Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-05-29
AN INCOAP8EHENsIBLE NAN. {
An Amusing Story q Ono Of Andrew John

those IN public and private life when.
/ he unexpectedly became president Of
the United States. The war had hard
I II been closed, telegraphic and postal
communication had not been re-estab.
lished between the two sections. and
the leaders Of the great rebellion were
in 9 state OF great anxiety as to what
would be done with them by the fede-
raj authority for their participation in
the rebellion. The widest rumors
were circulated of federal vengeance
to be wreaked at short notice upon
all who had been prominent in the
confederate cause, and naturally there
was not little trepidation among
them as rumor followed rumor Of
drumheads, hangings, banishments,
and imprisonments to be melted out to
the main offenders without mercy.
This feeling was enhanced in the con
temptation of the fact that Andrew
johnson had succeeded to the presi-
dency. His well-known imp1acability,
especially toward those southern men
who had, by resigning their seats in
congress, made the rebellion possible,
was remembered with augmented ter
rOrs, and great cry went up from
scores of quacking throats, of s'What
shall save us from the dire Nemesisp"
Prominent among those who appre-
hended they knew not what, was the
late Col. Robert w. johnson, of Ar
kansas. It had fallen out that in the
spring of 1861, on the very day Col.
johnson, resigned his seat in the
senate of the United States, he and
Andrew johnson (who was then very
bitter in his speeches against the Sc
cessionists) had had personal alter
cation on the floor few moments be-
fore the senate was called to order,
which was only prevented from be-
coming a serious tisticutf encounter by
the interference of bystanders, and SO
the two Johnsons had parted, exchang-
ing mutual epithets of hostility. Re-
membering this, among other causes
of dlsquiet, Col. Johnson, who at the
Lee surrender found himself in an un-
envlable situation, stripped of all his
worldly possessions and practically
without where to lay his head, be-
thought himself that the only way to
begin to rehabilitate himself so as to
be able to resume his former profess
sion of a lawyer was though a presi-
dental pardon. Coupling in his mind
the old personal quarrel with the wild
stories he heard on all sides that the
president of the United States had
been Empowered by congress to hang
or shoot the leading men who had sur
rendered, he reflected that his chances
with his old foe were slim indeed. But
seeing no other course open, he made
up his mind to try the venture and
take what fate should accord him.
Accordingly Col. johnson applied
for and obtained pass from the COM
mandant of federal military post and
journeyed to Washington. Arriving
there. in he early evening he proceed
ed to the Metropolitan hotel, where
he locked himself in his room, fearing
to show his head to chance of recog-
milton, either by an accidental old ac-
quaintance, or, worse yet, provost
marshal. During the night he tried to
consider what would be the outcome
of his expedition, and the conclusion
was anything but hopeful. Arising
from his sleepless bed in the morning
he thought over the situation again,
and finally determined that he would
':Eace the muslc' without further de-
lay and end the suspense. So at as
early an hour as he could gain admit
lance to the white house he cornered
himself out Of the hotel and into
hack and proceeded to make his VEN
ture. :.
Arriving at the executive mansion,
he wrote his name on a card and sent
it to the president. In few moments
the usher returned and announced, in
voice OF fearful portent, that the
president would see him at once. The
door swung open, and he found HIM
self in the presence of Andrew John
son. Col. johnson IN relating this
incident to friend years afterward,
said that at the moment his eye fell on
the president, fer the first and only
time in his life he was afraid. He ad-
vanced to the end of the table nearest
the door and placed his hand on it to-
steady himself. At the other end sat
old Andrew, his face worked up to an
apparent frenzy of passion, his eyes
fairly emitting sparks of fire. His
glance struck through the colonel like
electricity, and he began to tremble
at the knees. This lasted a few mo-
ments, when Andrew broke out:
lyon here! you Internal traitor, do
you know where yon stand? Do you
dare come here to the capital that you
have tried to destroy? why, you
wretched rebel! On you, I have
great mind to hang you to a lamp
post" The colonel stammered out
he had come to the president to plead
for his life. "Come to plead for your
Iife,' sneered the president. '.why,
YOUR life is forfeited a thousand times"
Then followed a series of expressions
of most sulphurous nature, and
which had such an effect on the colo
mel that he said he had to hold on to
the table with both hands to keep from
sinking to the floor. Next came
pause of some duration, during which
the president glared upon him with
bloodshot eyes and fendish sheer.
Finally he broke out again: 'sYou
miserable traitor! rebel! assassin of
your country! you deserve to be strung
up without mercy, and Ill very soon
settle your case for YOU Reaching
out he seized pen and paper, and
with an implacable look on his face
dashed off few lines, to which he af-
fixed his signature, and. pitching it
across the table. exclaimed: There,
take that, and make the most Of it,
and turned away. s s5.s,t
Col. johnson said he had just pres
ence Of mind enough to reach out and
take the paper, but was so confused
and blinded by his emotions that 1t
was minute before he could make
soutthe words on the page. It was an
unconditional pardon! The poor colo
,oJ ua;d tl,o royp1s; ON IN J,ia fnn1innra