Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-16
LINCoLN's FIRMNI SIS.

On raw, gloomy afternoon in the win
ter OF 1864 Colonel Senter and the writer
had an appointment with President Esn-
coin on business connected with the pro-
lection OF the commerce of the lakes. Thc
war was at the time the almost exclusive
subject OF public thought or private con-
versation. The streets of Washington
were filled 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
Ut Congress, soldiers, sailors, men and
women OF every age and nation, all bent
upon getting personal interview with the
President. Sometimes the rush of visitors
was so great that they could not be ac-
commodated 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 afternoon in question, as we were
about to be ushered into the private room
of the President, Mr. j, well-known
lawyer from Ohio, seized both of us some-
| what 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 moment.
"All day" he said, "we have tramped
wearily by the door, hoping in vain the
| President would relent and give us hear
ing. Look, for mercy's sake" he con-
timed, ''at that noble white head and
tottering figure, with the hands tightly
clasped nervously before him. That old
man is a father; his only son, lad of nine
b L. LA Il
o'clock, unless the President inteIferes.
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 hoy at this moment
long white hair falling upon his shoulders.
His face was one of the saddest sights 1
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
President to see him, and bid him hope
for the best. Mr.. Lincoln was in the gay
est of humors, something specially funny
| having taken place in an interview Just
closed with a large committee from Bal
timore, and he recited the whole matter
in the merriest manner, accompanied with
shouts of laughter. For an hour MIR.
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. Nicolay,
ther private secretary, now marshal of the
Supreme Court, came quietly into the
room, leaned over the Presidents chair
and whispered some words of private con-
versation in his ear. In an instant the
President ceased speaking, his face became
calm and solemn in composure, and he ap-
peared to reflect gravely for moment
before replying. Quietly looking back
over his chair he said, slowly and distinctly
"Tell Mr. will not see him. can
not. Don't ask me again. Tell him 1
have read the papers in the case, all OF
them, fully, word for word. The boy de-
serted three times, the last time when ON
guard at Washington, and he cannot be
pardoned. l will not interfere. He must
be shot" Mr.. Nicolay at once left the room,
and Mr.. Lincoln again renewed the con-
versation at the point where he bad broken
off, He made no allusion to the interrup.
ton, and evidently did not wish either of
usto speak of the subject in any manner.
1t was plain that his mind was made up
Fand his decision irrevocable. Il Cleveland
Herald.