The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-24
LINCOLN AND STANTON.
Anecdote Showing the Methods by which
Zach Dismissed Applicants for ffiOce.


Zach Dismissed Applicants for ffiOcs.
Sergeant Major" contributes the fol-
lowing to the Chicago Tribune:
In the winter of 1864, after serving
three years in the Union army, and
being honorably discharged, made APP
plication for the post sutlership at Point
Lookout. My father being interested,
we made application to Mr.. Stanton,
then Secretary of War. We obtained
an audience, and was ushered into the
presence of the most pompous man i
ever met. AS i entered he waved his
hand for me to stop at a given distance
from him, and then put these questions,
viz:
did you serve three years in the
army?"
Il did, SIR"
"Were you honorably discharged?"
Il was, sir"
"Let me see your discharge"
gave il to him. He looked it over,
and then said: "Were you ever wound
ed?"
/ told him yes, at the battle of Will
iamsburg, May 5, 1861.
He then said: 81 think we can give
this position to soldier who has lost
an arm or leg, he being more deserv-
ing," and he then said that 1 looked
hearty and healthy enough to serve
three years more. He would not give
me a chance to argue my case. The
audience was at an end. He waved his
hand to me. / was then dismissed from
the august presence of the honorable
Secretary of War.
Ny father was waiting for me in the
hallway, who saw by my countenance
that was not successful. / said to my
father, LET us go over to Mr.. Lincoln (;
he may gave us more satisfaction" He
said it would do no good, but we went
over Mr.. Lincoln's reception room was
full of ladies and gentlemen when we
entered, and the scene was one shall
never forget. On her knees was a
woman in the agonies of despair, with
tears rolling down her cheeks, implor-
ing for the life of her son, who had de-
serted and had been condemned to be
shot. / heard Mr.. Lincoln say
Madam, do not act in this way it is
agony to me; 1 would pardon your son
if it was in my power, but there must
be an example made, or l will have no
army"
At this speech the woman tainted.
Lincoln motioned to his attendant, who
picked the woman up and carried her
out. All in the room were in tears.
But, now changing the scene from the
sublime to the ridiculous, the next ap.
plicant for favor was big, buxom Irish
woman, who stood before the President
with arms akimbo, saying, "Mr. Lin
coin, can't sell apples on the railroad %
Laughter. Lincoln said: Certainly,
madam; You can sell all you wish. y
But" she said, "you must give me a
pass or the soldiers will not let me- "
Lincoln then wrote few lines and gave
it to her, who said: "Thank you, sir
God bless you" This shows how quick
and clear were all this mans decisions.
/ stood and watched him for two
hours, and he dismissed each case as
quickly as the above, with satisfaction
to all.
My turn soon came. Lincoln spoke
to my father, and said, Now, gen.
tlemen, be pleased to be as quick as
possible with your business, as it is
growing late" My father then stepped
up to Lincoln and introduced me to
him. Lincoln then said "Take seat,
gentlemen, and state your business as
quick as possible" There was but one
chair by Lincoln, so he motioned TO my
father to sit, while l stood. My father
stated the business to him as stated
above. He then said, Have you been
to see Mr.. Stanton?" We told him
yes, that he had refused. He Mr.. Lin
coln) then said, Gentlemen, this is
Mr. Stanton's business; cannot inter
fere with him; he attends to all these
matters, and 1 am sorry / cannot help
you"
He saw that we were disappointed,
and did his best to revive our spirits.
He succeeded well with my father, who
was a Lincoln man and who was staunch
Republican.
Mr.. Lincoln then said, Nov, gentle
men, will tell you what it is; L have
thousands of applications like this every
day, but we cannot satisfy all for this
reason. that these positions are like office
seekers, there are too many pigs for the
teats."
The ladies who were listening to the
conversation placed their handkerchiefs
to their faces and turned away. But
the joke of Old Abe's put us all in a
good humor We then left the presence
of the greatest and most just man who
ever lived to fill the Presidential chair.
Failures i'm 1878.
The usual compilation of statistics
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