St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-03-07
RELEASED BY GRANT.
After President Johnson's Order
Had Been Ignored.
4 Charact ristic Story Illustrating
the Gentleness of the General
and Brusaueness of Secre-
4Ary Stanton.
Especial Washington letter.

Col. William Il. Smith, and ne Is
- a hero-worshiper. Nobody can
get any choice flowers from the Botan-
ical gardens except with the approval
of Col. Smith, who is the veteran SUI
perintendent of those bowers; and
nobody can get close to the heart OF
the genial Scot without knowledge OF
Robert Burns, all that he wrote and
all that he was. Col. Smith worships
at the shrine of Bobbie Burns.
Not long ago a new member OF con-
gress was told that admiration OF
Burns, properly expressed in the pres
ence of the superintendent of the gar
dens would win him friendship of
value; for this superintendent OF the
| gardens directs the floral supplies for
| all of the statesmen and their families.
| The new member induced an old mem
| Der to call with him and introduce him.
After the exchange of few common
places, the new member noticed the
splendid collection of Burns works,
| and said: "You deserve congratula-
tons for having such an excellent col
lection of the works of Jimmy Burns"
| Like raging, roaring lion the an
cry old man shouted: Jimmy Burns,
| ignoramus; talk to me of Jake Wash
ington, Jimmy Grant, Billy Lincoln, or
| show your ignorance in any other
| way, but don't insult me in my own
den by talking of Jimmy Burns"
The new member went out of the
presence of the autocrat of the gar
dens, and what flowers he gets during
his term of service here will not give
him any foundation for Dragging
when he gets home.
During the civil war, when Early's
raiders came near capturing the ma
tional capital, Col. Smith was volun-
teer soldier and came near being cap
tured by his old friend, Gen. Brecken-
ridge. He tells an interesting story of
his experiences in the field, and what
mastery retreat he made at double
quick for a couple of miles down Sew
enth street road, back to his botanical
gardens. He has scrap book replete
with "reminiscences of those days, and
one of them gives an insight into the
character of Secretary Stanton and
the character of Gen. Grant which will
interest every reader. 1t is story told
by the late Attorney General Garland,
who had formerly been member OF
the confederate senate.
At his hotel in this city, shortly after
Andrew johnson had been advanced to
the presidency, Gen. Garland received
q visit from the wife of Hon. Clement
C. Clay, who had been captured and
confined at Fort Warren. She was adj
vised to call upon President johnson
in behalf of her husband, who was not
only in prison, but in delicate health.
She shrank from such an ordeal, be-
cause Andrew Johnson was regarded
as an ogre by all southern people of
the upper classes. They could not
comprehend how any southern man
could conduct himself as Johnson had
done. Gen. Garland assured her that
President johnson would receive her
with courtesy, and that he would
treat her with kindness. Having great
confidence in the wisdom of Gen. Gar
land, she finally concluded that she
must make the effort in behalf of her
husband, and promised to do SO the
following morning.
The next evening she called upon
Gen. Garland, in tears, and with
-begone, almost broken hearted
expression, and sobbed forth her story.
After much difficulty she was accord
ed an interview with President John
son, who received her with kindness
and sympathy. He was polite and
hearted, listened to her with en-
couragement and patience, and sent
for the papers in the case. He then
wrote an order for the release of her
husband. He said: ''Take this to the
secretary of war, who will endorse it,
and then you can go to Fort Warren
and have your husband released"
She had gone to the war department
to see the secretary of war, and had
more difficulty in securing an audi
ence with him than she had had in
getting into the presence of the pres
ident. When she was at last in his
presence he remained in his chair, did
not ask her to sit down, did not show
sign of regard for her, but harshly in