The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-22
Congressman Bundy Tells of the War
Presidents Kind Heart
Washington Times


Representative Bundy, of Ohio, enjoys
among other things, two distinctions-he
is the father-in-law of Judge Foraker, the
noted Republican from the. buckeye State
and presidential elector for Abraham
Lincoln. THE following "reminiscences
about old Abe" said Mr.. Bundy. the
other day. have lever been In print.
heard them while visiting my town to see
him in 1862, on which occasion L had come
on to Washington to secure the release OF
Union recruiting officer who had been un-
justly charged with having made false
vouchers of enlistments, and had been sent
to Baltimore and placed in Jail at Fort Nc
Henry Before me in the line of those
waiting to the President was the wife
of a colonel of an Illinois regiment who
the South. She wanted to secure speclal
order of exchange for her husband.
Il can't do it, madam" said Mr.. Lincoln
in his most polite manner. There have
been altogether too many special exchanges
already Besides. Jeff Davis won't do any
thing want him to do. He has fifty thou
sand privates in his kingdom whom L should
band"
loyal one. L cannot understand what you
me ear % was va the lady,s reply nco,r &c he
pulled his old quill pen from behind his
ear, with this pen l. can make colonel
in five seconds. but l cannot give him. llca
and see General Hatch, who has charge
of exchanges. If he win grant your re-
''The next person in line" continued Mr..
Bundy, was a man with some alleged let
ters of loyalty from an Ex-Governor of
Maryland AS he handed them to Mr.
Lincoln another man caught what had
been said and interrupted the conversation
to tell Lincoln that the papers must have
been forged. as the MARYLAND ex-Governor
had been dead for several years: The
man who had brought in the letter col
lapsed, and Lincoln. with that peculiar
pity which he could show even To tnose
who least deserved it, replied quickly:
'Oh, never mind sir. never mind. sir; it is
far more interesting. / would rather get
a letter from a dead man than from
live man any day.
the President was Wall-street broker and
adventurer, who wanted to be made As
sistant Secretary OF the Treasurer, so as 10
relieve the government, as ne declared, by
floating an issue of bonds. His plan was to
borrow for the government a certain
amount of money on pledge of $l0o.OO0.000
of United States bonds, which were to be
issued as collateral fo- the payment of the
loan. The plan of the schemer was very
evidently TO break the price of the bonds
and then get possession OF them at a price
less than the market, for his margain was
very narrow.
Mr. Lincoln listened patiently until the
man was through, and then, as he eyed him
closely he said solemnly: My friend that
is a mighty good plan to get bonds for less
than they are worth and very well thought
out. but. as he shook his head. don't ask
me to help you in it, -
At last il was Mr.. Bundy's turn. He told
Mr.. Lincoln. by way of introduction. that
he had been Lincoln elector, and that
what ne wanted 10 ask or him was simply
act Of justice 10 the falsely imprisoned
recruiting officer Mr. Lincoln heard the
story and then said: MY friend, when are
you going to start for homer Ii was Sat
urday night. and Mr.. Bundy told the Pres
ident tha-, as he did not travel Sunday. ne
should not start until early Monday morn
ing.
Mr. Lincoln paused a moment and then
said: WELL sir. unless you start for Ohio
at once your friend will beat you home"