Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-11-04
ICE, IOWA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1870.

him; the woman arose, as she ex-
claimed: 4
ooh, Mr.. President, how can ]
thank you!'
Take this note to the War De.
partment, and they will give you a
paper of release for your husband
from the charge of desertion. 1t
will make your Journey home more
comfortable. Good night
God bless your she answered,
and was gone.
The President struck the little
bell, and a tall usher opened wide
the door, until the room was filled.
Some of these petitioners were inso-
lent beyond human endurance; some
were ludicrous in their pompous-
ness, displaying piles of letters of
introduction, which the President
would not look at. They would,
however, persist in their endeavors
to make him look at such letters
from such persons.
The President soon became exas-
pcrated, as he listened to one and
another. In vain he shook his head
and stamped his feet, and brought
his hands violently down upon the
table, telling them he 'couM not and
could not listen to such petitions.
They, with an assurance never to
be imagined, would still go on.
Men with defiant faces, men viii
ming and pleading, and forward wo-
men, grasped his arms to arrest his
attention. His patience with such
rudencss was wonderful. If he ex-
pressed contempt for Alterations,
he also did not forget to respect
modcsty and real sorrow when he
met them.
Again the little bell was rung, and
again the room was filed. Those
who had Just gone out muttercd
their disgust for the good man, who
listened from early morning until
late at night to people OF every
grade.
Often the President was grave to
sadness. For hours in succession
he expressed no anger, no mirth.
Petition after petition was present
cd in rapid succession. 1t was the
same story of sorrow-of fathers,
brothers and husbands in prison,
each pleading for theirs to be first
released in the exchange of prison
ers. Some had dear ones dying i'll
camp, beyond the lines; they were
begging to join them; hundreds had
made the same request.
'Oh, let us go to them-only let
us go"
There were bands of poor, OPP
pressed sewing-women stating their
wrongs-Peacc Commissioners, and
Southern refugees. n
Many times the President started
to 90 to his private room; but sad
faces pressing up the stairway stop
ped him as he was crossing the hall,
and he went back again.
DO, kind President, grant my re-
qucst..'
The woman's voice was very
plaintivc, and large tears were fall
ing, but she made DO sound of cry
ing. ~. ...-.
no, no, I cannot? ! might grant
such requests thousand day.
can't turn the Government inside
out and upside over. can't please
everybody. must do my duty
stern duty as I sec it. Nobody
wants their friends draftcd-nobody
wants them taken as deserters. He
should not have taken upon himself
the appearance of a deserter. How
do know-how does anybody know
how does the War Department
know-that he did not intend to stay
upon the boat where the soldiers
found him? How does anybody
know that he didn't think about his
furlough being ended? Didn't think
That was his business to think. !
am sorry. Everybody ought to be
sorry for those who do wrong.
When he knew the laws, why did
he break them? When he knew the
penalty, why did he bring it upon
himself? You plead for him, and
tell me how upright he is. That's
all very well. 1t is easy for us to
over-estimate the goodness of those
we love. You are his ncighbor. 1t
is very kind of you to come so far
and plead so strongly; but | can't
| can't do anything for YOU
please, President Lincoln!'
NO, no! no, no! | can't won't
Il WON'T! and he sprang to his
feet, but in an instant resumed his
former position in his chair, and
leaned forward to snap the little
bell.
'Oh! oh'
1t was sound Of intense grief
disappointment, and surprise, all
mingled together; coming up SC
from the heart as this peculiar sound
did, it arrested the hand upon the
bell, lifted the eyes that were
growing cold and stern to tho
pleading face Of the woman be-
fore him. She had left her chair
and stood so near that her clothes
brushed against him. Heavy were
the lines upon her tace-lincs o1
care and sorrow; earnest were tho
tear-dimmed eyes.
do, kind sir, consider my case q
moment morc-oh, President Lin
coin! Remember, you were one,
poor-and-and-'
Had no friends, do you mean? he
interrupted, almost scorntully.
'No-oh, no!-had few friends
tried and true friends, who would
never torsakc you. Only one OF
them | know--o,,e, who is alike 4
friend to you and to me. For his
sakc-tor our dear Lords sake
grant my petition"
There was Il striking solcmnity
in her whole attitude; and the Pres
idcnt turned very pale, his eyes
misty, as he repeated, slowly ano
rcvercntly:
For our dear Lords sakc!'
Here arc three hundred dollars;