The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-03-13

His Remarkable Memory for Friends.
In the early fifties. when the marvel
Gus future of Mr.. Lincoln was perhaps
rs little dreamed of by himself as an
ticipated by his friends, he practiced
law in the courts of Shelbyville, Ill.
The late Gen. William l.. Thornton
was perhaps the most widely known
and influential man in Central Illinois.
He was Kentuckian of the old-fash-
Toned, hoSpitable sort, AM from time
to time a | the celebrities of that day
were entertained at the Thornton man
sion, among them Mr.. Lincoln and his
great opp, nent, Mr.. Douglas. Judge
Anthony Thornton, a nephew OF the
General, often met Mr.. Lincoln there.
and, though politically opposed to
him, was great admiror of him per-
sonally and became intimate with him.
One of Gen. Thornton's daughters
married Texas planter named Mar
shall Bayse, and when the war between
the North and South occurred two OF
the latter's sons-Neff and Newton
Bayse-espoused the cause of their Sec
ton and went into the Confederate
army. In the latter part of 1868 both
OF the boys were captured by the Fed
erals aud sent North as prisoners of
war. Out of money and scant of cloth
ing, the two felt the rgors of North
ern climate, and communicated with
their grandfather, asking him for as
sistance, which he was anxious TO rem
der. But it happened that about this
time Secretary Stanton, owing to like
measures on the part of the rebel au-
thorities, had issued stringent orders
in regard to granting special favors to
the men in gray. Judge Thornton had
long been acquainted with Mr.. Usher,
Mr.. Lincoln's Secretary of the Inte
rior, but he had little faith in being
more successful than others who had
tried and failed to get favors Of this
character. He wrote TO Secretary Usher
and asked that one of the Generals two
sons-Tom or Will-might be permit
ted to visit their cousins and give them
such help as was deemed necessary and
right.
The letter was received by the Sec
rotary just as he was on the point of
attending meeting of the Cabinet.
At the close of the conference Secre-
tary Usher took the letter from his
pocket and made known its contents
to Secretary Stanton. naming the
Thorn.ons. President Lincoln, who
still sat at the table, overheard the
conversation between the two end
quietly asked for repetition of the
names.
will or Tom Thornton of Illinois, {"
repeated the Secretary
Addressing himself to the stern Sec
rotary of War, Mr.. Lincoln said:
"Mr. Stanton, you need give your
self no trouble in regard to this mat
ter; l will settle it," and, turning to
Usher, he continued: II knew those
boys when they were not more than
knee-high." Then, turning 10 the
table, he picked up q blank card and
wrote something like this:
To the commanlant OF any military prison to
whom this may be presen ed
Permit the bearer, Tom or Will Thornton.
to visit any military prison in the United
states and do for his friends whatever his
good judgment may dictate.
A. LINCOLN.
Handing this to the Secretary, he
said: send this to Judge Thornton
with my compliments.
A few days later the Bayse boys
were visited and their wants suppl ed
so far as money would do it, and from
that day until his death Gen. Thornton
would brook no criticism in his pres
ence of Mr.. Lincoln or his policy
Ill l. 4 i IL