The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-07-07
LINCOLN AND STANTON.
An Interesting Story Told by Gen.
j. Is. Fry.
Evening Pest.

An Interesting Story Told by Gen.
j. Is. Fry.
Evening Pest.
At last that g-predicted event has
really bappened-s Confederate soldier
has been placed on the pension roll by
the Federal Government. Oddly enough
too, the responsibility for this action o'
the authorities at Washington in 1885
can be traced directly to special order
given by President Lincoln q little over
twenty years ago. On Sunday last Gen
James B Fry, who was Povost Marshal
OF the United States during the rebellion,
published in the Tribune paper giving
his "Reminiscences of Mr.. Lincoln. The
most interesting features of the article
was an account of contest which be
witnessed between Lincoln and Stanton,
and Of the Presidents victory over the
Secretary. After compulsory military
service was resorted to, States and dis.
tricts often sought TO save their own
citizens from being drafted into the army
by voting bounties to buy men where.
ever they could be found. The agent
appointed by county in one of the
Middle States, who was supplied with
the necessary bounty money, learned
that some Confederate prisoners OF war
at Chicago were about to be released and
enlisted in our srmy for service against
the Indians in the Northwest Tue
thrifty thought occurred to the agent
that he might paw these prisoners a
bounty for doing what they were going
to do without any pay at all, and in re-
turn have them credited to bis county
as soldiers furnished by it to the Union
army for service against the Confed.
eracy. The agent was an acquaintance
of Lincoln, and obtained from him an
order to have the men credited as de-
sired. Secretary Stanton refused to al
low the credits The agent returned to
the President, who reiterated the order,
hut again without effect Mr.. Lincoln
then went in person to Stanton's tffice.
Gen. Fry was called in by Stanton to
state the facts in the case-Athat these
men already belonged to the United
States, being prisoners Of war: that they
could not be used against the Confeder-
ates; that they had no relation whatever
to the county to which 1t was proposed
they should be credited; that all tina,
was necessary toward enlisting them in
our army for Indian service was the
Governments release of them as prison.
ers OF war; that to give them bounty
and credit them to county which owed
some OF its own men for service against
the Confederstes would waste money
and deprive the army operating against
powerful enemy of that number OF
men, &C., Alter be concluded, Stanton
remarked that Llncoln must see. in view
Of such facts, that his order could not
be executed. What followed Is thus re.
lated by Gen. Fry:
Lincoln sat upon sofa with his legs
crossed, and did not say word until the
Secretaiy's last remark. Then he said
in somewhat positive tone: "Mr Sec-
retary, reckon you'll have to execute
the order" Stanton replied with asper.
ity: "Mr President, l cannot do it,
The order is an improper one. aud
cannot execute it" Lincoln. fixed his
eye upon Stanton. and In a firm voice
and with en- accent that clearly showed
its determination, he said: "Mr. Secre.
tary. It soiN haze to be done" Stanton
then realiz d that he was overmatched
He had made square issue with The
President, and had been defeated not
withstanding the fact that be was in the
right Upon an intimation from him
withdrew, and did not witness his sur
render. A few minutes after reached
my Office I received instructions from
the Secretary to carry out the President
order.
Such is Gen. Fry's story. By re-
markable coincidence confirmation oil
its truth and an illustration of its singu
lar sequel come hard upon its publica
ton. In an Atlanta contemporary jus,
received we fnd copied from the loca
paper published at Joneshoro, Clayton
county, an ''itep" stating that Brook:
Thomas OF that county had just receiv
ed postal card from Washington an.
neuncing that his pension claim had
been favorably passed upon, and tha
the money would be forwarded in few
days "Mr Thomas." says the Jones
boro paper, "was brave and good Con
federate sol'iier, and during the war was
captured aud placed in prison. He saw
to stay in prison would result in death
so be took the oath of allegiance ant
was sent to the Northwest plans to 6gh,
the Indians. Soon he became sick snG
remained IN the hospital until the end O
the war. Mr.. Thomas will draw go
per year for each year since the war :
Principal and interest amount to abou
5000, besides pension OF 800 year
during his or his wife's lifetime, and b,
is also entitled to land bounty OF lo
OF land.
/ There would seem to be no question
that Thomas is one OF the very party re-
ferred to by Gen. Fry. as to whom tb,
controversy between Lincoln and S an,
ton arose. and that be owes his pension
to the personal act OF Lincoln himself
That two bits OF war history which 6
together so exactly should come out sim
ultaneously is as extraordinary as it /.
interesting. Gen. Fry nigh. well fol
low the matter up step further by let
ting the country know what particular
"county In one OF the Middle States
Thomas represents on the pension roll
and how many men there are who ar
entitled to what may be called these ape
ciaI Lincoln pensions. 1t is pleasant t.
learn that Thomas, who is described al
"a poor, honest. hard working man.
says the tirst thing he will do with hi.
fortune is to pay his debts, and then b,
will educate bis children.
A Walking Skeleton.
| Mr.. E Springer, OF fredericksburg
Pa, writes: 81 was afflicted with lun!
fever and ahscess on lungs, and reduced
to a aoalking Skeleton. Got a free tria
hottie 0f Dr Kinu's Now discoveyv IN