Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-03-30
President Lincoln.
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During the war n man caught violat-
ing military law at Memphis was
doomed by a eourt-martial to suffer the
extreme penalty. The sentence had
been approved by General Hurlbert, then
in command. The time appointed for
execution was but three days of, when
a little woman, throbbing like a wild
bird in the hands of its captOr, arrived
in Washington, with aletter TO Congress
man VOORHEES,. She was the daughter
of the man standing in the shadow of
death. Her mission was to see the Pres
ident Mr.. Voorhees,, deeply moved by
the woman's story and distress, suffered
scarcely moment to elapse before call
ing with her on Senator Hendricks. The
plan that hastily suggested itself to him
was to have the two Senators from In
diana, of whom the late Henry S. Lane
was senior, conduct the woman pleading
for fathers life to Mr.. Lincoln. The
three presented themselves to Mr. Lane,
who, after making some preparations to
join the escort, asked, What is the
charge against your father?" "He at
tempted to carry quinine to the enemy"
IF that is the case" answered Mr..
Lane, ''the verdict is correct, and can
not interfere
Hope seemed to depart from the wo-
wan, and she looked as if she was in the
awful presence of death. At this point
Mrs. Lane entered the room. at will
not do" said that lady, addressing her
husband ''this woman has come to see
the President, and it is your duty to
conduct her. He surrendered, took
deep interest, and the party started for
the Executive Mansion, where it was at
once admitted, and found Mr.. Lincoln
disengaged.
ed the lady as "a little woman" intro
duced her, but she, having never seen a
President before, seemed to have lost the
power of speech. you will perhaps,
remember her father. He once lived in
Springfield" YES" answered Mr..
Lincoln, Il remember him well. On
one occasion q farmer came to my Of
flee, and, taking me for that gentleman,
insisted, You must come out and preach
again next Sunday. Your last sermon
did great good, and was thought the
best we ever heard. l rather liked be-
ing thought Methodist preacher, and
did not break the delusion. o, yes, |
remember him well, and there was some
resemblance between us" ''She bringsG
you terrible news from that man to-day.
He is to be shot?" ''To be shot?' Here
Mr. Hendricks wished the little woman
to speak. but she was involuntarily
dumb. ''She brings statement of the
case to you, l believe.''
Taking the five closely-written pages
of foolscap, Mr.. 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 study of
the case For some minutes he must
have forgotten the Government, the
army, and everything, so completely
was he absorbed in the paper. This
concluded, he looked up and around the
room. when his eyes, falling on the little
woman, rested for a moment. Soon he
spoke: "Your father shall not be shotr'
The great weight and agony these words
lifted from the little woman, and the ex-
preston of gladness that beamed from
her face, like June morning when the
world looks rs though there never had
been war and it contained no grave,
no pencil could depict.
Il guess" continued Mr. Lincoln.
partly as if communing with himself,
Il had better telegraph Hurlbert-yes,
I'll telegraph Hurlbert at once;" and
then he proceeded to write the message.
This was slow, careful work, but con-
cluding it, he said, Il reckon that will
do" In response to bell, secretary
appeared. Take this message" said
Mr.. Lincoln, in the commanding tone
of President, land send it quickly; re-
main at the Office until it gets through;
see that it is answered. and that l am
informed" Thus briefly was this duty
made obligatory upon the secretary, and
the executive mind was at rest. Mr..
Hendricks has forgotten what became
of the other people, but he remembers,
after having risen to depart of reseat-
ing himself and the talk that for some
moments followed. Mr.. Lincoln laugh.
ed about the article of quinine, and did
not think taking it across the lines an
offence meriting death. He knew the
country about Memphis; it was malari.
al, and life without quinine was almoss
impossible. He thought it hardly prop
er to put down the rebellion by giving
people over to an ague.- Indianapolis
Sentinel.