The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-07-09
WRITTEN ON a CARD,
A Commission from Lincoln that
Was Never Executed.

A Commission from Lincoln that
Was Never Executed.
A daughter of the late General James
w. Singleton has a card which is his
torically of great interest. 1t is Il pass
written by President Lincoln late on
April -. 1865. and is more than prob
ably the last pass he ave wrote. 1t
reads:
ALLOW General Singleton to pass to
Richmond and return.
"A. LINCOLN.
April IL, 1865
The war was practically ended. Lee,
with his Scared and battered le-
giOnS," awaited the end that was swift
~ approaching. The surrender was a
question of time. Weary of bloOdshed,
with malice toward none with char
ity for ALL" Mr.. Lincoln. in the inter-
ests OF peace. had summoned to his
aid General James w. Singleton, Of
Quincy, ILL.,. a Virginian by birth and
personally known to prominent men Of
the COnfederacy, and also intimately
associated with the President in his
Western home.
Already he had made several trips to
Richmond (unOtficially, of course>. ana
there was a chance that the negotia-
tiOnS would bear good fruit and tend
to a speedy and peaceful adjustment
of many questions by making both
sides better acquainted with each
other.
AT General Singleton's request NJ.
Lincoln had given him a letter stating,
in substance. that if Virginia or any
of the Southern States would recOg-
nize the authority of the United States
and elect Senators and members of
Congress such Senators and members
of Congress would be entitled to take
their seats.
NJ President" said General Single
ton, referring to this letter. when I
go South l shall be asked how your
promise in this letter can consistently
stand alongside of your emancipation
proclamation. What shall l tell them?"
singleton" said Mr.. Lincoln, II
have explained. and will now say
again. that l have issued that procla-
"S'OA "hu IL II nave any tSdl eAcCJ
| have no power to recall it. If it have
not any legal effect, it is of no conse-
quence. l would not take it back if 1
could and l could not if | would
He continued: MY duty is simply
to enforce the laws. L want to see
these States and all these people come
back and submit to the Constitution,
and then my duty is done. 1 am the
executive part of the government, and
when have enforced the laws the
other departments will relieve me Of all
responsibility"
On April IA he instructed C.enerat
Singleton to assure the people Of Vir-
ginia that he would favor the return Of
the State into the Union with her gov
intact. and the same on the
part of the seeded States"
Il cannot do everything at once" he
said. for | am impeded by the fact
that everything is under martial law
at the present time. L wish YOU to go
again. Immediately. to, Richmond and
reassure the people"
Mr.. Usher. Secretary of the Interior,
WAS present AT this interview. and was
to accompany General Singleton to-
Richmond. They took leave of the
President and went u together.
Later in the evening. going to JON
Governor Yates of Illinois and other
friends. with whom they were to make
Il party for supper, they were met on
the threshold with flying rumors of the
assassination Of Mr.. Lincoln at Ford's
theater.
Thus were Mr.. Lincoln's last words
those of peace and kindness.
Recognizing the value of hat nl..-
mentO OF the time, General Singleton
ordered a case of gold, in one cOmpart-
ment Of which, under glass, is the card
with its significant date.-New York
Sun.