The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
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. It is pass written by President Lincoln late on April 13, 1865, and is more than prob ably the last pass he ever wrote. It reads:
 Allow General Singleton to pass to Richmond and return.
 "A. LINCOLN.
 April 13, 1S65."
 The war was practically ended. Lee, with his scared and battered le- gions," awaited the end that was swift ly approaching. The surrender was a question of time. Weary of bloodshed, with malice toward none, with char ity for all," MT. Lincoln, in the inter- ests of peace, had summoned to his aid General James W. Singleton, of Quincy, H., a Virginian by birth and personally known to prominent men of the Confectionery, and also intimately associated with the President in his Western home.
 Already he had made several trips to Richmond (unoficially. of course), and 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 MT. 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.
 ''1r. 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 tell them?''
 singleton" said MT. Lincoln, T have explained, and will now say again, that I have issued that procla- nation, and if 1t have any legal effect have no power to recall it. If it have not any legal effect, it is of no conse- quence. would not take it back if I could and could not if I would"
 He continued: My duty is simply to enforce the laws. I want to see these States and all these people come back and submit to the Constitution, and then my duty is done. I am the executive part of the government, and when l have enforced the laws the other departments will relieve me of all responsibility"
 On April 14 he instructed General Singleton to assure the people of Vir- ginia that he would favor the return of the State into the Union with her gov ernment intact, and the same on the part of the seeded States"
 "I cannot do everything at once," he said, flor I am impeded by the fact that everything is under martial law at the present time. I wish you to go again, immediately, to Richmond and reassure the people,"
 Mir. 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 out together.
 Later in the evening, going to join Governor Yates of Illinois and other friends, with whom they were to make party for supper, they were met on the threshold with flying rumors of the assassination of MT. Lincoln at Ford's theater.
 Thus were MT. Lincoln's last words those of peace and kindness.
 Recognizing the value of that me- mento of the time, General Singleton ordered case of gold, in one compart- ment of which, under glass, is the card with its significant date.-New York