Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-01
LINCOLN,s KINDNESS.
Another Illustration of the Great Mans
Humanity.
From the Oshkosh Northeastern,

From the Oshkosh Northeastern.
Senator Sawyer, in talking about Presi-
dents the other night at the Business
Mems rooms, told a story which illus
trates Mr.. Lincoln's kindness of heart. 1t
was in 1864 Mr.. Sawyer was then Mayor
of Oshkosh, and was in the field as candi-
date for the Republican nomination for
Congressman. Thomas A. Follett, an ex-
Mayor of Oshkosh, had been accidentally
killed, leaving large family of children
In destitute circumstances. The oldest
son, George FOllett, was In the army,
get him discharged. MIR. Sawyer,
on his way to the Baltimore
convention which nominated Lincoln
and johnson for President and Vice
President, took the petition to Washing
ton and called on e, NJ. Stanton. Secre-
tary OF War. The great War Secretary
/ peremptOrily refused to discharge the boy.
| Mr.. Sawyer then called on Mr.. Seward,
! Secretary Of State, with whom he had a
slight personal acquaintance, aud Mr..
! Seward accompanied him TO the White
| House. Calling on the President, Mr..
| Sawyer laid before him the petition, signed
/ by the city and county officers at Oshkosh
and members of the Legislature, aud in
dOrsed by members Of Congress. Senator
] OOOilltie udh WlilbcH hnuCi luG OLntI
/ names. ''If there ever was case de-
serving of attention, this is One.--J. X.
| DoOlittle." Briefly MIR. Sawyer explained
/ TO the President the circumstances how
/ the father was snatched away by death.
leaving a large and helpless family OF
small children-the oldest only boy, and
he at the front, fighting for his country
that If the boy could not be sent home the
| family would be in danger of suffering
l Vnnpqgurfag NJ lffa Mr. IfpapIn
scanned the petition closely, while big
/ tear dropped from his eye.
eft there ever was case deserving OF
attention." said he, quoting the indOrse-
ment Of senator DOOlittle; cOnfound him
whydon't he recommend something? 1.-The
will recommend the young mans dismis-
sal ] will 50 order it,"
Mr.. sawyer Immediately withdrew, took
the petition 10 Senator Doolittle. who put
it IN the proper form, and about a week
later again appeared before the President
ut the White House. Mr.. Lincoln, when
he entered the room, sang out:
well, you want the boy discharged? 20
Taking the petition from Mr.. Sawyer,
he bent his gaunt form down TO the table
and wrote;
"Let the boy be discharged Immediately.
A. LINCOLN"
The next step was 10 get the order from
the secretary Of War, and knowing the
difficulty OF securing an audience with
| Mr.. stanton, Mr.. Sawyer asked the Presi-
dent for card which would give him ad-
mission.
"Toml" sang out the President, and an
attendant made his appearance.
.'rom. take this gentleman 10 the secre-
tary Of War and say he Is ~ be admitted
at once"
At the War Office the Presidents mes.
senger secured an immediate audience.
Mr. stanton knew 40 once the object of the
! visit, ~ be had refused the same request
ouly a few days before. lie spoke not
word took the petition, read It carefully,
and, under the Presidents signature, he
slowly wrote;
Let thia man Do discharged NJ once. In ae-
cordanee with the order ~ Tho President
huNlH ~. STANTON
Secretary ~ War.
Mr.. Sawyer then took the order b. the
Adlutant General, when the order was
promulgated and tho young man WAS
sent home,