The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-10-04
Abraham Lincoln's Last Official Act.

of boys and girls.
Abraham Lincoln's Last Official Act
Saturday, August 26, at Maryville,
Mo, occurred the death of George S.
E. Vaughn, who bore the distinction
of having been the subject Of Abraham
Lincoln's last official act.
Before the Civil War, Vaughn and
his family, consisting Of himself, wife
and several children, lived in Canton,
Mo-, where they we're among the most
respected citizens of that Mississippi
River town. He was intimately ac-
ouainted with Martin Z. Green, a
brother Of United States Senator
James S. Green, both of whom were
characterized at that period by their
pro.slaverery views. At the opening
of the Civil War, Martin E. Green re-
cruited regiment Of Southern SYM
| pathizers and received a colonel 8
commission from the Confederate
Government. George Vaughn enlist
ed under Green's command and fought
through the whole period of the war.
After period Of fighting activity
Green and Vaughn crossed over into
Mississippi and Tennessee, camping
at Tupelo, Miss. Not having heard
from his family Of the progress of af-
fairs in Missouri, Green was naturally
anxious to hear from his old home, and
delegated Vaughn to go on the perilous
mission of delivering letters to his
wife and friends in Northeast Missou-
ri. Vaughn had almost completed
his surreptitious trip, having reached
La Grange, six miles east of Canton,
his destination, when he was captured
by a squad of Federal troops.
They searched his person, and, find
ing letters and other papers concealed
about him, he was tried as spy and
sentenced to be shot. John B. Hen
derson, then Senator from Missouri,
was importuned by Vaughn s brother,
soldier in the Union army, to endea-
vor to secure his brothers pardon.
Henderson worked assidiously on the
case, finally succeeding in getting
an order from the President for II re-
trial, but the verdict remained as
hitherto. Again Henderson appealed
to President Lincoln, who granted a
third trial: but again the result was
the same as in the two preceding hear
Jugs.
Notwithstanding these results.
Henderson was.not disconnected, and
again went to Lincoln. 1t was on the
afternoon Of April Il, 1861 mclan-
choly date in American history-that
the Senator called at the White
House. He called the attention Of
Lincoln to the fact that the war was
practically closed, aud, concluding,
said: "Mr. Lincoln, this pardon should
be granted in the interest Of peace and
Cancellation.
Mr.. Lincoln replied Very well,
Senator, / agree with you. Go over to
| Stanton and tell him that this man
must be released. ;
''But, Mr. President, protested
Henderson, 81 have gone twice to
Stanton about this matter, and he will
have nothing to do with it.
'.If you 90 and tell Stanton what J.
tell you, I am sure he will do it, said
Lincoln, "but if he doesn't, come
back here.
Henderson acted upon Lincoln $
suggestion, and went to the office of
the Secretary Of War Stanton 5 i'm
petnosity cvinccd itself; he became
violently angry, and swore that he
would permit no such procedure.
Vaughn had but two more days to
live. according to his sentence. and
Henderson fastened to make one more
stand for the NIissourian's life. AZ
ter supper he went to the White
House. The President was in his Of,
fee, dressed to go to Ford's Theatre,
when the Senator entered and told Of
the meeting he had had with Stanton.
Lincoln for few minutes relapscd
into study, then turned to his desk
and wrote few lines on an official
sheet of paper As he handed it to
Senator Henderson, he remarked: 4
think that will have precedence over
Stanton. 1t was an order for uncon-
| ditional release and pardon-thc last
official paper ever signed by Abraham
Lincoln, for an hour after he was as
sassinatcd in Ford's T!catcr by John
| W;|Ls Booth K. II. NORMAN.