St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-08-05

intend anything of the sort. In short,
Mr.. Vice president, you will not leave
Washington at present" This, Mr..
Lincoln said with look that was far
more significant than his words, and
Mr.. Hamlin, seeing that he had some
thing of more than ordinary import
ance on his mind, replied
''Of course, | will not think of doing
so if you wish otherwise. You are the
commander-in-ch and | am under
orders"
"And l order YOU" continued the
President, laughing, Ito sit i'll that
chair, and afterward to ride with me to
supper Hamlin did as he was di-
rected, and shortly afterward the two
gentlemen. guarded by a file of sol
diers, rode on horseback out to the
summer residence of the President.
There they quietly partOok of Il light
supper. and then the President invited
his guest into the library. Here, hav-
ing carefully closed the door, he turned
to his trusty adviser and said
''Mr. Hamlin, you have been repeat
edly urging me to issue proclamation
emancipating the slaves. | have con-
cluded to yield to your advice in the
matter, and that of other friends, at
the same time, as | may say, following
my own Judgment. Now, listen to
me while | read this paper. We will
correct it us we go on" Saying which
the President unrOlled and read the fa-
nous proclamation which gave liberty
to four million human chattels.
Still another important incident in
the same direction Mr.. Stanton, the
secretary of war, together with Vice
president Hamlin, had frequently
urged upon President Lincoln the ad-
visibility of organizing regiments of
cOlOred troops. The President, how
ever, did not at first look favorably
upon the proposition, and Mr.. Stanton
had almost given up hope of bringing
him to his way of thinking. One even
ing while this was the situation, dep
utation of army officers, all brave,
well-informed and earnest men, though
none of them of particularly high rank,
went to the ce-president's lodgings
and begged him to urge the President
to authorize the arming of negroes.
''If such thing can be done" said
Mr.. Hamlm, after hearing them
| through, ''would you and other men
| like you he willing to command the
cOl0rcd troops ?n
Yes, sir, gladly" they replied, al
most III a breath.
| every WELL" was the decisive re-
sponse of Mr.. Hamlin; ''if you are will
| ling to undertake the task, | will see to
it that You have an opportunity of pre-
Scnting your views to the President"
| Saying this, though it was 10 o'clock at
night, he sent il messenger to the White
House asking when it would be con
vcnicnt for Mr.. Lincoln to see him and
his army friends. The President, with
out delay, fixed an interview for 3
o'clock the next morning.
At that hour Mr.. Hamlin with zen
officers, went to the White House,
The latter fully presented the case to
Mr.. Lincoln. When they had done sc
he turned to Hamlin and said, evident
ly much pcrpleXed:
what is your best Judgment about
this p
Il think" was the reply, ''that thes,
gentlemen are entirely right. If they
are ready to move-if they and other
good men like them are ready to give
up their present positions and take
places in negro regiments I am sure
it is but right that you should give
them authority to do So"
"Ycs, ycs,' repeated the President
three or -four times, and then with the
exclamation, II suppose the time has
come ~ he turned to his desk and for 4
few moments wrote rapidly. Then
turning to Hamlin, he said: ''Here is
an order to Secretary Stanton authoriz-
ing the arming of cOlored troops"
"May | he your messenger to the sec
rotary ~ eagerly asked Mr.. Hamlin.
eyes, yes" said the President, smil
ing in his own quaint way; 'take it tC
Stanton, take it to Stanton, | am glad
to know that You are both satisfied"
Without moments delay the Vice
President hurried to the war office
found the secretary in his private room
and hastily told what had occurred.
"No, no it can't he possible eX
claimed Stanton, with suppressed eX-
citement, and hardly daring to believ,
that one of his pet schemes was about
to 20 into effect.
"HCrc is the Presidents ORDER wa.
lIamlin's simple response. Hastily Tho
secretary took and read it, was silen
for moment, and then throwing aside
his usual grui1ness of manner, his real
deep, earnest, impulsive feeling came
to the surface, great tears welled NJ
into his eyes. and flowed over his care
worn face Then cOnvulsivcly throw
ing his arms about Hamlin, he crieo
ont with all the earncstness of ii deep
strong nature:
"Thank God for this thank God fo
this -