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The meeting with Lincoln took place in Washington in February and possibly part of March, 1865. According to the Chicago Tribune, here is what Medill reported back to the committee that sent him and others to Washington.

"Mr. Medill said that they (Messrs. Medill, Hayes, and Hough) went to Washington and performed the duty assigned them, to the best of their ability. They remained in that city six days, laboring with the President, Secretary of War, and Provost Marshal General. He regretted to say that they did not accomplish what was desired."

A key reason given for not publically changing the draft order for Illinois was that it would give some information to the enemy. It was suggested that matters would be fixed or adjusted sometime in the future if the state and Chicago met the existing draft quota. The state was told to go ahead and enroll draftees under the existing order. One concern with the Chicago enrollment was that in one ward, 1100 men had been enrolled who could not be found, and that two million dollars had been furnished to Cook County more than her due. (Cook Country has never changed.)

By the way, for the year ending May 1, 1865, sales receipts for circulation of the Chicago Tribune were more than the Times, the Journal, and the Post all combined. Not a bad business.

Up until Lincoln was elected President, Chicago was a notorious sanctuary city for escaped slaves. Medill was reportedly strongly against the South and an abolitionist. He eventually joined the Radical Republicans after the war.

Ida Tarbell's account of the meeting with the president does make him sound crafty, like Lincoln certainly was. But like you, I can't verify that Lincoln actually said those words to the Chicago delegation.