The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-10-14
PRES DENT LINCOLN.
HOW HE SPARED THE LIFE OF AN OLD
FRIEND.

hltNb.
During the war a man caugh hit violating
a military law at Memphis was doomed
by court martial to suffer the extreme
penalty. The sentence had been approx
ed by General Hurlburt, then in command.
The time appointed for execution was but
three days off, when little woman throb-
bling like wild bird in the hands of his
captor, arrived in Washington, with a
letter to Congressman Voorhees,. She
was the daughter of the man standing in
the shadow of death. Her mission was
to see the President. Mr.. Voorhees,, deep
ly moved by the woman's story and dis
tress, suffered scacely moment to elapse
before calling with her on Senator Hen
bricks. The plan which hastily suggested
itself to him was to have the two Senators
from Indiana; of whom the late Henry S.
Lane was senior, condu ct the woman plead
ing for a fathers life, to Mr.. Lincoln.
The three presented themselves to Mr..
Lane who, after making some prepala-
tions to join the escort, asked: what is
the charge against your fathers He
attempted to carry quinine to the enemy"
''lf that is the case answered Mr.. Lane,
the verdict is correct, and | cannot inter-
fere':
Hope seemed to part from the woman
and she looked as if she was in the awful
presence of death. At this point Mrs.
Lane entered The room. :" 1t will not do,
said that lacy, addressing her husband:
''this woman has come to see the Presi-
dent and it is soul duty to conduct her,"
He surrendered, took a deep interest, and
the party started for the Executive MAI =
sion, where it was at once admitted, and
found hr. Lincoln diSengaged
Senator Hendricks introduced her.
but she, having never seen Il President be-
fore, seemed to have lost the power of
speech You will, perhaps, remember
her father. He once lived in Spl ingiield
eyes, answered Mr.. Lincoln, remem /
Der him well. On one occasion fIrme ]
StehiS ii9o oidSc. hhu IIlC lOl
that gentlemen, insisted, You must come
out and preach again next Sunday. Your
last sermon did great good, and was
thought the best we ever heard rather
liked being though a Methodist preacher.
and did not break the deluSiou Oh, 'eS.
| remember him well ard there WAS some
resemb alice between u.s. ''She brings
you terrible news from that man to- day.
He is to be shot9'' ITO be shot Here
Mr.. Hendricks wished the little woman
to speak but she was involuntarily dumb.
She brings a statement of the case o
you. believe"
Taking the five closely written pages
of foolscap. MIR. Lincoln settled back
into the chair, and. folding his legs in
the manner that has So often been de-
scribed, proceeded to read it aloud, but
to himself. The reading was a study Of
have forgotten the government, the
army, and everything, so completely WIS
he absorbed in the paper. This con-
cluded, be looked up and around the
room, when his eyes, falling Oh the little
woman. rested for moment. Soon he
spoke: Y our father shall not be shot!
The great weight and agony these words
lifted from the little woman and the ex-
preston of gladness that beamed from
her face, like a June morning when the
world looks as though there never had
been a war; and that it contained no grave,
no pencil could depict.
Il guess continued Mr. Lincoln,
partly as if communing with himself, Il
had better telegraph Hurlburt-yes, III
telegraph Ilurlburt at once, and then
he proceeded to write the message. This
was slow, careful work, but concluding
it he said: :" | reckon that will do in
response to bell secretary appeared.
Take this message said Mr.. Lincoln
in the commanding tone of a President,
land send it quickly; remain at the
Office until it gets through; see that it is
answered and that am informed"
Thus briefly was this duty made obi
gatory upon the secretary, and the exec
utive mind was at rest. Mr.. Hendricks
has forgotten what became of the other
people, but he remembers, after having
risen to depart, of reseatins himself and
the talk that for some minutes followed.
Mr.. Lincoln laughed about the article of
across the lines an otfense meriting
death. He knew the country about Mem
phis; it was malarial, and life without
duinine was almost impossible. He
thought it hardly proper to put down
the rebellion by giving people over to