The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-04-01

One incident will illustrate Mr.. Lin
coins ingrained honesty and tenacity
in the observance Of his promises. At
its extra session in July. 1861, Congress
had passed law authorizing the APP
pointment Of additional paymasters for
the army. Before leaving Washington
for home 1 asked Mr.. Lincoln that j
might name enc of these. He promptly
assented, and directed is ryate Sec
rotary to make a memorandum OF il. 1
desired the place fer my old boyhood
and lifelong fiiend, Major John A. Sa-
bin. Some time in the following Sep
TENDER j received a letter from the
President saying he had sent the APP
pointment Of Mr.. Sabin to the Secre-
tary OF War, who would notify him to
appear for muster into the nited
States service. October had passed
and no notice camo. A letter written
to Secretary stanton failed TO bring
response. In the latter part of Novem-
Der went TO Washington TO attend
tie regular session of Congress, taking
Mr.. Sabin with me. The day after my
arrival / waited upon Secretary Stan
ton and called his attention TO the APP
pointment. He had no recollection
of the matter. but told me in his brus-
que manner that Mr.. Sabin's name
would be sent in with hundreds Of
Others TO the Senate for its considera-
ton. Earnestly L argued that Mr.. Sa-
bin had been appointed by the Com
mander-in-chief of the army, and that
il was unjust to ask him TO wait, per-
haps the whole winter, the tardy action
of the Senate upon his nomination, and
that he was entitled TO be mustered IL
at once. But all III vain. ! cot but
this reply from the iren Secretary:
"You have my answer; no argument"
/ went TO the chief clerk of the depart
ment and asked him for Mr.. Lincoln's
letter directing the appointment. Re
ceiving it, proceeded to the White
House, although it was after executive
hours / can see Mr.. Lincoln now as
when / entered his room. He wore
long calico dressing-gown reaching to
his heels his feet were incased in
pair of old-fashioned leathern slippers
such as we used to find in the old
time country hotels, and which had
evidently seen much service in Spring
field. Above these appeared the home
made blue wooden stockings which he
wore at all seasons of the year. He
was sitting in a splint rocking chair.
with his legs elevated and stretched
across his Office table He greeted me
warmly. Apologizing for my intrusion
at that unofficial hour, told him had
called simply TO ascertain which was
the paramount power in the govern
ment. he or the Secretary of War. Let
ting down his legs and Strengthening
himself up III his chair, he answered:
well. it is generally supposed (empha-
sizing the last world / am. What's the
matter?" | 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 Endorsed upon it
'Let the within named, j. A. Sabin. be
mustered in at once. 1t is due to him
and 10 Mr. ". under the circumstances.
A. Lincoln" He UNDERSIGNED with
double lines the words "at once"
Armed with this executive mandate, /
called on Mr.. Stanton the next morn
ing, who, on its presentation, was sim
ply furious. He charged me with in
teriering with his prerogatiyes and
with undue persistence-perhaps as TIC
the last not without some force, for L
had wearied with the delay and was a
little provoked by what I regarded as
the 'insolence of Office" / told him I
would call the next morning for the
order TO muster in. / called accord
ingly, and. handing it to me in rage,
he said: Il hope 1 shall never hear of
this matter again. "-Er- Jioe President
Uheeier