The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

416 THE LIFE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND
time, in the history of the world, a nation, by its representatives, assembled and declared as a self-evident truth, "that all men are created
equal." That was the birthday of the United States of America. Since
then the Fourth of July has had several very peculiar recognitions. The
two men most distinguished in the framing and support of the Declaration were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams-tlie one having penned
it, and the other sustained it the most forcibly in debate-the only two
of the fifty-five who signed it, and were elected Presidents of the United
States. Precisely fifty years after they put their hands to the paper, it
pleased Almighty God to take both from this stage of action. This was
indeed an extraordinary and remarkable event in our history. Another
President, five years after, was called from this stage of existence on
the same day and month of the year; and now on this last Fourth of
July, just passed, when we have a gigantic rebellion, at the bottom of
which is an effort to overthrow the principle. that all men were created
equal, we have the surrender of a most powerful position and army on
that very day. And not only so, but in a succession of battles in Pennsylvania, near to us, through three days, so rapidly fought that they
might be called one great battle, on the first, second, and third of the
month of July; and on the fourth the cohorts of those who opposed
the Declaration that all men are created equal, "turned tail" and run.
[Long-continued cheers.] Gentlemen, this is a glorious theme, and the
occasion for a speech, but I am not prepared to make one worthy of the
occasion. I would like to speak in terms of praise due to the many brave
officers and soldiers who have fought in the cause of the Union and liberties of their country from the beginning of the war. These are trying
occasions, not only in success, but for the want of success. I dislike to
mention the name of one single officer, lest I might do wrong to those I
might forget. Recent events bring up glorious names, and particularly
prominent ones; but these I will not mention. Having'said this much, I
will now take the music.
The President, a few days afterwards, wrote to General
Grant the following letter:ExCouTIrT MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 18, 186.
Major-General GRANT:
MY DEAR GENERAL:-I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost
inestimable service you have done the country. I write to say a word
further. When you first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg, I thought you
should do what you finally did-march the troops across the neck, run
the batteries with the transports, and thus go below; and I never had
any faith, except a general hope that you knew better than I, that the
Yazoo Pass expedition, and the like, could succeed. When you got below,
and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and vicinity, I thought you should go