The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-06
THE WAR PRESIDENT.
Anecdotes of Lincoln Related by
Representative Bundy.

Representative Bundy, of Ohio, enjoys
among other things two distinctlons-he
the noted Republican from the Buckeye
State and was "A Presidential Elector for
abraham Lincoln. says the Washington
Times.
The following "reminiscences about
old Abe, said MIR. Bundy the other
day, have never been In print. | heard
them while visiting my town to see him
in 1862 ON which occasion ! had come on
to Washington to secure the release Of
n Union recruiting officer who had been
unjustly charged with having made false
vouchers of enlistments. and had been
sent t. baltimore and placed in Jail at
Fort Mclienry Before me in the line of
those waiting to see the President was
the wife of n Colonel of the Illinois regi-
ment who had been captured and was
imprisoned in the South. She wanted to
secur" special order of exchange for
her husband.
II can't do 1t, madam said Mr.. Lin
coin in his most polite manner. There
have been altogether too many special
exchanges already. Besides Jeff Davis
won do anything ! want him to do. He
has 1000 privates in his kingdom whom
| should prefer to exchange rather than
your husband.
But my husband is brave man and
loyal one. cannot understand what
you mean was The lady's reply.
Madam, responded Lincoln as he
pulled his old quill pen from behind his
ear, with this pen could make a col
blltl III I'VE SECONDS, DUI j cannot give
him "a regiment Then he added kindly:
go and see Gen. Hatch, who has cha rye
of exchanges. If he viii grant your re-
quest ] will not interfere
The next person in line" continued
Mr.. Bundy, was "A man with some al
legged letters of loyalty from an cx-Gov-
ernor of Maryland. A. he handed them
10 Mr.. Lincoln. another man caught
conversation to tell Lincoln that the
papers must have been forged, as the
Maryland Governor had been dead
brought in the letter collapsed. and
Lincoln, with that peculiar pity which
he could show even to those
quickly; Oh never '' mind ~ sir never never
mind, sir; II Is far more Interesting. ]
would rather get n letter from a dead
man than from a live man. any day.
the President was Wall street broker
and adventurer. who wanted to be made
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. so
as to relieve the Government. as he de-
clared. by floating an issue of bonds.
His plan was to borrow for the Gov
eminent certain amount Of money on
a pledge of $lOo,ooo,oo0 Of United States
lateral for 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 margin
was very narrow.
MIR. Lincoln listened patiently until
the man was through, and then as he
eyed him closely he said solemnly: My
friend, that is 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 1t 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 i'm
prisoned recruiting officer. Mr.. Lincoln
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 IA moment and then
said: "Wcll. sir. unless you start for
Ohio at once your friend will beat you
hOmp.'