Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-01-03

President Lincoln, and have just prom
ised him that | would bring him an answer
from you inside of half an hour. He is
waiting for it now in Gen. Scott's Office"
The change worked in the pension Office
by this brief announcement was nothing
less than marvellous. Bells were rung,
heads of divisions sent for, and desks
hastily unlocked, while clerks and messen-
gers ran here and there at the peril of life
and limb A dozen times, while giving
orders to his subordinates, the commits
sioner paused to apologize for the shabby
treatment the president had received, and
to beg me to explain to him that it was all
a mistake. Within twenty minutes all the
statements and affidavts had been verified
and the case;certiied for payment. Before
the promised half hour had expired every
thing had been properly signed and exc
cuted, and | had placed the final papers in
the hands of the president. He looked
them over carefully to make sure that they
were right, and then, while a quizzical
smile spread over his face, asked: "Can
you tell me, Col. Hamilton, how it is that
| was so long and failed, and you were so
short and succeeded"
"To speak frankly, Mr.. President" l
said, 81 very promptly informed the COM
missioners of pensions that it was the
president who had made himself the
champion of this poor woman's case. You
could not do that of course, and they did
not know you there, sir"
The president laughed, put the papers
in his pocket, and, turning to Gen. Scott,
said:
81 am told, general, that it is one of
your standing rules that when the PEST
dent or a member of the cabinet come to
see you a member of your staff shall keep
him company on his return home. |
should be glad to have Col. Hamilton go
back with me today"
Accordingly walked with the president
to the White House, and on the portico
we found an old Irish woman waiting. He
went up to her, and, handing her the pa
pers, said:
Here you are, my good woman. Your
pension is all right, and all you need do
now is to go tomorrow morning at 8
o'clock and get your money. But from my
own experience today | would advise you
not to go before 10 o'clock. If you do,
you won't find the officers there"
The poor creature caught the presidents
hand and covered it with kisses, at the
same time showering a thousand blessings
on her benefactor's head.
Don't thank me-" he answered kindly,
as he gently freed himself from her grasp.
"This young man here is the one who did
the business for you, and who deserves all
the thanks"
And he stepped aside and seemed keenly
to enjoy the fervency with which the old
woman poured her store of benedictions
upon me. Then remarking that he must
90 and tell Mrs. Lincoln that it was all
right, he babe me good day and hurried
away.
The other story is told by Senator Voor-
hees of Indiana. Its incidents occurred
in the winter of 1868, when there appear
ed in Washington one afternoon Mr.. and
Mrs. Bullitt from Mr.. Voorhees, home
district in Indiana. Their mission was an
urgent one. The father of Mrs. Bullitt
was an aged Methodist minister, Rev. Hen
ry NJ. Luckett, who had been in charge of
} churches in several western states. When
the war broke out he possessed moderate
| fortune, but reverses had swept il all away.
| Under gloomy conviction that he would
! become a public charge he had been en-
ticed into trading quinine and percussion
caps with the rebels in the hope of retriev-
| ing his fortunes. He had been arrested
with the contraband articles in his posses
sion, tried by military court, and con-
| demned to death. "He is to be shot day
after tomorrow" Mr.. Bullitt concluded,
land we have come to you, knowing that
you will help us if you can. We do not
know what else to do, nor, in fact, wheth-
er you can do anything" Henry S. Lane
r., and Thomas A. Hendricks were the sena-
tors from Indiana, Mr.. VOORHEES, being
then a member of the House. That even
ing Mr.. Voorhees, held a consultation with
the senators. The papers in Mr.. Luckett s
case were carefully examined with the re-
suit that it was decided to go to the White
House with an appeal to Mr.. Lincoln.
Mr.. Voorhees, continues:
Two carriages, containing our party OF
six, drove up to the White House entrance
at 10 o'clock the next morning. Senators
Lane and Hendricks and Col. Morrison
were in one carriage, and Mr.. and Mrs,
Bullitt and myself in the other. The pres
ident received us without delay. Senator
Lane, who had been selected as spokesman
of the party, briefly but feelingly explain
ed the occasion of our call. When he had
finished there was an awkward pause, and
then Mrs. Bullitt, addressing the president
as ''Mr. Lincoln" broke in with an earn,
est and moving appeal for her fathers life
Until this time the president had listened
patiently, but without apparent feeling, L
our appeals. Now he turned quickly tC
Senator Lane and inquired:
Lane, what did you say this man!
name wasp"
"Luckett," replied the senator.
Henry M. LuckettP" asked the presi
dent.