But more than all, he was the brother of Joshua Speed, with whom in young manhood, if not indeed in boyhood, Mr.Lincoln had been closely associated in Illinois.

Of most kindly and generous nature, Mr.Lincoln was slow to acquire intimacies, and had few close friendships.

But those who knew him well cannot fail to remember the kindling eye, the warmth of expression, the depth of personal interest and attachment with which he always spoke of "Josh Speed," and the almost boyish fervor with which he related incidents and anecdotes of their early association.

James Speed, to whom Mr.Lincoln had been thus drawn, was a highly respectable lawyer, and was altogether a fit man to succeed Mr.Bates as the Border-State member of the Cabinet.

As a Southern man, he was expected to favor a lenient policy towards his offending brethren, and was supposed to look coldly upon much that was implied in the President's declarations.
Of the six Cabinet ministers thus enumerated, it will be seen that three--Mr.McCulloch, Mr.Welles, and Mr.Speed--might be regarded as favoring a conservative plan of reconstruction, and three--Mr.Stanton, Mr.Harlan, and Mr.Dennison--a radical plan.