, 1885-08-05
WHAT MIGHT HAVE SEEN
An Engagement with sr. Lincoln That
Might Have Saved His Life.

tLony Branch Cor. Philadelphia Times.l
Had President Lincoln kept an en-.
gagement he made with me he might
perhaps be living still, said Mr.. Ian.
dali, OF New York, formerly of st. | ouis,
the other evening. Mr.. Randall is the
father OF Mrs. Garrison, and the con.
vcrsation took place on the piazza OF her
residence here. When urged to tell the
story Of how this could be, he mentioned
that during the latter part OF the winter
of 1863 he, knowing the state OF
affairs in the part OF Missouri within
the rebel lines and in the adjacent
states. where kirby smith, with 30 900
men, was only held in check and kept
from making raids by 20, 900 men of the
Union army, and, being aware that
Kirby Smith and his men having had
no pay or clothing issued to them for
six months. were greatly dissatisfied
with JET Davis and the Confederate
government and we're maddened by. the
knowledge of the necessities OF their
wives, children, mothers, and sisters,
who were actually harefooted as well as
otherwise s~cantily clothed, thought that
he would try by peaceable e to rid
that part of the country Of Smith and
his men and prevent their making any
moro raids. This he sought to do by
getting permission OF Union men to buy
their cotton, which he knew was packed
ready for sale, and permitting the desti-
tute southerners to buy the necessities Of
life in return.
He opened negotiations with resident
Lincoln ut Washington through Dick
Yates, who at one time vas governor Of
Illinois, and represented to him the
wise policy Of adopting the plan he pro
posed, for he said there were no other
C%onfederates in arms in that part of the
country, and he felt convinced the plan
he urged would eifectually dispose of
smith and his men, and that money to
buy the necessaries of life procured by
the sale of cotton and the opportunity
given to purchase such supplies would, he
thought, convert some of them into good
| Mon men, while it would induce all 10
cease raiding. And if you do not buy
their cotton, Mr.. randall pleaded, they
will burn II as soon as they see Federal
troops approaching to seize IT. 1t is
ready alike for sale or for the torch.
He went to see President Lincoln finally
himself, and succeeded in convincing
him of the wisdom of the proposed plar
and secured the necessary permit to
stock a boat with supplies and to- send
it and purchasers of cotton to proper
points on the Mississippi, whence
negotiations might be opened for the
purchase Of cotton so much needed in
Northern factories and for the sale o.
food and. clothing TO the starving.
ragged C~onfederates.
All seemed likely to go well, the boat
was duly fitted up and stocked at great
expense and started on her trip, but un.
fortunate delays were made by the
naval officers commanding our squadron
on the Mississippi and by army officers
guarding posts on land, and the vessel
wa not allowed TO proceed. Finally,
after many attempts to set matters
right. Mr.. randall determined to go to
Washington again, see Mr.. Lincoln,
Stanton, and Welles. and send the boat,
which had already cost n large sun, to
is destination. President Lincoln first
made an appointment to see Mr.. Randall
at the White House on Friday evening.
April If, 1855, and the latter was about
TO take n train from New York.
whittier he had gone, to Washington, TO
keep the engagement, when he received
a telegram saying that the president
preferred to postpone the conversation
until Saturday evening, because he
wished to have time, when it took place,
TO talk at length with Mr.. Randall, and
on triday he wished to go and see Laura
eene in Our American Cousin
So Mr.. Randall started from New
York friday night to keep the engage
ment for saturday evening, and on
reaching Baltimore next morning was
amazed to find his train under arrest,
the order having been issued to allow
no trains to leave the city in any direc-
ton, and was appalled, to learn that the
cause Of this was the assassination of
/ resident Lincoln in Washington the
pre- ious night.