The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-08-21

judged already and the judgment on
the man is held in London to be ire
vcrsible.
LincoIn's Kindness.
From th@ BaHu,orr american.
"Abranam Llncoln,' said Judge Kel-
| ley of Pennsylvania, who is the father of
the House Of Representatives,, was the
most patient man i'll the details of life l
ever saw. He was the only President
we have ever had, and probably ever
will have, who knew nothing of the com
mon autocracy of public life. lie was
the only man we ever had ct the White
House who would go back Of the wishes
of persons and examine their real wants.
| remember an incident fu connection
with the war which illustrates what
am trying to say. 1t is not proper for
me to use names, but the story goes: 1t
was at that early rebellion when suspects
and conspiratuls were being arrested and
imprisoned by the wholesale. \ letter
written upon Il printed sheet of paper,
giving the business Of prominent firm
of merchants in New York and contain
ing incilenciary language toward the
Union, found its way into the hands of
Government official in the South. The
declarations Were penned by travelling
man, who represented the firm mentioned
in the letter head. The result was the
arrest Of the member of that firm on the
charge OF conspiracy against tie Govern
ment. The letter was signed in such a
way as to not make it perfectly clear who
the author was, and, of course, suspi-
zion bore heavily upon the firm men,
toned. lie is a man well known ia New
1ork today. Men were held in prison at
that time on the slightest suspicion-sus-
picion, i'll fact, more slight than this one.
The wife OF the merchant came to
friend of mine in New y ork Immediately
after the arrest of the husband, and re-
quested him to communicate with Presi-
dent Lincoln the fact that her husband
had been arrested for something for
which he was III no responsible. My
friend addressed Il note to the President
telling him that the man under arrest
was not guilty OF the misdemeanor even
ill collateral or the most remote way.
the wife came here; it was II clock at
night when she arrived. At the depot
she told the cabman to drive to the White
House. The driver expostulated with
her, and told her that it was of no use to
cali at the White House at such late
h pur of the night. She said it made 10
difference, she wanted to see Mr.. Lin
coin, ana that he must drive her lmme-
diitely to the Executive Mansion. When
She represented herself at the entrance
to the White House it was midnight.
E"erything was quiet. Tae Gordon of
police, very stormy at that time, turned
OUT in full ioice. They would not listen
at first to her entreatieS to be admitted
to the White House. Finally, she pre-
Jailed upon one of the officers to take
the letter of Introduction she had to
President Lincoln, no was then asleep.
y minute after the President had been
awakened his voice was heard in the cor
ridor on the upper floor. lie held the
letter lii his hand, and the tremor indi-
Gated his feeling"
Mrs. -, this case demands imme-
4 .,,;.I
will take my arm, We will go imme-
dately to Secretary Stanon.' Across the
lots at rapid pace went the President
and the lady. stanton was aroused from
his slumbers, Shown the letter by the
President and requested to release the
prisoner. He wrote a dispatch and
he would attend to the matter further in
the morning.
Like Il lackcy boy, the President. with
the lady, started toward the downtown
hotels. 1t was | o'clock in the morning
Washington was Tiled with revolution
lists and would be aSsassins, yet Mr.. Lin
coin never ialtered and seemed not to
comprehend his danger. When he ar
rived ut tue hotel, with the lady on his
arm, he told her to 20 to her room, sleep
sonadly. r.turn to New York in the
morning, and that her husband would
meet her On the dock. The lady could
not believe it, but MIR. Lincoln assured
her that such would be the case The
President theu went to the telegraph Of
lice, filed the message, which demanded
the unconditional release Of the prisoner,
and returned 90 the " lite IIouse alone.
sure enough, when the lady alighted
from The ferry at New York the next day
her husband was Their eto embrace her.
| am inclined to believe the millennium
viii come before we shall have another
President who would DO such an act as
this