Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-01-31

aIIer MIN. ana so ne determined 10 walt
until the crowd had dispersed.
At last the path was clear, and he
again applied for admittance, but, as be-
tyre, it was denied him. He had neglect
ed to get card from Mr.Lincoln,a and sure
failure stared him in the face At this
moment Senator Morgan came up, and
remarking to the usher that he would be
responsible for the youth. they both wend-
ed their way to the President, whom they
found alone.
"Well, Senator" said the President, ad-
dressing the Ex-Governor, how were you
pleased with the inauguration?
Very much, Mr.. President; but before
we discuss that subject, let me say that
since our interview this morning, have
been at some pains to get at the facts in
the case of our young friend here" and
he pointed to Smith.
What does your father propose to do
after his restoration to a good name?"
asked Mr.. Lincoln.
ITO re-jOin the army. and endeavor by
strict attention to his duties to redeem
himself"
rs your father temperate man? Does
he love his family, and did he before his
desertiOn remit them all the money he
had tospare?"
This inquiry opened the door for the
recital of the virtues of the youths IA
ther, and Senator Morgan listened to it
as attentively as the President. When
all the story had been told, the Senator
added:
"Mr. President, the lads statement is
substantially correct. From what |
hove heard from Others, have no hesi-
tation in endorsing it. In my judgment
the man should be pardOned."
30 Morgan, your heart is so tender
that were you President. everybody
would be pardoned."
Not so, Mr.. President; but when a
youth like this pleads so strongly and
so intelligently for a fathers life-for
his life is forfeited to the Government
if caught Il cannot listen to him un-
moved. You have pardoned great
many deserters, Mr.. President, during
your term Of Office"
The Ex-Governor had gone too far in
making this last observation, and he
saw it when too late, for Mr.. Lincoln
assuming his severest look, and rising
from his chair, exclaimed, in a loud
voice:
That's just it, Mr.. Senator. l have
pardOned too many. l can pardon no
more"
Maxwell Smiths face paled, and tears
filled his eyes. He was about to make
another appeal, when Senator Morgan
suggested that he (Morgan) be allowed
to call on the Secretary of War, and Oh
tain frUIu MIN Il report concerning The
elder Smiths antecedent5. This Was
acquisced in, and the Senator and the
boy repaired Immediately to the quar-
ters of Mr.. Stanton.
Fortunately the Secretary was unen-
gagged, and listened patiently TO the ar
gument advanced by Mr.. Morgan for
the soldiers pardon. In reply he stated
that the mans record was good, and his
desertion was his first breach of disci
pline.
"But," said Mr.. Stanton, II could not
mmend the President to exercise
his prerogative in this or any similar
case. If the deserter be found, he must
pay the penalty of his ilfraction of the
law"
Nothing more could be done that day,
and SO Smith and his faithful friend de-
parted for their respective residences,
the understanding being that the youth
should call early the next morning at
the Senator'S house, and that they should
Ogain repair together to the White
House.
At the appointed time the audience
was obtained of the President, and again
the subject of Smiths pardon was in
troduced. Mr.. LincO.n appeared to be
in better Spi ritS than On the day before,
and listened to what the Secretary of War
had said with much interest. When
told that Stanton had refused to recon-
mend the pardon of Smith, he said:
Il thought it would be so when you
started to see MIN. Stanton has often
found fault with me for my soft
heart, as he calls it, and he could not
stultify himself by recommending what
he has condemned me for approving"
well, Mr.. President" said Senator
Morgon, 1T is not often that 1 make a
personal appeal to you, but l have in
terested myself so much in this boys
case that L cannot abandon all hope of
a successful result even now. In mercy's
name, do the favor my young friend
Graves of you, and send him back to
New York with light heart. He has
promised to return to Washington with
his father in two weeks, and l feel sure
that be will not falsify his word"
The President WAS visibly moved. He
looked at the lad Smith long and intent
ly, and then suddenly drawing a sheet
of paper toward him, he wrote few
words to the secretary of War, and CIV
ing the note to messenger, bade him
return as soon as possible.
In half an hour the latter came hack
with a document subscribed by MrStan-
ton, and hastily writing the word ZAP
proved" the President handed it to
Maxwell Smith, who, nervously running
his eyes over it, discovered its purpose,
and bursted into tears. His father had
been unconditionally pardoned.
G. X. B.