The Arizona champion., 1884-03-01
Abe Lincoln's Great Heartedness.

EDITOR CHAMPIoN:-Many anec- dotes and incidents connected with the public life of MT. Lincoln, ind their way into print, where they are eagerly read and universally accepted by the people of our nation, regard less of political complexion or former sectional sympathles. Two incidents come to the personal knowledge of the writer during the late war, that We believe never found their way into print, and yet are of equal value with many things unvouched for which speak eloquently of the grand, simple ways of the martyred president.
 In the year 1S6o, MT. Pickett, Afterwards Colonel) of Rock Island, Illinois, wrote a letter to his friend Abe Lincoln, of Springfield, inviting him to visit Rock Island and deliver a lecture before the young mems club or some literary society in that town. Col. Pickett, in conclusion, assured his friend Lincoln that it gave him much pleasure to see his name men, tioncd as possible candidate before the convention for Presidential hon. ors. Mir. Lincoln replied briefly that "it would be impossible on account of business engagements for him to visit Rock Island in the near future for the purpose of delivering a lecture ot for any other purpose. That while few of his personal friends flat tered him by mentioning his name in connection with the nomination for the presidency, he hoped for the wei fare of the cause no further or public demonstration would be made toward that end The original letter is now in possession of Major Klutche, of Lincoln, Nebraska, where Colonel Pickett also resides.
 After the battle of Juka, in the autumn of 1862, private soldier of Company B, of the 5th Iowa Infantry, deserted his command and escaped into Canada. Soon after taking the lrretrievable step, he repented it very much and was pursued by remorse and shame such as IS known only to the truly penitent. For some unexplained reason he did not see Mir. Iincoln's proffered pardon to all deserters who would return to duty before a date given in the proclamation, until it was too late to profit by its clemency. He determined to maka his way to Washington, see the President, and throw himsefupon his mercy. Once at the National Capital, little atten- tion was paid to his demand to see the President, and he fingered for days about the Executive Mansion in a state of mind bordering on despera- ton. Finally he induced an attache of the place to say to Mir. Lincoln that private soldier wanted to see him, and he was soon ushered into the presence of Mir. Lincoln himself He looked kindly upon the man who in hurried, breathless manner told his story of desertion, shame and re- p.ntance. "It you will only plrdoa me, Mir. Lincoln, l will return to my comrads, serve out my time faithfully and serve afterwards the same length of time that have been absent" MT. Lincoln made no reply, but turned to a convenient desk, and with his own hand penned free and unconditional pardon. The simple, plain paper also instructed United States Quartermas- ters to furnish him free transportation and subsistence and allowing him thirty days in which to reach his com mand then at Vicksburg, Miss. MT. Lincoln slowly read the contents of the paper to the now thoroughly as- tonished and delighted soldier, and in the words and spirit of tenderness of one even greater than he, added: "Go. my son, and sin no more"
 HAL.