National Republican., 1874-04-01
REWARDING A MARKlsALAE.

1 mentioned to you an interview once had
with President Lincoln, says correspondent,
and you requested me to write 1t down at some
leisure moment and send 1t to you. will give
you the conversation and incidents so far as
can recall them, after period of more than
seven years. had handed to the Secretary of
War my petition to be appointed paymaster in
the army some months before my interview
with the President, on which no action had ap-
.parently been taken, and the Senators and
some members of tho House from my State,
who had signed my papers, had con.ented
themselves with that assistance, when 1t re-
quired active and determined Intervention with
Mr.. Stanton to secure such an appointment. l
finally concluded to call on President Lincoln,
him to order my promotion.
went to the White House, and among fifty
or sixty others entered the reception room.
sat there many hours, intensely interested in
listening to the disposition ofthe matters brought
before the President, some of them of much i'm
portance; and others which would have been of
trihing consequence, but for the interest they
possessed in being decided instantly with con-
summate wisdom, and to the entire satisfaction
of all the spectators, If not to the party most
interested. About the last of the suitors,
stepped up to President Lincoln and said:
"Mr. President, some months since / made
application to the Secretary of War for the
position of paymaster in the army, upon which
no action has been taken, so far as I am aware,
although was indorsed by Senators and mem
bers, and am regarded by the pay department
as competent for and entitled to the position.
VIII you please submit my papers to the pay
master general for his report thereon"
Certainly" said he, 81 will do that, and
he took them from my hand and indorsed on
the back, Submitted to the paymaster general
for report"
1 returned, to the Paymaster Generals and
he made report, stating in substance, that in
reply to similar question by the Secretary of
War, he had reported that he had no need of
additional paymasters, but that were he In
need Of any he would not hesitate to recon-
mend me for that position. This seemed to me
to be fatal to my hopes, but fortunately
learned that one Of the paymasters was about
to resign. / called upon him, and he ad-
dressed q statement TO me, by my request,
saying that he had just resigned his place, to
take effect on the 31st of December. Ut was
the 9th then.) With this new paper and the
Paymaster Generals report, / went again TO
the President and said to him:
"Mr. President, last week ! was here, and
asked you to submit TO the Paymaster General
for report an application / had made to the
Secretary of War for the position of paymaster,
which you kindly did. have here the reply
Of the PaymssterfG General"
"Well, sir }" he replied, "what did he sayl
You can tell me sooner than can read those
papers,"
/ answered, "He says he does not need any
more paymasters."
with peculiar twinkle in his eye, sis not that
enoughP
''No, SIR" said, "for have another paper
here, showing that Major - has resigned.
and ask for the vacancy, and beg to add,
Mr.. President, that haye been three or four
years in the pay department in the capacity of
clerk. have beer, promoted until for nearly
two years have been chief revising clerk; cor
recting the work Of the paymaster. There are
no further promotions in the office, and ask
this appointment in the regular line Of promo
tion."
"That is to say" said the President, "you
have been three or four years in the paymaster
generals Office, keeping some good fellow out
Of that place, and now you want me to reward
you forit by giving you something better. Why,
sir, you remind me of the man who had board
bill to pay"
"why, how was that, Mr.. Presidentp
"Well, he had been boarding o long time
with his landlsdy, and had paid nothing at all,
untn she finally made out his bill and handed
1t to him. Madam said he, 4 have but one
way to pay this bill; must stay and board Il
out !"
eyes, but you said had been three or four
years in the Office of the Parmaster General
keeping some good fellow out Of place; now,
/ want you to give me the appointment, SO that
I can leave that good fellow place; and
have another reason for asking for this appoint
ment, on the ground of an implied promise
from you"
"Why, sir, how is thatf
ssYou may remember that last summer you
and Mr.. Secretary Watson were down on the
grounds south Of the White House, trying
some new rifles In shooting at mark. Several
gentlemen were looking on, and finally q num-
ber Of them asked for and received permission
to shoot. Among the number was one, and
it.was my good fortune to hit the mark, making
the best shot. asked you then what was the
reward for the best shot, and you replied that,
as Western man, ought to know that the
best shot always drew the skin,' and that !
was entitled to is; and, sir, have come for II.
With o very comical expression 10 his eye,
he replied; ''Well. that is another view TO take
Of the matter. Wait moment and viii see
what can do for you.p
He had been folding and putting mucilsge on
certain papers, and when he had finished, he
took from me the papers held. and on the