685

[Enclosure D]

573. Edward L. Pierce (Statement for William H. Herndon).

[December 1889]

Mr Herndon wrote Feb 18. 1861 and March 4. 1861 letters to E. L. Pierce letters affirming his entire confidence that Mr Lincoln would prove faithful to his pledges against all schemes of compromise in that first letter Mr Herndon wrote "The very last words he said to me when I took leave of him were in substance "I am decided; my course is fixed; my path is blazed; the union and the Constitution shall be preserved, and the laws enforced at every and at all hazards I expect the people to sustain me. They have never yet forsaken any true man"