Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-04
"Reminiscences of 1r. LincOln--
Mr.. Carpenters Personal Inn
presstons.

painted the picture Of THE Signing OF the
Emancipation Proclamation contributes to
this weeks Independent his Personal I'm
prcssions Of Mr.. Lincoln" embodying some
interesting "reminiscences which we copy
below:
Mr.. LINcoLN's SADNESS.
1t has been the business ofmy life, as you
know, to study the human face, and say
now, as have said repeatedly to friends. |
Mr.. Lincoln had the saddest face | ever
painted! During some of the dark days Of
last Spring aud Summer saw him at times
when his careworn troubled appearance was
enough to bring tears Of sympathy into the
eyes Off most violent enemies | recall
particularly one day, when, having occasion
to pass through the main hall of the domes-
tic apartments, | found him all alone, pacing
up and down a narrow passage, his hands
behind him, his head bent forward upon his
breast, black rings under his eyes, showing
sleepless nights-altogethe such a picture
/ Of the effects Of weighty cares and responsible
ities as mover had seen And yet he
always had kind word and almost always
genial smile, and it was his way frequently
to relieve himself at such times by some
harmless pleasantly. recollect an in
members OF the last Congress. 1t was
during the darkest daysof 1862. He called
upon the President early one morning, just
after news Of a disaster. 1t was time of
great anxiety if not despondeucy. Mr.. Lin
coin commenced telling some triling incident
which the Congressman was in no mood to
hear. He rose to his feet and said, "Mr.
President, | did not come here this morning
to hear stories; it is toe serious, time. =
Instantly the smile disappeared from Mr..
Lincoln face, who exclaimed, A, sit
down. | respect you as an earnest, sincere
man. You cannot be more anxious than
am constantly, and | say to you now, that
were it not for this occasional vent should
die!"
HIS SYMPATHY.
A large number ofthose whom he saw
! every day came with appeals to his feeling,
in reference for relatives and friends ir
confinement and under sentence of death
1t was constant marvel to me that, with al
his other cares and duties, he could give 81
much time and be so patient with this multi
, tude. have known him to sit for hour
| patiently listening to details of domestic
t troubles from poor people much of which
was of course, irrelevant carefully sifted tn,
\ facts and manifesting as much anxiety to d.
Y exactly right as 10 matters Of the graves
Q interest. Poorly clad people were NOR
likely to gst good hearing than those VIII
n came in silks and velvets. No one was eve
l. turned away from his door because of po,
s erty. If he erred, it was sure to be on th
l. side of mercy 1t was one of his most pair
II full tasks to confirm sentence of death.
,, recollect the case ofa somewhat noted reb'
o prisoner, who had been condemned to deaf
| believe AZ spy. A strong appleatio
v had been made to have his sentence CON
v muted. While this was pending he atteml
ted to escape from confinement, and wi
" shot by the sentinel on guard. Althoug
70 be richly deserved death, Mr. Lincoln to
Judge Holt in my presence that ut was
!; great relief to him that the man took b
fate into his own hands"
If the slightest occasion existed for sho,
{. ing clcmency he was sure to prove it.
ID Judge Bates, in the same conversation I
* ferred to above, said that he often told Il
IL President that ''he was hardly fit to be Q
O. trusted with tho pardoning power. ;"
why" said the Judge, "he can scarce
turn away from tho application Gift touch
his feelings) Of man, and the tears Of
OF woman are sure to overcome him!'
IA PARDON. .l.....8
10. A touching instance of his kindness
,st heart occurred quito recently, and was to
nv me incidentally by one of the servants.
ay poor woman from Philadelphia had be
m. waiting, with baby in her arms, for ihr
,e days to see the President. Her husba
had furnished q substitute for the army, B
ed some time afterwards was one day ma
nd intoxicated by some companions, and in Il
re- state induced to enlist Soon after he reach
It, the army he deserted, thinking that, as
ng had provided substitute, the Governlne
,is was not entitled TO his services. Returni
he home, he was, of course arrested, trit
mt convicted, and sentenced to be shot. Il
a.. sentence was to be executed on Saturds
m. On Monday his wife left her home with
nd baby, to endeavor to see the President.
,at Said old Daniel "She had been wati
ace here three days, and there was no char
nd for her to get in. Late in the afternoon
as the third day the President was eoi
of through the back passage TO his priv
ies rooms, to get cup Of tea or take some res
This passage way has lately been constru
ant ed, and shuts the person passing entirely
he OF view OF tho occupants. of the ante-roo
he "On his way through he heard baby C
,ad He instantly went back to his office and RI
tbe the bell. Daniel. said he, is there
vas woman with baby in the ante room p | 8
there was, and if he would allow me to
i'll. it, thought it was case he ought to S
'N' for 1t was a matter Of life and death. S
am be, "send her to me at once" She went
lay teld her story, and the President pardon
i'm her husband. As the woman came
un' frem his presence, her eyes we're lifted {
acy her lips moving sin prayer. the te
streaming down her cheeks. Said Dan
La 81 went up to her and pulling her sh
Ia said, Madame, it was the baby {
did i'll"
OF A TOUCHING INCIDENT,
Another touching incident occurred
oln believe the same week. A woman in faC
mr.. shawl and hood, somewhat advanced in i
mr., at length was admitted in her turn, to
4 a President. Her husband and three SO
- all she had in the world. enlisted. /
ain husband had been killed, and she had GO
has to ask the President to release the old
,tie son. Being satisfied Of the truthfnlnes
or her story. he said Certainly, if her p
as was taken away she was justly entitled
10 one OF her boys" Heimmedstly wrote
to order for the discharge OF the young m
ust The poor woman thanked him very gra
h n fully, and went away. On reaching
: army she found that this son had been i
- recent engagement, was swoundsd, and tai