New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-28

After compulsory military service was resorted to
States and districts tried to fill their quotas and,
save their own citizens from being drafted into the
army. by votinglbOuntes TO buy men wherever
they could be found. The agent appointed by
county in one of the Middle States and supplied
with bounty money. learned that some Confederate
prisoners of war at Chicago were about to be
released andenstcd in our army for service against
the Indians in the Northwest. The thrifty thought
occurred to the agent to pay these prisoners
bounty for what they going to do without any
pay at ALL and in return for this payment have
them credited as soldiers furnished by his county
Being an acquaintance of Lincoln, the agent
obtained from him order to have the men credited
as desired But the Secretary of War refused 10
have the credits] allowed Indignant and disap-
pointed the agent returned to the President VINO
reiterated the order. but without effect. Ihen
Lincoln went III person to Stanton's Office, ana
was called there by the latter to state the iacts IN
the case. 1 reported to the two high officials. rs
had previously done to the SECRETARY aione, thae
these men already belonged to the United States.
being prisoners of war; that they could not DO useu
against the Confederates that they had no relation
whatever to the county to which it was proposed
they should DO credited that all that was necessary
toward enlisting them in our army Tor lhdlah
service was the Governments release OF tncu aS
prisoners of war; that to give them bounty """
credit them to q county which owed some oil lts own
ma, for scrvice against the Con federates would
waste money anil deprive tho army operating
against powerful enemy of that ndmber OF mcn'
etc. Stanton said: Now Mr.. President. those are
tho facts, aud you mast that your order cannot
be executed" Lincoln sat upon sofa with his legs
crossed. aud did not say worl until the Secre-
tary's last remark Then h said in somewhat
positive tone: Mr. Secretary. reckon you'll have
to execute the ORDER Stanton replied with asper-
itv: "Mr President cin1o, do it, Who order IS an
improper one and / cannot execute it," Lincoln
fixed his eye upon Stanton. and IN n iirn voice ana
with an accent that clearly showed his determ ma
ton he slil: Mr.. Secretary IL CW hare TO De d''e"
Stanton then realized that he was overnatched.
He had made square issue with tho President anu
been defeated, notwithstanding the fact that ho
was in the right Upon an intlmation from hln
withdrew aad did not witness his surrender.
few minutes after reached my Office received
instructions from the Secretary to carry out the
Presidents order.
The vexatious duties of the general Government
concerning the draft made demands upon Llncoln's
ability not only in deciding important questions
but In avoiding decisions when 1t was not best 10
risk a rupture with State officials by rendering
them Upon occasion the Governor OF State
came to my Office bristng Will. complaints in rea-
ton To the number of troops required from MS
State the details for drafting the men and the plan
of compulsory service in general. l found ~ I'M
possible to satisfy his demands. and accompanied
him to the Secretary OF Wars Office; swhence, after
a stormy interview with Stanton he went alone to
press his ultimatum upon the highest authority
After | had waited. anxiously for some hours,
exoecting important orders decisions from tho
President or at least a summons to the White
House for explanation the Governor returned, ana
said with pleasant smile that he was gong nome
by tho next train AMI merely dropped IN en- route TO
say good-by. Neither the business he came upon nor
Ds interview with the President was alluded to.
As soon as could see Lincoln said: Mr.. Presi-
dent | am very anxious to learn how yon "isposed
of Governor lie wcnt to your office from the
War Department in towering rage. suppose
you found il necessary to make largs concessions 10
him a. he returned from you entirely satisfied"
ooh no. lac replied, d" 1 did not concede any
thing You know how that Illinois farmer managed
th. big log that lay in the middle of his field! 10
the inaniries OF his ncighbors lone Sunday he
announce that ho had got rid of the big log Got
rid Of itr said they, how did yol do I'll IL was
too big to haul out. too knott to split, and TOO wet
and soggy to burn; what did You do We'll, now
boys, replied the farmer, il you wont divnlge the
secret I'll tell you how ! got rid of it, plon0hd
around IT, Now" SAID Lincoln. /" don't tell anybody
but that's the way got rid of Governor =.
oiouJLed around him, bat it took me three mortal
see what was at IT'LL,
Lincoln was a good judge of men and quickly
learned tho peculiar traitslio character III those ne
had 10 deal with recall an anecdoto by which be
pointed out marked trait IN one OF our northern
Governors This GUvcrnor was earnest aoiS ane
and in raising and cquppIng troops; but ne always
! wanted his own way, ana III erooked unc
restraints imposed by tho necessity OF conforming
10 general system. Though devoted To the cause
he was at times ovcrbearng aud eXactng III MS IN
| t.rconrse with the general Government Upon one
| hoc ned protested
than usual and warned those III authority that inc
execution of their orders in his state would be Ocset
| bv difficulties and dangers. lhe tone OF hls.uis
patches gave rise to apprehension that he might
not co-operate fully in the enterprise in hand he
| Secretary of War, therefore. laid the dispatches
| before tho President for advice or Instructions.
They did not disturb Lincoln III the least IN TACT
they rather amused him After reading an the
| papers he said IN a cheerful ana rrassufhS toho
Never mind never mind, th)se dispatches d0n
| mean anything. Just 20 right ahead. Inc Gov
ernor Is fike a boy saw once at the launching OF
| shin. When everything was ready they picked out
| boy aud sent him under the sup TO knock away
| the trigger and let her go AT the critical moment
lob we'll by direct vigorous blow. and then lie rat
and keep still while the ship slid over him. The
boy did everything right, bnt he yeea as II nc vas
! being murdered from the time lac got under the
keel uutil he got out Thought tue hide was az
scrapcd of of his back but he WASH hurt AT all.
| The master of the yard told me that this boy was
| always chosen for that job, that he did his work
we'll, that he never had been hurt, but that he
always sqsaed in thai Tay M yDn %a by
is not hurt and that he is doing the work right and
| paw no attention TO his squcalng: lie only wants
to make you understand how hard his task is. and
| that he is on hand performing It," lime proved
| that the Presidents estimate OF the Governor was
, correct. IT., s.,: -
| the field with tho deepest interest the keenest
| ;mai,ht and the widest comprehension The
aratnlatory order which General Meade published
| To hIs troops after the battle Of Gettysburg was
| telegraphed to the War Department During those
| DAYS and nights of anxiety. Lincoln clung to tho
| War office and devoured every scrap OF news as u
| came ever the telegraph wires. He hoped for and
ex nected substantial fruits from our dearly bought
| victory at Gettysburg / saw him read General
| Meadeis congratnlatOrY order. Whom he came TO