Mr. Lincoln said he had made an effort, some few days since, to obtain
the floor in relation to this measure [resolution to direct
Postmaster-General to make arrangements with railroad for carrying the
mails--in Committee of the Whole], but had failed. One of the objects he
had then had in view was now in a great measure superseded by what had
fallen from the gentleman from Virginia who had just taken his seat. He
begged to assure his friends on the other side of the House that no
assault whatever was meant upon the Postmaster-General, and he was glad
that what the gentleman had now said modified to a great extent the
impression which might have been created by the language he had used on a
previous occasion. He wanted to state to gentlemen who might have
entertained such impressions, that the Committee on the Post-office was
composed of five Whigs and four Democrats, and their report was
understood as sustaining, not impugning, the position taken by the
Postmaster-General. That report had met with the approbation of all the
Whigs, and of all the Democrats also, with the exception of one, and he
wanted to go even further than this. [Intimation was informally given Mr.
Lincoln that it was not in order to mention on the floor what had taken
place in committee.] He then observed that if he had been out of order in
what he had said he took it all back so far as he could. He had no
desire, he could assure gentlemen, ever to be out of order--though he
never could keep long in order.

Mr. Lincoln went on to observe that he differed in opinion, in the
present case, from his honorable friend from Richmond [Mr. Botts]. That
gentleman, had begun his remarks by saying that if all prepossessions in
this matter could be removed out of the way, but little difficulty would
be experienced in coming to an agreement. Now, he could assure that
gentleman that he had himself begun the examination of the subject with