The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-02-21
a story or Lincoln's FirInness.
fCleyeland Herald.1

On a raw, gloomy afternoon In the winter
of 1864, Colonel Senter and the writer hao
an appointment with President Lincoln or
business connected with the protection Of the
commerce Of the lakes. The war was ut the
time the almost exclusive subject Of pub
lie thought or private conversation. The
streets Of Washington were filed with
soldiers and army officers, and the
whole city was apparently nothing but
great camp, to and from which the
members of the army and navy were con.
stantly going and leaving. The ante-rooms
Of the White House were filled daily from
morning until evening with members OF
Congress, soldiers, sailors, men and women of
every age and nation, all bent upon getting a
personal interview with the president. Some
times the rush Of visitors was 80 great they
could not be accommodated in the corridors
of the White House. and the order would.be
given to admit no one except privileged per-
sons into the building.
On the afternoon in question, as we were
about to be ushered into the private room of
the president Mr.. j -, awell-known law
yer from Ohio. seized both Of us somewhat
roughly by the shoulders and begged us, in
earnest tones for the love of God and hu-
manity. to ask Lincoln to see him and his
client, If only tor a moment "All day." he
said, 1--WE have tramped YEARLY by the door,
hoping in vain the president would relent
and give us a hearing. Look, for mercy's
sake, he continued, "at that noble white
head and lettering figure, with the hands
tightly clssped nervously before him. That
old n an is father; his only son, a lad of
-, Il to be shot this afternoon at 8 o'clock
unless the president interferes. Stanton has
approved the sentences; Lincoln has declined
to interfere he will not see me, and unless we
can get the ear of the president the boy will
be shot and this old man and his wife will
be maniacs."
The father Of the boy at this moment came
forward, a venerable gentleman with long
white hair falling upon his shoulders. His
face was one of the saddest sights l ever
saw. The grief and anxiety so plainly writ.
ten upon it showed the torture he was suffer-
ing. We took the old man kindly by the
hand, told him We would beg the president
to see him, and bid him hope for the best
Mr.. Lincoln was in the gayest Of humors,
something specially funny having taken
place in an interview just closed with II large
committee from Baltimore and he recited
the whole matter In the merriest manner,
accompanied with shouts of laughter. For
All muir UT. hiHcolH gave hiihseii up 10 re-
Taxation and rest, telling the usher to bring
him no cards till he rang his bell.
At the end of this time, John G. Nicolay,
then private secretary, now marshal Of the
supreme court, came quietly into the room,
leaned over the presidents chair and whisper
ed some words Of private conversation in his
ear. In an instant the president ceased speak
ing, his face became calm and solemn in com
posture, and he appeared to reflect gravely for
moment before replying. Quietly looking
back over his chair he said slowly and distinct
ly:" Tell Mr.. II will not see him. can
not. Don't ask me again. Tell him have
read the papers in the case, all of them full
ly word for word. The boy deserted three
times, the last time when on guard at Wash
ington, and he can not be pardoned. l will
not interfere. He must be shot," Mr.. Mic
CLAY at once left the room, and Mr.. Lincoln
again renewed the conversation at the point
where he had broken off. He made no alu-
sion to the interruption, and evidently did
not wish either of us to speak of the subject
in any manner. 1t was plain that his mind
was made up and his decision irrevocable.