The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-17
THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT.
Further Incidents of the Personal Traits
and characteristics of Mr.. Lincoln.
How a Congressman Secured an Audience
Through the Memory of a Good Story
The Presidents Tender Heartedness.
vice. nresident wheeler,s Reminiscennes

Ex-vice- president Wheeler's "Reminiscences
Whatever relates, even in a minor degree, to
the characteristics of Lincoln, that towering fig
IRE in American history, will always interest
and command attention. The life which was
ever calm in the midst of peril, hopeful when
the darkest clouds lowered, patient under every
abuse, courteous and kind to his bitterest foes,
and yet inf1exible when to yield was at war
with his patriotic purpose-the life that battled
so bravely, endured so heroically and constantly,
and at last went out so tragicaly-all constitute
a triumphal car in which Abraham Lincoln will
ride down all the coming centuries The idea
for which his life was offered upon the sacrifcia
altar, in its progressive march, is leading the
struggling masses of the old dcspotisms abroad
however slow may be the pace-to the attain
ment of that universal liberty and brotherhood
which. as God reigns, is to be their ultimate her
itage
found it difficult to get access to the Presi
dent and made several failing attempts The
rule OF admission to the executive chamber was
Cabinet officers, senators of the United States,
justices of the Supreme Court Of the United
States and members of the House of Represen-
tatiyes in the order named. Although was al
nau ouJ-ranKed me had preceded. After return
ing one morning from one of these fruitless sf-
forts met in the corridor of Wizards Hotel Or
lando Kellogg, then of our neighboring county of
Essex, and deceased. who had been in the
Thiltieth Congress--18 47 -49-with Mr. Lincoln as
member from the State of Illinois. He was a
man OF rugged exterior, of little polish, limited
literary culture, but strong in native good sense
which Pope truly says
Though no science, is fairly worth the seven"
had before met him at the bar, where he was
distinguished as a close reasoner and successful
advocate with jury. He and Mr.. Lincoln had
so many traits in common that they were mag
netically attracted to each other and became
warm friends. They had not met I'D to this
time since March, 1S49. Telling kellogg of my
Intellectual attempt to get an interview with the
President, he said he would secure me an audi
ence the next morning, and that he would at
once go over to the White House and arrange
for 1t Having nothing to do, and knowing that
there was to be q Cabinet meeting that morning
i accompanied him, curious to know what was
his potent ''open sesame" to the executive
chamber SaunteIlng up carelessly to the door
keeper, with watch chain and large seals dan
CLING from his fob, and with hands in his
tell the President that Orlando kellogg is at the
door and wants to tell him the story of the slut
tering Justice The door-keeper said he did
not like to take such message to the Presi
his most imperative manner Kellogg ordered
him to go in or he would regret it. The young
man Obeyed, and, returning in moment, said
the President directed him to bring MIR. Kellogg
in. Some time afterward Secretary Chase, who
was the impersonaton of official and personal
propriety, described to me, with evident dis
gust, the scene. On Kelloggs entry Mr. Lin
coin met him at the door and grasped him
warmly by the hand with great delight "Gen-
temen," said Mr. Lincoln, addressing his Cab
met, this is my old friend, Orlando Kellogg
and he wants to tell US the story of the stutter-
ing justice. Let us lay all business aside. for
it is good story" And the wheels of the pub
lie business stopped, although the clouds of war
were lowering, while the humorous kellogg,
with Lincoln convused with laughter furnished
them with little fabrication with 'good
story" had my interview with Mr.. Lincoln
the next morning, at an hour named on a card
handed me by Mr.. Kellogg, and found the way
paved for the accomplishment of my purposes.
had an opportunity to reciprocate Kelloggs
kindness a little more than year afterward.
young mana private in one of the companies,
raised In KelloggS neighborhood- been con-
yicted by military court of sleeping at his post
grave offense, and punishable with death, to
which he had been sentenced. He was about
nineteen years of age and the only son of
widowed mother. He had suffered greatly with
inconsistencies and overpowered at night with
cold and watching, sleep oyermastered him He
had always been an honest faithful temperate
soldier. His comrades telegraphed his mother
of his fate. She went to kellogg, whose kind
heart promptly responded to her request and he
left for Washington by the first train. He ar
rived In that city at midnight The boy was to
be executed on the afternoon of the next day.
Kellogg came TO my boarding house, knowing
that he could not pass the military guard about
the White House at that hour I had the pass
OF General Heintzelman, then com manding the
defenses of Washington. This was a necessity
to me, as L was often called at every hour
OF the night to some city hospital to visit
sniff and xne L
l went with kellogg to the White House. easily
passed the guard and reached the door-keeper
whom well knew, and briefly telling him KEEL
loggs errand, asked him to take kellogg to Mr.
Lhncolns sleeping room-which he did: ARGUS
ing Mr.. Lincoln Kellogg in few words made
known the emergency Without stopping to
dress, the PRESIDENT went to a nearby room and
awakened messenger. Then sitting down,
stlli In undress. he wrote telegram to the off
GER commanding at Yorktown to suspend the
execution of the boy until further orders. The
telegram was sent at once to the War Dopart
ment, with directions to the messenger to re-
main until an answer was received Getting un-
easy at the seeming delay, Mr.. Lincoln dressed,
Went TO the department, and remained until the
receipt OF his telegram was acknowledged Then
turning to Kellogg, with trembling voice he
SAID: Now you just telegraph that mother
that her boy is safe. and will 90 home and 60
to bed. guess We shall all sleep better For this
nights work" The poor boy was soon pardoned
restored TO his company, and short time after
ward was killed while fighting bravely at the
battle of Fair Oaks
Everybody old enough to recall the memories
of those terrible battling DAYS will remember
the disastrous repulse of Burnside at Fredericks-
burg on the 18th day of December 1863 / shall
never forget the morning of the next day, when
we heard in full tine measure of that great dis
aster 1t was almost as dark AS at midnight.
and the clouds poured down rain in torrents.
The very clement seemed shrouded in groom and
weeping for the thousands of the Union dead
and wounded. The Hon Isaac N. Arnold, then
member of Congress from the State of Illinois.
and lifelong friend of Mr.. Lincoln, occupied a
seat next mine In the House of Representatives
On that ill-starred morning he called upon Mr.
Lincoln, and upon his return to the House de-
seribed to me the interview. He found the
President reading '.Artemus Ward, of which he
was very fond Making no reference to that