New-York tribune., 1885-01-18
LINCOLN AT RICHMOND.
.nurRAL PORTER RECALLS SOME STKlk'
ING SCENES.

PENNY NAILf
A. we Law below Richmond in the flag
.hn Malvern Mr.. John A. CampDeli. ia'e
,,stice of the Supreme Court OF the oh''eo
states. sent request to be allowed 10 come y"
,,".rd With General Weitzcl. He wanted to call on
the President. He came on board ana spent a"
tour. The President and himself seemed TO DO
.n;ov;no themselves very much to judge from their
Laughing so much. did not go down to the cao'"
7, an bour General Weitzel and Mr. Campbell ca''io
on dock asked for boat aud were landed. "on'
dovvn heloy for n moment and the PRESIDENT Sai
Admiral am sorry you were ho' N"'" "'-
Campbsll was on board. lie mas gone u" '
sonnv cave him written permission 10 aiio"
ths State Legislature to convene IN 'no O"p''' -
the absence of all other Government ,.
Ivas rather astonished at this piece OF nniorii'"
finn felt that this course would BRING aoou' o"''
,,,,c.t;ons and wondered how it had all come to
mass II had all been done by the smooth tongue Vi
Mr. Campbell, who had promised the President tha'
- tba eslature of Virginia could meet in the place
rhare ,he Confederate Congress had met theS
voud vote Virginia right back into the Union thae
n ,ould be a delicate compliment paid 10 'rSin's
which would be appreciated, etc. Weitzei ""oAo"
nm Mr. Campbell and the President was won o'or
20 agree TO what would have been most hunli'V
;nu thing if it had been accomplished.
ybeo the President told me all that had been
done and that General Weitzel had gone on shoro
with an order in his pocket to lot the Legislature
meet merely said: 81 Mr.. President, L SUPPOSE yo"
rsmemher that this city is under military lurisdie-
tion. aud that courts Legislature Ut o'''
authority can exercise any power without the sane
&C. 81 tba General commanding the Army. This
order of vonrs should go through General "raht'
who woull inform you that Richmond was un"er
,,art;,l law and an sure he woud protest against
this arrap cement of Mr.. Campbell.
The Presidents common sense took IN the situa-
+;o, at oocs "Why" he said, "Weitzel madc no
objection. and he commands here"
sThat is becanse he is Mr.. Campbells particular
friend.r said and wished to crafty him. ana
don't think he knows much about anything Out
soldering General Sheplcy would not have pre-
ferred sueh 4 request"
@Run anil stop them" said the President, ana
ret nv oricr back Well, came near knocking all
the fat into the fire. didn't y
To make things sure / had an order written to
General Weitzel and signed by the President as
follows: "Return my permission to the Lessla-
ture of Virginia to meet and don't allow 1t To meet
at ALL" There was fruit wagon at the landing
and giving the order to an officer SAID 10 hih
Jump into that wagon and kill the horse If neces-
sary bat catch the carriage which carried Generai
Wetze and Mr.. Campbell. and deliver this order to
the General The carriage was caught before it
been a trotter in his day, and went his three min
utss The General and Mr.. Campbell were sur
prised The Presidents order was sent back. and
they never returned to try and reverse the Pres-
dents decision.
Mr.. Campbell evidently saw that his scheme of
TRYING to put the State Legislature in session with
the sanction of the President had failed and that 1t
was useless to try it again. 1t was clever dodge
70 sooth the wounded feelings of the South and no
doubt was kindly meant by the late Justice Camp
bell. but what a howl 1t would have raised at the
North Mr.. Campbell had been gone about an hour
when we had another remarkable scene. man
appeared at the landing dressed in glay homespun
with a somewhat decayed appearance, and with a
staff about six feet long in his hand. 1t was, IN
fact nothing more than a stick taken from wood
pile. 1t was two and a half inches in diameter. and
was not eyen smoothed at the knots. 1t was Just
such a veapon as a man would pick up TO kill
mad dog with.
swho are you. and what do yon wantf' asked
the officer of the deck. "You cannot come ON board
unless you have important business"
II am Duff Green" said the man. al want to see
Abraham Lincoln and my business concerns my
self alone You tell Abraham Lincoln Duff Green
wants to see him."
The oticer came down into the cabin and de
livered the message. arose and SAID, /" l will go
up and send him away" but the President said,
sLet him come on board. Duff is an old friend of
mine, and would like to talk to him."
then went on deck to have boat sent for him.
and to see what Kind of man this was VINO sent of
such arrogant messages to the President OF the
United States He stepped into the boat if it be-
longed to him instead of sitting down, he stood up
leaning on his long staff. When he came over tho
sde he stood on the deck deiantly. looked up at
the flag and scowled and then, turning to me,
(whom he knew very WE'LL. he said Il want to see
Abraham Lincoln" He paid no courtesy to me or
to the quarter-deck.
1t had been very long time since he had shaved
or cut his hair, and he might have come under the
head of unkempt and not oanny."
sWhen you come" said, in a respectful man
ner, the President will you. but throw away
that cord of wood you have in your hand, before
entering tac Presidents presence"
q How long is it," said he. since Abraham
Lincoln took to aping royalty1 Man dressed in
brief authority. cuts such fantastic capers bsfore
high heaven that it m axes the angels weep. | can
expect airs form naval officer, but don't expect
to find them in a man with Abraham Lincoln's
horse sense"
thought the man crazy, and think still.
IL can't permit you to see the President" / said,
gunt receive farther instructions, but you can't
see him at all until you throw that wood pile over
board"
lie turned on his heel and tyicd to throw
the stck Shore but it fell short, and went float
ing down with the current.
"Ah!" he said, has 1t come to that 7 Is he
afraid of assassina,ion' Tyrants generally get
into that condition.
went down and reported this queer customer
to the President, and told min thought the
crazy, but he said: "Ilet him come down; hs
always was little queer. shau't mind him."
Mr.. Dun Green was shown into the cabin.
The President got up from his chair to receive him,
and approaching him, offered him his hand "No,"
sand Green, with tragic air. 1T is red with blood;