A revenue cutter conveyed a presidential party from Washington to Fortress Monroe, consisting of the chief, his secretaries of war and of the treasury, and General Egbert L. Viele--who preserved this tale. On the way Secretary Stanton stated that he had telegraphed to General Mitchell in Alabama "All right--go ahead!" though he did not know what emergency was thus to meet. He wished the executive to take the responsibility in case his ignorance erred. "I will have to get you to countermand the order." So he hinted. "Well," exclaimed the good-humored superior, "that is very much like a certain horse-sale in Kentucky when I was a boy (Lincoln was only eight when leaving Kentucky for Indiana). A particularly fine horse was to be sold, and the people gathered together. They had a small boy to ride the horse up and down while the spectators examined it for points. At last, one man whispered to the boy as he went by: "'Look here, boy, ain't that hoss got the splints?' "The boy replied: 'Master, I don't know what the splints is; but, if it is good for him, he has got it! If it ain't good for him, he ain't got it!' Now," finished the adviser, "if this was good for Mitchell, it was all right; but, if it was not, I have to countermand, eh?"--(Noted by General Viele.) * * * * * LINCOLN GUESSED THE FIRST TIME. Postmaster-General James reflects a dialogue between Lincoln and one of his Cabinet officers, evincing how the iron hand in the velvet glove squeezed persons into his own mold. "Mr. President"--Secretary Stanton speaking--"I cannot carry out that order! It is improper, and I don't believe it is right." "Well, I reckon, Mr. Secretary"--very gently--"that you will _hev_ to carry it out." "But I won't do it--it's all wrong!" "I guess you will hev to do it!" He guessed right, the first time. * * * * * A PHANTOM CHASE. Despite Chase's political enmity to him, President Lincoln said of Salmon Portland Chase: "I consider him one of the best, ablest, and most reliable men in the country." But he had to "let him slide" off upon the Supreme Court bench to have "knee-room" at the council-table. He explained: "He wants to be President, and, if he does not give that up, it will be a great injury to him and a great injury to me. He can never be President."--(Ex-Secretary Boutwell, the authority.) * * * * * THE WORD FLIES, BUT THE WRIT REMAINS. Mr. Chase bemoaning that in leaving home he had in the hurry forgot to write a letter, Lincoln sagely consoled: "Chase, never regret what you don't write--it is what you do write that you are often called upon to feel sorry for!"--(Heard by General Viele.) * * * * * THE WAR-LORD.