St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-02-06
How Lincoln Failed to Interfere.
IFrom the Cleveland (O.) Herald.I

From the Cleveland (OJ Heraldl
On a raw, gloomy afternoon in the |
winter of 1864 Col. Senter and the writ
eI had an appointment with President |
Lincoln on business connected with the |
protection of the commerce of the |
lakes. The war was ut the time the al |
most exclusive subject of public thought |
or private conversation. The streets |
OF Washington were filled with soldiers |
aud army officers, and the whole city |
was apparently nothing but great |
camp, to and from which the members
OF the army and navy were constantly
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 wo-
men OF every age and nation, all bent
upon getting personal interview with
the president. Sometimes the rush of
visitors was so 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
persons into the building. On the af-
ternOOn in question as we were about to
be ushered into the private room of the
president, Mr.. IA well known LAWYER
|
roughly by the shoulders, and begged
us in earnest tones for the love Of God
and humanity to ask Mr.. Lincoln to see
him and his client, if only for one mo-
ment. "All day." he said, "we have
tramped wearily by the door, hoping
in vain the president would relent and
give us il hearing. Look for mercy sake,
at that noble white head and tottering
figure, with the hunds tightly clasped
nervously before him. That old man
is Il father; his only son, lad of 10, is
to be shot this afternoon at 6 O'Clock
unless the president interferes. Stanton
has approved the sentence, 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, venerable gentleman
with long, white hair falling upon his
shoulders. His face was one of the sad
dest sights ever saw. The grief and
anxiety so plainly written upon it
showed the torture he was suffering.
We took the old man kindly by the
hand, told him we would beg the presi-
dent to see him, and bid him hope for
the best. Mr.. Lincoln was in the gayest
of humors, something especially funny
having taken place in an interview just
closed with il large committee from
Baltimore, and he recited the whole
matter in the merriest manner, accom-
panied with shouts of laughter. For
an hour Mr.. Lincoln gave himself up to
relaxation and rest, telling the usher to
bring him no cards till he rang his
bell.
At the end of this time John G.. NicO
lay, then private secretary, now mar
shal of the supreme court, came quietly
into the room, leaned over the presi-
dents chair and whispered some words
of private conversation in his ear. In
an instant the president ceased speak
ing, his face became calm and solemn in
composure, and he appeared to reflect
gravely for Il moment before replying.
Quietly looking back over his chair he
said slowly and distinctly: Tell Mr..
- l will not see him. | cannot. Do
not ask me again. Tell him | have
read the papers in the case, all of them
fully, word for word. The boy deserted
three times, the last time when on guard
at Washington, and he cannot be par
dOned. l will not interfere. He must
be shot" Mr.. Nicolay at once left the
room, and Mr.. Lincoln again renewed
the conversation at the point where he
had broken off. He made no allusion to
the interruption, and evidently did not
wish either of US to speak of the sub
ject in any manner 1t was plain that
his mind was made up and his decision
irrevocable.
The lawyer on getting the message
from Mr.. Nicolay, admitted further eff
fort was useless, and at once started
with his client to cross the bridge into
Virginia, and drive where the boy was
confined prisoner. They reached the
camp in time to find the young man
ready for execution. The parting be-
tween father and son was so affecting
that no one could look upon it. The
officer in command had the broken
hearted old man carried tenderly to ii
tent, and at o'clock promptly the
young soldier was shot dead as a de-
serter in presence Of his regiment.