Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-20
BUNDY's STORIES OF LINcoLNi
The Congressman Tells of the War Presi-
dents Kindness Of Heart.
(Washineton Tfmes)

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 was a presidential elector for Abra-
ham Lincoln. The following reminis-
cences about Old Abe" said Mr. Bundy,
the other day. have never 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 a Union recruiting-ofiicer who
had been unjustly charged with having
made false vouchers OF enlistments. and
had ben sent to Baltimore and placed In
fail at Fort McHenry. Before me In the
line OF those waiting to see the President
was the wife OF a colonel or an limos
regiment, who had been captured. anu
was imprisoned In the South. She want
ed to secure a special order OF exchange
for her husband.
81 can't do II, madam" said Mr. LIN
coin in his most polite manner. "There
have been altogether too many specidi
exchanges already. Besides, Jeit DAVIS
won't do anything | want him to DO. he
so 900 privates in his Kingdom whom
should prefer to exchange rather 'na"
your husband
But my husband is a brave man and
n loval one. | cannot understand what
you mean" was the lady's reply.
MADAM" responded Lincoln. as ne
pulled his old quill pen from behind his
ear. with this pen l can make a coionei
in five seconds. but / canont give nun
a regiment" Then he added kindly. Go
and see General Hatch, who has charge
OF exchanges. II he will grant you re-
quest, / will not interfere
The next person in line" continued MI
Bundy, "was a man OF some alleged let
tcrs OF loyalty from an Ex-Governor OF
Maryland. AS he handed them TO MI
Lincoln, another man caught what hdd
been said. and interrupted the CONVERSE
ton to tell Lincoln that the papers must
have been forged, as the Maryland eN-
Governor had been dead for several years
The man who had brought in the letter
collapsed and Lincoln. with that pc
culiar pity which he could show even TO
those who least deserved IL, replied
quickly: Oh never mind, sir; never nina,
sir: 1t is far more interesting. l would
rather get letter from dead man than
from a live man any day"
1.-THE third to have a conversation with
the President was a Wall-street broker
and adventurer, who wanted to be made
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, so
as to relieve the Avernment. as he de-
| clared. by floating an issue OF bonds Ills
plan was to borrow for the government
| a certain amount OF money on a pledge
| of $l000O0,0G0 Of United States bonds,
| which were 10 be issued as collateral for
| the payment of the loan. The plan of the
| schemer was verv evidently to break the
| price of the bonds and then get posses
| sion of them at price less than the mar
| ket, for his margin 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 I'm it >"
| At last II was Mr.. Bundy's turn He
| told Mr.. Lincoln, by way OF introduction.
| that he had been a Lincoln elector. and
| that what he wanted TO ask OF him was
simply an act OF justice to the falsely
| imprisoned recruiting officer. Mr. Lincoln
heard the story and then said: MY friend,
when are you going TO start for home?'
1t was Saturday night. and Mr. Bundy
told the President that. as he did not
| travel Sunday. he should not start until
| early Monday morning
Mr.. Lincoln paused a moment and then
| said: "Well. sir unless you start for Ohio
at once your friend Will beat you home