He then turned to the table, took up the pen again, and slowly, firmly wrote “Abraham Lincoln,” with which the whole world is now familiar.
He then looked up, smiled, and said, “That will do.”
LINCOLN SAW STANTON ABOUT IT.
Mr. Lovejoy, heading a committee of Western men, discussed an important scheme with the President, and the gentlemen were then directed to explain it to Secretary of War Stanton.
Upon presenting themselves to the Secretary, and showing the President’s order, the Secretary said: “Did Lincoln give you an order of that kind?”
“He did, sir.”
“Then he is a d—d fool,” said the angry Secretary.
“Do you mean to say that the President is a d—d fool?” asked Lovejoy, in amazement.
“Yes, sir, if he gave you such an order as that.”