The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-24
LINcoLN,s LAST TELEGRA1.
New Evidence as 10 lits Action AND seere-
tsrr Staaton's Course In tho virginia
Legislature Episode of 1898.

New Evidence a. TO Is,s Action "~d see-e-
tsrr Staaton's Course In tho VIRGINIA
Legislature Episode OF 1s0S.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 22.-While searching the
records Of tho war recently for IN entirely dtf-
fcrent purpose, my attention wa. attracted to
a remarkable error that occurs In Con. Grants
Personal Memoirs" 1t Is remarkable on ac-
count Of the prominence OF the two statesmen
mentioned. MS well as that OF It's author. who
so strangely misapprehended his premises.
aud should DO corrected because 1t Is certain
Gen. Grants mistake was entirely Innocent
and unintentional. Desidss 1t 10 q historical
mistake which does injustice 10 Lincoln aud
Stanton. particularly to tho latter
More fully to illustrate Secretary Stantons
maslorful character and his dominating infu.
ence in tho Government during tho war. at
page sos oil his book Gen. Grant snys;
While was In pursuit OF Gen Leo the President went
TO Richmond In company with Admiral Porter and
board his asAhp lie found the people OF that city In
great COMBINATION. The leading citizens among the
people who had remained at home surrounded him,
anxious that some thing should be done to relieve them
from suspense Cen wst,s WAS not then In the city.
having taken oicss In Of the neishboring villages
after bis troops had succeeded in subduins the
nsEra,on which they had found In progress enter
Ing the Confederate capital The President for him
on his arrival short interview was had board the
vessel Admiral Porter and leading citizen OF Virginia
meaning cxAssociats Justice John A. Campbeli being
also present After this interview the President
an order In about those words. which ! quote from
memory: Gen. Weitzel Is authorized to hermit the
body calling itself the Legislature OF virginia to meet
for the purpose OF recalling tho Virginia troops from
the Confederate armisa"
Immediately some OF the gentlemen composing that
body wrote out . call for = meeting and had 1t pub
lshsd In their papers This call however. went very
much further than Mr.. Lincoln had contemplated, ~
he did not say the "Lszsaturs OF Virginia." nut ths
body which called itself the Legislature Of Virginia.
Mr.. Stanton saw the call published in the Northern
papers the very issue and took the liberty OF
countermauding the order authorizing any meeting of
the Legislature, or any other body and this notwth
standing the fact that tho President the
spot than no waA
This was characteristic of Mr.. Stanton. he was
man who questioned his authority and who
always did In war time what he wanted to do. lie
an able constitutional lawyer and jurst; but the Con-
stitution was not An mpsdlmeut to him while the war
lasted. In this particular entirely agree With the
view be evidently hsld The Constitution was not
framed with . view to any such rebellion a. that Of
lsGl.85.
About this time many wonderful stories
were current In Washington and throughout
tho army concerning Mr.. Stanton's Official
eccentricties and this probably was one Of
them. Many events oonspired to give crcdence
to this version OF that affair. Gen. Grant
doubtless hoard tho story at the time. and like
others took 1t for granted that Stanton's clear
head and prompt action saved tho country
from the effects Of an egregious mistake
through Mr.. Lincoln's kind heart and too
ready seQuiescence In any proposition looking
to the Immediate qualification OF the South
Twenty years aitsrward. trusting to his
memory. Gen. Grant INCORPORATES this apocry-
phal story In his book without veriacaton.
1t 10 highly probable that Mr.. Stanton *.
postulated with the President by telegram for
granting permission for tho Virginia Legisla-
ture to meet and doubtless protested against
permitting 1t to be carried into effect But no
| order was issued to prevent the meeting Of
that body until after the President had left
Richmond and returned to Washington. and
then it was made by Mr.. Lincoln himself. and
not BY tho Secretary of War. as Gen. Grant
states in his book.
In the War Department Is a bound volume OF
manuscript kilograms sent by President Lin
coin. all In his own handwriting. Tho last
| telegram In this volume. and tho last ono on
record ever sent by Mr. Lincoln. is Is follows:
WASHINGTON. D. c, April a. 1858
| Nato-. Gen. Heh,s, Richmond. "a:
lhave Just judge Campbsrs letter to you Of the
7th. We assumed appears to that have called
the insurgent LEGISLATURE of Virginia together as the
riRhfu Legislature Of the state to settle all differences
with tho United States Ihavs done such thing l
| .,o,. ~, 49,. -. a.
man who h,v. nc., ~. I"a,,,,,".. :, v,..s,"'.
,unpor, o. tne rsbe,I,on- iiia ~. an ,nrno.. - m
cuie the assumption tina, Iva. recognizing than a.
righrM body. deal. with them a. mon having pover
de faeto to DO specific thing to wit TO withdraw tho
Virginia troops and other support from resistance To
tho general Government" for which In the paper hand
ed judge Campbell promised specific equivalent to
,.,n .,s.. -, ~. oons,..,,,. -, ,".,, IN .s'
| MI, and no NOR. In,,much how,v,r a. Inaa.
Campbell micons.rues This and ia sill. pressing for an
.rms,ice. contrary to tho explicit abatement Of tn.
paper gave him. and particularly as Gen Grant has
since captured tho Virginia troops SO that giving .
~. '"e't "'."utA"A 10 no longer apo'f