The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-08
WON IN SPITE OF ORDERS.
The Old Man Did Not Plend With
Abraham Lincoln In vain.

The Old Man Did Not Plend With
Abraham Lincoln In vain.
Colonel Koch Of Chicago. a veteran
of the civil war, tells an anecdote in
the life of Abraham Lincoln as related
to him by Schuyler Colfax.
One day, on his way to the executive
mansion, Colfax came upon an old man
just outside the capitol grounds, look
ing 80 detected and miserable that tho
genial speaker stopped and spoke to
him. The old MAN begged for aid in
getting an audience with tho president,
as So far all his efforts had been un-
availing-and added that it was case
Of life and death. Colfax, moved by the
old man s distress. brought him, trem-
bling with conflicting h0po and fear,
directly into the great and kindly pres
ence. Without wasting u moment upon
prcliniinaries, the petitioner plunged in
to the heart Of his tronbc-an old story
now grown sadly familiar to the prcsi-
dents ear. Briefly, his son had been
sentenced to death for having slept ut
his post. He had relieved sick com
rado the night before, and overworn
nature had succumbed. Lincoln listen
ed, al the Kindness Of his great heart
reflected i'll his eyes, but he had already
issued SO many pardons for this offense
that it was beginning to have de-
moIalizing influence upon most i'm
portant part VI tho service, and con-
gress had thought best to give the pow
er Of confirming the death sentence di-
rectly to the generals III charge. In this
particular case, too, Butler had written
the president strcnuously urging him to
turn deaf ear to any one pleading for
the offenders pardon, as the discipline
of his army absolutely required an ex-
ample.
With troubled mir, therefore, Lin
coin said: "My good sir, would give
anything I possess for tho power to help
you. But the president himself is pow
erless here. am under orders not to
issue another pardon for this particular
offense. Too much depends upon the
vigilant sentinel sympathize deeply
with your sorrow, but must refuse your
request"
$50 that is all tho president Of the
United States can do for me:'' faltered
the old father.
GAIL" replied Lincoln.
The old man stood motionless in the
deep silence that followed the presi-
dents ultimatum. Then, taking step
forward, he said: 1.-The president of the
United States has done his duty. Now,
I want to hear from Abe Lincoln Put
yourself III my place. your son in my
sons place. Then what would you do?"
After a minute Of intense thought
Lincoln's face took OH all expression Of
radiance as he exclaimed:
"Butler or no Butler, here goes!''
And seizing his pen ho rapidly wrote
two duplicate orders, handing one to
the petitioner, who read: Sentence in
case Of Private - of - regiment is
not to be executed until further orders
from the executive Office
This, said the broken hearted fa-
ther. "only postponcs the agony. If
the boy must be shot, the sooner it is
over the bettor."
my FRIEND" said Old Abe, taking
him by the hand, ''if your son doesn t
die until further orders for his decease
are issued from this executive Office he
will live to a green old age. '-Chicago
Inter Ocean.