Litchfield enquirer., 1865-06-15
"REMINISCENCES OF MIR. LINCOLN.
MIR. CARPENTERS PERSONAL IMPRESSION.

"REMINISCENCES OF MIR. LINCOLN. | MIR. CARPENTERS PERSONAL IMPRESSION.
 MT. F. B. Carpenter, the artist who painted the picture of 'The signing of the emancipa- tion proclamation,' contributes to the Inde- pendent his Personal Impressions of MT. Lin. coln,' embodying some interesting reminiscent ces which we copy below:
 l esE MIR. LINCoLN's SADNESS.
 It has been the business of my life, as you know, to study the human face, and say now, as have said repeatedly to friends, Mir. Lincoln had the saddest face I ever painted! During some of the dark days of last spring and sum. mer saw him at times when his careworn, troubled appearance was enough to bring tears of sympathy into the eyes of his most violent enemies. recall particularly one day, when having occasion to pass through the main hall of the domestic apartments, found him all alone, pacing up and down a narrow passage
 his hands behind him, his head bent forward on his breast, heavy black rings under his eye, showing 'sleepless nights-altogether such a picture of the effects of weighty cares and re- responsibilities as never had seen. And vet he always had a kind word and almost always a genial smile, and it was his way frequently to relieve himself at such times by some harm less pleasantly. recollect an instance told me by one of the most radical members of the last Congress. It was during the darkest days of 1862. He called upon the President early one morning, just after the news of a disaster. It was time of great anxiety if not despond- ency. MT. Lincoln commehced telling some trifing incident-which the Congressman was in no mood TO hear. He arose to his feet, and said, d,-Mr. President, did not come here this morning to hear stories; it is too serious time Instantly the smile disappeared from MT, Lincola' 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
 l HIS SYMPATHY.
 A large number of those whom he saw every day came with appeals to his feelings in refer ence to relatives and friends in confinement and under sentence of death. It was con stant marvel to me, that with all his other cares and duties, he could give so much time and be so patient with this multitude. I have known him to sit for hours patiently listening to de- l tails of domestic troubles from poor people much of which, of course irrelevant carefully sifting the facts and manifesting as much anx- iety to do exactly right as in matters of the gravest interest. Poorly clad people were more likely to get good hearing than those who came in silks and velvets. No one was ever turned away from his door because Of poverty. If he erred, it was sure to be on the side of mercy. It was one of his most painful tasks to confirm sentence of death. I recol- lect the case of somewhat noted rebel prison CT, who had been condemned to death believe as spy A strong application had been made | to have his sentence commuted. While this was pending, he attempted to escape from con fnement, ,and was shot by the sentinel on guard. Although he richly deserved death, MT. Lin- coln told Judge Holt in my presence, that it was great relief to him that the man too his fate into his own hands .s
 If the slightest occasion existed for showing clemency, he was sure to improve it. Judge Bates, in the same conversation refer red to above, said that he had often told the President that he was hardly fit to be entrust- ed with the pardoning power.' Why said the Judge, he can scarcely turn away from the ap- lication If it touches his feelings) of a man, and the tears of a woman are sure to overcome him. A touching instance of his kindness of heart occurred quite recently and was told me incl dentally by one of the servants. A poor wo- man from Philadelphia had been waiting, with baby in her arms, for three days to see the President. Her husband had furnished a sub stitute for the army. but some time afterwards WdS Uu6 uuy LlduO lutOAlCdtCu Uy SOHO COu- panions, and in this state induced to enlist. Soon after he reached the army he deserted, thinking that, as he had provided substitute, the government was not entitled to his servi- ces. Returning home, he was of course arrest ed, tried, convicted and sentenced to be shot. The sentence was to be executed on Saturday: On Monday his wife left her home with her ba- by, to endeavor to see the President. Said old Daniel She had been waiting here three days, and there was no chance for her to get in. Late in the afternoon of the third day the President was going through the back passage to his private rooms, to get cur. of tea or take some rest CThis passage-way has lately been constructed, and shuts the person passing en- tirely out of view of the occupants of the anteroom.) On his way through he heard a little baby cry. He instantly went back to his office and rang the bell. Daniel,' said he I ( q, +boro a ,uoo,on xy;th a hahv in the ante