New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-03
Abraham Lincoln. Hitherto I'm
published AnecdOte Of the
Late President

New anecdotes Of President Lincoln are
sufficiently rare, but here is one which is au-
thentlc and characteristic, whether we con-
slder the Presidents goodness of heart or the
naivetc with which it found expression
Whom Colonel Mulligan's Chicago regiment
lay in camp away down south, one of the
privates, call him Barney D., in a mo-
ment of passion and mtoxication stabbed
and terribly mangled a cOmrade. Barney
was one of the hard characters of the COM
mand, and it was matter of no surprise
when the court martial sentenced him for this
last and gravest o. his many offenses to be
shot, and fixed the day Of his execution
Meanwhile, to the surprise os every one, in
GLIDING the surgeons, the wounded man be-
gan to recover, and was soon pronounced out
OF danger. Public opinion took the usual
turn. 1t was thought pity, after all, to
shoot fine young fellow, such as Barney
was i'll his better moments besides he was
ono Of the boys, had been born like them in
Chicago, grown up with them, enlisted with
them, and fought with them. A movement
looking to 4 petition for the culprit's pardon
was set on foot, in which none Joined more
heartily than the wounded man, and the
camp, which but yesterday was for lynching
Barney, now yearned to save his life. But the
General commanding had approved the find
ing Of the court martial, and only the Prcsi-
dent could interfere, aud the regiment was
encampcd away from the telegraph lines. SO
that, though the necessary documents had
been forwarded, backed by strong recon-
mcndations, there were grave doubts if the
mcrciful message which Mr.. Lincoln was al
most certain TO send would reach the camp
in time. An express was cent 10 the nearest
telegraph station, thirty miles away, to carry
the message with all hastc-and all waited
inlpatientiy.
The night before the fatal day arrived;
Barney was TO be shot at sunrise next day.
No reprieve had arrived, and reluctantly the
Adiutant prepared the necessary orders, de-
tailed the firing parry, arranged for the pa
radc. The night wore on. 1t is safe to Say
that not an eye was closed in the camp, and
every ear was strained for hOCf-bcat. from
the east. Past midnight, ono, two, three
O'Clock. There were movements in the gray
eastern sky; the brilliant Southern stars
pacd; it was almost dawn.
suddenly faint sound was heard, as Of a
shout away to the East. The excitement
became electric. Men rushed from their
tents, hall dressed, and gathered in anxious
groups. The officers were hardly less ex-
cited, and mingled with them. Then in rapid
succession were heard challenge and reply
as the advancing party passed sentry after
sentry, then the tramp aal splash Of hOofs
and, at last, burst into view the long looked
tor messenger, covered with mud tro4. head
10 foot, wan and worn out, his horse painting
and trayel-staincd and bruised, fOr they had
ridden thirty miles .ince midnight along roads
that were sluices of mud and water. The
rider held his way straight to the COloncl's
tent and delivered his telegram. IL read
thus
WA2HISGToS, - IsC--.
Coio1d -9ulttJan- If YOU haven't shot Bar
ney D-yct-Gont. a. LINCOLN.
They hadn't, AID they didn't.
THE Cincinnati Gcz>te suggests that, ~
several state Legislature. Lave taken j, W.
On themselves 10 ceusure Congress on ac-
count Of the increase Of salari -, when, by the
National and State constitutions. the Legis-
laturcs have no authority, OF shadow Of au-
thoTity over, or visible connection with, Con-
gre.a or Congressman, il would be a good
thing if Congress would take 1t upon itself 10
censure some Of the state legislature, which
the Gdza,e thinks richly deserve it. The or
cite isn't so far wrong. II a Legislature has
the CHECK" 10 inform Congress wha, single
state thinks Of is goin.s Os,, why may not
Congress inform ! State what the whole na-
ton thinks u 70. antics? Tor instance, If
there is any iHopriety Ia the Legislature oi
| Ohio saying 10 Congress "Ohio thinks you
set OF rascals, because you voted 10 increase
your salaries" why may not Congress say 70
the Legislature Of Ohio: '''The nation thinks
you parcel Of foo.s, because a good deal OF
/ YOUR LEGISLATION il iiiotic ?" BY system OF
! fsec exchange Of opinion Of this sort, much
| truth might be disseminated. II would afford
an innocent amusement for the country, and
enable good many small politicians to see
Themselves as Others see them 49, Ilsgx,f Pat