The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-10-29

days time, and also for leave to travel
on government boat bound for Gin
cinnati. He had resolved to visit
Washington, sec President Lincoln
and lay the case before him personal
ly. He chanced to know Judge Holt,
then judge advocate Of the army.
When he arrived in Washington, be
at once went to see him, and asked to
be taken to the president.
I'm a free man, now judge" he
said. "You have known me for many
years. I want you to take me to Mr..
Lincoln and tell him what my chsrac.
ter is. for I have important business
with him"
Judge Holt went with Montgomery
to Mr.. Lincoln.
Mr.. President" he said, "this is
Ben Montgomery, who for 80 years,
has been the private secretary CT JEFF :
ferson Davis"
"Private secretary?" queried Mr..
Lincoln.
eyes," said Judge Holt, "that is
what l said. He is Gu honest man.
and what he says is true. He wishes
t. see you on important business, and
1 will leave you and him to transact
it, and Judge Holt left them alone.
"Well, what can l do for you, my
friend?" asked Mr.. Lincoln, after the
judge had gene.
Montgomery related what had oc-
Cured. "Mr. Davis has been very
kind to me-" he went on, "and did
this as much to help him as to help
myself. This war is nearly over.
believe that you people will succee ed i.
What you will do with Master jeff, I
DO not know; but I am going to do my
best to keep his wife and children
from starving"
Mr. Lincoln was deeply moved.
DO you mean to tell me-" he asked ,
that you have been Mr.. Davis Sec
retary all these years?"
II do not know what you would call
1t, MIR. President the negro replied,
but for 30 years | have written his
business letters, looked after the
affairs of the plantation, carried large
sums of money to New Orleans and
Cincinnati for him, and have he'd his
fullest confidence in every way. IN
all his life he has never spoken to me
an unkind word. -
DO you knoS of any other such
case as yours, Mootgomery?' asked
the president: as he rose and paced
the floor.
"No, sir, do not" was the reply;
but, doubtless, there are such cases.
Now, Mr.. President, what want you
to do is this: l want you tn give me
a writing directing all military and
civil officers to protect me 10 the pos
session of my property
The president sat at his desk. and
then and thero wrote an order which
enjoined upon all military, naval, and
civil officers the protection of Benja.
min Montgomery, the owner Of three
plantations that were named, and d.
rected that he be given any assistance
he might require in furtheranoe Of
these orders. 1t was signed, "Abra-
ham Lincoln" This was about Au-
gust !, 1868.
Montgomery went home and at once
showed his letter to the commander at
Vicksburg, who issued orders that he
ehould be protected in the possession
OF his property. The president di-
rected the secretary of the treasury to
instruct agents to let Montgomery
alone, and he was not disturbed.
After the war, he went quietly ahead
with his business. He saved money,
and kept the hands pretty we'll to-
gether, though they were few Dur
ing the years of recon Instruction, Mont
gomery went on with his cotton grow
ing, and attended olosely to business.
His credit in Vicksburg and New
Orleaus wao equal to that of any
planter in the country; his orders for
supplies we're promptly filed, and his
payments were made at the promised
time
lu 1882, Montgomery felt that he