The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-17

desired the place for my old boyhood and life
long friend. Major John A. Sabin. Some time
in the following September / received letter
from the President saying he had sent the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Sabin to the Secretary OF
War; who would notify HIM to appear for mus
ter into the United States service. October had
passed and no notice came A letter written to
Secretary Stanton failed to bring a re-
Spouse. In the latter part OF November went
to Washington to attend the regular session Of
Congress, taxing Mr. Sabin with me. The day
after my arrival waited upon Secretary Stanton
and called his attention to the appointment He
had no recollection of the matter, but told me in
his brusque manner that Mr. Sabins name would
he sent in with hundreds of others to the Senate
for its consideration Earnestly argued that
Mr. Saoin had been appointed by the Command
er-in-chief of the army and that it was unjust to
ask him to wait, perhaps the whole winter the
tardy action of the Senate upon his nomination
and that he was entitled to be mustered in al
once. But all in vain. got but this reply from
the iron secretary: You have my answer no
argument | went to the chief clerk of the de-
partment and asked him for Mr. Lnsolu's letter
directing the appointment Receiving it, pro-
ceeded to the White House. although it was after
executive hours. / can see Mr.. Lincoln now rs
when / entered his ROOM He wore long cal
leo dressing gown reaching to his heels, his feet
were lpcased In pair of old-fashioned leatherR
slippers-such as we used to find in the old-tilne
country hotels, and which had evidently seen
much service in Springfield Above these ap-
peared the homemade blue wooden stockings
which lie wore at all seasons of the year. He was
sitting IN splint rocking chair with his legs
elevated and stretched across his Office table
He greeted me warmly. Apologizing for my in
truslon at that unofficial hour, told him had
called simply to ascertain which was the para
mount power in the government, he or the Sec
rotary Of War. Letting down his legs and
Strengthening himself up in his chair, he an
swered We'll, it is generally supposed fempha-
sizing the last word1 / am What's the matterw
then briefly recalled the facts attending Sabin's
appointment, when. without word of comment.
he said: Give me my letter." Then taking
his pen, he indorsed upon it: 'Let the within
named, J, A Sabin. be mustered in at once. Ii
is due to him and to Mr. w. under the circum.
stances. A. Lincoln" He underscored with
double lines the words ''at once" Armed with
this executive mandate, / called on Mr.. Stanton
the next morning. who on its presentation, was
simply furious He charged me with interior
ing with his prerogatives and with
due neutrality-suspicious. to the
last not without some force, for / had
wearied with the delay and was little provoked
by what regarded as the '.nsolence of Office
L told him would call the next morning for the
order to muster in. / called accordingly. and,
handing it to me in a rage, he said: Il hope
shall never hear of this matter again." On the
evening of this day | attended a reception given
by Speaker Grow. Stanton was there, and
crossed the room to shake hands with me- but
made no reference to the occurrence of the morn
ing. From that time he and myself were friends.
| never asked anything of HIM that he refused.
A feeble imitation of his own persistence won his
regard.
My last interview with Mr. Lincoln was at
small dinner party at the Executive Mansion.
OF those present only one besides myself sur
wives. The President seemed depressed. and did
not get warmed into his usual humor The con-
versation turned mainly upon history and poet
ry. Mr.. Lincoln had fancy for the weird poems
of Ossian, and recited snatches from one of the
wars of Fingal He quoted from Macbeth"
which great favorite with him, from the
lines commencing:
IF it were done, when It's dons then twere well
1t We're done quickly"
Probably of all poetry he loved best Knox's
MORTALITY" which, since his death, has become
we'll known. He had then never seen the
whole of the poem, and was in search of it. On
this evening he recited the portions with which
he was familiar. but the recitation did not in
clude the closing stanza. Had he seen this he
would have read the prophecy of his own fate:
'Tis the twink of eye tbs the draught of breath
From the blossom of health the paeness of death
From the eilded saloon to the bier and the shroud
Oh why should the spirit of mortal be proud
How wonderfully aud accurately descriptive OF
the closing Of that great life!