Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-11-05

any comment Otanton quleGly Iedu Iuo
petition and the Endorsement and then
deliberately tore the petition into shreds,
which he deposited in the waste basket.
The three gentlemen were astonished at
what seemed to them, and might very
properly have appeared to anybody. an
act of stupendous impudence. The only
comment that Secretary Stanton made
consisted in the words uttered in aquiet
tone, with his large eyes closed some
what behind his spectacles "The ap-
pointment will not be made"
The three gentlemen retired speech
less with rage and astonishment. Mr..
Stanton was man much after Ben
Wade's heart. This act of Stanton's had
aroused the old mans wrath and set
loose tongue which, in its theological
expression, does not always strictly fol-
low eccliastical euphemism. A sardonic
grin played about the grimly mobile
features of old Ben Wade's face. He
clutched his hands as if the sturdy neck
of the rebellious secretary was within
his vigorous grasp. Wade strcde to the
front, and told his companions to follow,
muttering: "We will see about this
Gen. Mitchell was then lame from a re-
cent wound. and with Pomeroy, who was
already puffy from rapidly developed
obesity, naturally fell behind. Wade
could not wait, and strobe on, driving
his tough oaken cane into the ground,
and blurting out oaths, as a rocket
leaves sparks in its trail. The two Kan
sas gentlemen might have imagined that
they were following some Plutonic her.
aid. The distance between the war de-
partment and the White House is not
great. At the threshold of the execu-
tive mansion the irate Ben turned, and,
shaking his cane at his two less swift
companions, shouted, ''Come on The
twain naturally hastened their steps, for
they feared that the heated representa-
tions of Mr.. Wade might be less respect
full to Stanton than they would be bene-
fetal to their cause.
They arrived at the ante-room of the
Presidents Office just in time to hear old
Ben blurt out: "What sort of a -
- clerk do you keep over at the war
department ?" Wade fairly trembled
with rage at what he regarded the in
dignity to the presidential authority.
Mr.. Lincoln coolly asked the reason for
the energetic inquiry. Wade told the
story in his emphatic way, how the petit
tion had been respectfully presented,
how the "clerk in the war Office" had
- 49, D-~~;l~.,..~ i-.aa--~4;---~,--aL i Le1
then torn the whole document into piec-
es. The President listened to the story
with much apparent nervousness, and
great agitation was manifest on his face
as the recital proceeded. After pacing
the floor for few moments, he turned
to the gentlemen and said: "The truth
is, gentlemen, have very little infu-
ence with this administration.
That is the true story of this histori-
cal statement of Lincoln's, as told by an
eyewitness. The President, without fur
ther comment, then told the gentlemen
to call the next morning, and he would
see what could be done. They called.
The President handed Gen. Mitchell an
official paper, saying, There Is the ap-
pointment of your friend to the position
of major in the quartermaster's depart
ment" No further explanation was Of
fered by the President. The nature of
the interview with the war secretary was
never made public, but the act of the
President shows that he had, in fact,
some little influence with his admins
tration.