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"DID YE ASK MORRISSEY YET?"
John Morrissey, the noted prize fighter, was the "Boss" of Tammany Hall
during the Civil War period. It pleased his fancy to go to Congress, and
his obedient constituents sent him there. Morrissey was such an absolute
despot that the New York City democracy could not make a move without
his consent, and many of the Tammanyites were so afraid of him that
they would not even enter into business ventures without consulting the
autocrat.
President Lincoln had been seriously annoyed by some of his generals,
who were afraid to make the slightest move before asking advice from
Washington. One commander, in particular, was so cautious that he
telegraphed the War Department upon the slightest pretext, the result
being that his troops were lying in camp doing nothing, when they should
have been in the field.
"This general reminds me," the President said one day while talking to
Secretary Stanton, at the War Department, "of a story I once heard about
a Tammany man. He happened to meet a friend, also a member of Tammany,
on the street, and in the course of the talk the friend, who was beaming
with smiles and good nature, told the other Tammanyite that he was going
to be married.
"This first Tammany man looked more serious than men usually do upon
hearing of the impending happiness of a friend. In fact, his face seemed
to take on a look of anxiety and worry.
"'Ain't you glad to know that I'm to get married?' demanded the second
Tammanyite, somewhat in a huff.
"'Of course I am,' was the reply; 'but,' putting his mouth close to the
ear of the other, 'have ye asked Morrissey yet?'
"Now, this general of whom we are speaking, wouldn't dare order out the
guard without asking Morrissey," concluded the President.
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Stories and Anecdotes About the Life of Abraham Lincoln
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