effective work in foiling the plans of the Confederacy, and he
believed in forceful measures to put down the rebellion in its
incipiency.

The third reference is to the virtually enforced resignation of Simon
Cameron, Lincoln's first Secretary of War, and Lincoln's choice to
succeed him of Stanton, whom he realized to be the best equipped man
in the country for the place.

The fourth reference is to Stanton's remark by the bedside of Lincoln
as the stricken President ceased breathing: "There lies the greatest
leader of men the world ever saw."

LINCOLN AND STANTON

Lincoln had cause one man alone to hate:
A fellow-lawyer, lacking in all grace,
Who cast uncalled-for insult in his face
When Lincoln as his colleague, with innate
Courtesy, proffered aid. With pride inflate
The scornful Stanton waved him to his place,
Snapping, "I need no help to try this case";
And "cornfield lawyer" muttered of his mate.

And when, as captain of the Union ship,
Lincoln drew sail before the gathering storm
Till favoring winds the shrouds unfurled should fill,
Stanton again curled his contemptuous lip
And, with the impatience of a patriot warm,
Sneered at the helmsman, "craven imbecile."

Laid was the course at length; the sails untried
Were spread; the raw crew set at spar and coil.
Now round the prow Charybdean waters boil
And ever higher surges war's red tide.
The mate who should the captain's care divide
Has strengthless proved. Where shall, the foe to foil,
A man be found able to bear the toil