The national Republican., 1867-07-12
@atinnal 4epnblitau.
How Mr. Lincoln Endorsed the
Negro.
ny SAMUEL wILKEsos.

In the third year Of the war, William
johnson, a negro messenger in the Treas
ury Department, who added to his pay
and his duties the emoluments and honor
Of shaving President Lincoln, went to
VIM. j. Huntington, the cashier Of the
First National Bank in Washington, to
borrow one hundred and fifty dollars on
his note Of hand Mr.. Huntington, who
is as kind TO the poor as he is rigid in ad-
herring to the rules Of good bank manage
ment, listened favorably to the financial
proposition of William, and asked him
what he wanted to do with the money.
ITO finish my little house, said he. II
have to require responsible endorser; can
you give me one p 81 reckon kin" re.
piled William, Strengthening himself up
with solid dignity. II kin give you Abram
LinkonT' "0hl he will do" said the
cashier, who turned to the desk and drew
two notes for seventy.fve dollars each,
payable respectively in sixty ald ninety
days. William got Mr.. Lincoln's en-.
dorsements, and got his money.
When the first note fell due it was not
paid, and Mr.. Huntington, soon after, hav.
ing business at the Treasury Department,
sought for the colored defaultcr TO his big
bank. William was not in his messengers
chair. Poor William was dead. The
cashier in the course Of time, having oc.
casion to do some business with Mr.. Lin.
coin, took with him Williams two prom.
ises to pay. After concluding his inter.
view with the President upon the matter
principal in hand, he said, MIR. Lincoln,
the barber who used to shave you, hear,
Is dead" "0h yes" interrupted the Pres
ident, with feeling; "William is gone.
bought coffin for the poor fellow, and
have had to help his family" "Well, Mr..
Lincoln" resumed the cashier, 81 was
going to say that l had in the bank two
small notes Of Williams, endorsed by you,
which will now surrender to YOU" mo
you DON'T said Old Abe, with lively firm
ness, and uncoiling himself upward in his
armchair. 81 endorsed the notes, and am
bound to pay them; and it Is your duty to
make me pay them" Yes" said the
cashier; "but it has long been our Gus
tom TO devote q portion OF our profits
to charitable objects; and this seems to
be most deserving one." Mr.. Lincoln,
however, stood firm on his obligation
and his purpose to pay his endorse
ments. "Well, Mr.. Lincoln, l will tell
you how We can arrange this" finally
said Mr.. Huntington. The loan to vii.
liam was joint one between you and the
bank. You stand half the loss, and / will
stand half You pay one OF the notes,
and l will cancel the other" Old Abe
flung his leg over the arm of his chair in
that irresistibly funny way he frequently
had OF musing over proposition. He
thought awhile, the light playing all over
his expressive face, then Strengthened up,
his sweet, patient eyes full Of laughter.
I" Mr.. Huntington" said he, that sounds
fair, but il is insidious; you are going to
get ahead OF me; you are going to give me
the smallest note to pay There must be
fair divide over poor William. Reckon
up the interest on both notes, and chop
the whole right straight through the mid.
die, SO that my half shall be as big as
yours. That's the way we will fix it."
And that is the way the grand man
fixed" the dis charge Of all his obligations
-scrupulously exact, religiously honest,
proudly independent.
The cashier laughed, and, as he handed
the notes to Mr.. Lincoln, said, pointing to
bic 5iEn".--es nrnn their baehs, " Aftor
this, Mr. President, you can never deny
that you endorse the negro" That's a
fact!" said Old Abe, laughingly; "but |
don't intend to deny it," And doesn't the
negro endorse him and his works? God
bless his mpmorv ~ I Tn1eno,,dIa,y