Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-05-11
GENERAL sINGLETON's PASS.
A Memorial of Lincoln-A Peace Messen
ger Stopped by Lincoln's Death.

A Memorial of Lincoln-A Peace Messen-
ger Stopped by Lincoln's Death.
A daughter of the late General James
W. Singleton has card which is his
torically of great interest. 1t is pass
written by President Lincoln late ON
April Is, 1865, and is more than prob
ably the last pass that L. ever wrote.
The war was practically ended. Lee,
with his SCARED and battered legions, "
awaited the end that was swiftly APP
preaching The surrender was a ques-
ton 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,
Ills, q Virginian by birth, and person
ally known to prominent men Of the
Confederacy, and also intimately asso-
ciated with the president in his western
home.
Already he had made several trips to
Richmond, unofficially of course, and
there was chance that the negotiation.
would bear good fruit, and tend TO o
speedy and peaceful adjustment of many
questions by making both sides better
acquainted with each other.
At General Singleton's request Mr..
Lincoln ha>. given him letter stating
in substance that if Virginia or any of
the southern states would recognize 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.
''Mr. President" said General Sim
gleton, referring to this letter, ''when /
go south / shall be asked how your
promise in this letter can consistently
stand alongside of your emancipation
proclamation. What shall tell them?'
Singleton, said Mr.. Lincoln, 81
have explained, and will now say again,
that L have issued that proclamation,
and if it have any legal effect have no
power to reach it. If it have not any
legal effect, it is of no consequence. J
would not '1e it back if could, and
could not ii 4 would. -
Thus brio fly was summed up Mr..
Lincoln's e. innate of that proclamation
that changed the destinies of millions
of people.
He continued: my duty is simply
to enforce the laws. 1 want to see these
states and al these people come back
and submit to the constitution, and then
my duty is done. / am the executive
part Of the government, and when /
have enforced the laws the other de-
partments will relieve me of all respon-
sibility''
On April Il he instructed General
Singleton to assure the people Of Viz
ginia that he would favor the return OF
the state into the Union with her gov
eminent intact, and the same on the
part of the seeded states.
81 cannot do everything at once" he
said, "for 1 am impeded by the fact that
everything is under martial law at the
present time. wish you to go agai
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 presi-
dent and went out together.
Later in the evening, going to join
Governor Yates of Illinois and other
friends, with whom they were to make
n 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 that memen-
to of the time, General Singleton order
ed a case of gold, in one compartment
of which, under glass, is the card WI
its significant date New York Sun