reign affairs--whom I have ever known during my service in
Congress. I think this is a fair and just estimate of him.

But to return to Mount Morris, Professor D. J. Pinckney was president
of the Seminary when I was a student there. He knew my father
intimately, and naturally took more than ordinary interest in me.
When I became ill at school, he took me into his own home and kept
me there for a month or more, treating me with the greatest kindness
and consideration.

Years after I left the institution he became interested in politics,
and ran as an independent for Congress against Horatio C. Burchard,
Republican (who was, by the way, a very excellent man and my friend).
Burchard defeated him. When the campaign was on I was invited to
go to Galena and make a speech for Mr. Burchard. It never occurred
to me at the time that I was going into Pinckney's district; but
when I discovered the truth, I could not very well back out. I
made my speech, but was careful not to say a word against Professor
Pinckney, simply advocating the election of Mr. Burchard as a good
Republican. Professor Pinckney, however, took great offense, and
was very cold toward me from that time until his death. I felt
that he had been misled, that it would all come right, and that
some day I would have a plain talk with him; but he died before we
ever got together. He has a son now living in Chicago, a prominent
circuit judge of Cook County.

Among other classmates of mine at Mount Morris, was the late General
John A. Rawlins, who became a distinguished officer and was General
Grant's chief of staff. No better, no truer, man ever lived than
General Rawlins. He was essentially a good man and never had a
bad habit.

Rawlins was a Democrat, and a strong one, during his school days,
and I believe that he remained one until the Civil War. Robert
Hitt and his brother John, together with Rawlins and myself, formed
a sort of four-in-hand, and we were very intimate. We would take
part in the discussions in our society, and Rawlins was especially
strong when a political question was raised. I have heard him,
during his school days, make speeches that would have done credit
to a statesman. He would have done himself and country credit in
any civil office. He served as Secretary of War a few months.
Like so many others who entered the war without the slightest
military training, he came out of it with a brilliant record as an
officer and soldier