"AGIN' THE GOVERNMENT." In the summer of 1864, the governor-general of Canada paid the President a visit, with a numerous escort. During the late unpleasantness, as much comfort as possible under the Neutrality Act was believed to have been given the raiders into the border towns, as witness the St. Alban's Bank steal and the outfitting of blockade-runners. But they were treated at Washington with perfect courtesy. The head of the British party, at the conclusion, said with some sarcasm in his genial tone: "I understand, Mr. President, that everybody is entitled to a vote in this country. If we remain until November, can _we_ vote?" "You would have to make a longer residence, which I could desire," politely replied the host; "only, I fear we should not gain much by that--for there was a countryman of your excellency, from the sister kingdom of Ireland, though, who came here, and on landing wanted to exercise the privilege you seek--to vote early and often! But the officials at Castle Garden landing-stage laughed at him, saying that he knew nothing about parties, to which he replied: "'Bother the parties! It is the same here with me as in the old country--I am agin' the government!' You see, he wanted to vote on the side of the Rebellion! Your excellency would then be no more at a loss to decide on which side!" * * * * * PLOWING AROUND A LOG. A State governor came to Washington, furious at the number of troops headquarters commanded of him and the mode of collecting them. Irate as he was, General Fry saw him bidding good-by to the Capitol with a placid, even pleased, mien. The general inquired of Lincoln himself how he had been so miraculously mollified. "I suppose you had to make large concessions to him, as he returns from you entirely satisfied?" suggested the general. "Oh, no," replied the President, "I did not concede anything. "You know how that Illinois farmer managed the big log that lay in the middle of his field? To the inquiries of his neighbors, he announced he had gotten rid of it. "'How did you do it?' they asked. 'It was too big to haul away, too knotty to split, too wet and soggy to burn. Whatever _did_ you do?' "'Well, now, boys, if you won't tell the secret, I'll tell you how. I just plowed 'round it!' "Now, Fry, don't tell anybody, but I just plowed around the governor!"--(On the authority of General James B. Fry.) * * * * * NOT THE RIGHT "CLAY" TO CEMENT A UNION.