Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-09
PRESIDEN

stone.
PRESIDEN
How He spared the Life of an
Old Friend.
Indianapolis ~Sentinel.l
During the war a man caught VIC
lating a military law, at Memphis, was
doomed by a court martial to suffer
the extreme penalty. The sentence
had been approved by General Hurl-
but, then in command. The time ap.
pointed for execution was but three
days of, when a little woman, throb-
bling like 4 wild bird in the hands OF
its 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,, deeply moved by the wo-
mans story and distress, suffered
scarcely a moment to elapse before
calling with her on Senator Hendricks.
The plan hastily suggested itselfto him
was to have the two Senators from
Indiana, of whom the late Henry 8.
Lane was the senior, conduct
the woman, pleading for g
fathers life, to Mr.. Lincoln. The
three presented themselves to Mr..
Lane, who, after making some prepa-
ration to join the escort, asked:
What is the charge against your
father2" He attempted to carry
quinine to the enemy" IF that is
the case" answered Mr.. Lane, the
verdict is correct, and | cannot inter
fere."
Hope seemed to depart from the
woman, and she looked as if she were
in the awful presence of death. AT
this point Mrs. Lane entered the
room. 1T will not do" said the lady,
addressing her husband; this woman
has come to see the President, and it
is your duty to conduct her" He
surrendered, took a deep interest, and
the party started for the Executive
Mansion, where it was at once ad-
mitted, and found Mr.. Lincoln olsen
gagged.
Mr.. Hendricks, who only remem-
bered the lady as a little woman"
introduced 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 MIR. Lincoln, II remember
him well. On one occasion a farmer
came to my office, and taking me for
that gentleman, insisted, You must
come out and preach again next Sun
day. Your last sermon did great good,
and was thought the best we ever
heard | rather liked being thought
a Methodist preacher and did not
break the delusion. Oh yes, | re-
member him well, and there was some
resemblance between u.s." "She brings
you terrible news from that man to-
day. He is to be shOtl' ITO be
shot?" Here Mr.. Hendricks wished
the little woman to speak, but she was
Involuntary dumb. "She brings a
statement Of the case to you | be.
lieve"
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 a
study of the case. For some minutes
be must have forgotten the govern
ment, the army. and every
thing, so completely was he ab-
sorbed in the paper. This con-
cluded, he looked up and around
the room, when his eyes, falling upon
the little woman, rested for a moment.
Soon he spoke: Your father shall
not be shot The great weight of
dread 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 although there never
had been a war and that it contained
no grave, no pencil could depict.
Il guess" continued Mr.. Lincoln,
partly as il communing with himself,
II had better telegraph Hurlbut-yes,
I'll telegraph Hurlbut at once;p and
then he proceeded to write the mes
sage. This was slow, careful work,
but concluding it he said: Il reckon
that will do" Then reading it aloud.
he continued: "Yes, that will do"
In response to a bell a secretary ap
peared. Take this message" said
MIR. Lincoln, in the commanding tone
Of a President, "snd 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 obligatory on 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 reseating himself and the
talk that for some moments followed.
Mr.. Lincoln laughed about the article
Of quinine, and did not think takingit
across the lines an offense meriting
death. He knew the country about
Memphis; it was malarial, and life
without quinine was almost impossi
bic. He thought it hardly proper to
put down the rebellion by giving peo-
pie oyer to an ague.