Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-04-05

The youngster with whom We were
joking was TO spend four years under
the influence OF the patience the wis
dom aud the foresight of The martyr
president, being trained the while to
execute. after an interval " forty
years. an important diplomatic work.
and will probably go down in history
as the ablest diplomat the United
States has produced Though John
Hay possessed the natural ability for
bis later work. there can be no doubt
that he imbibed the patience and
learned the methods from his chief
while conducting the nation through
the most perilous period In its his
tory.
But to return to my story. While
John Hay was occupying an Office.
adjoining that Of President Lincolnl
his college friend. the kentuckian.
Clarence Bate of Louisville. had turned
rebel and was lighting for the south.
In the beginning Kentucky was a di-
vided state. One-half of its people
were with the Union. the other half
with the Confederacy. Ii is probable
that 1t was on this account that Bate
became identified with one of those
| bands having no legitimacy as Con
federate soldiers who were doing their
best to carry the state out OF the
| Union. AT any rate. Bate was taken
prisoner with arms in his hand against
the sovereignty of the United States.
/ ho t-ft,
ing been enlisted In the Confederate
service.
| Later in the war, when one of these
citizens" as they were called, were
| captured and brought before COM
handing officer. after hearing what
his captors had to say on the subject.
the commander. with wave of his
hand. would say: Take him away. /
| don't want to see any more OF him."
This was an order, understood by the
captors. to take the man out and shoot
him. The prisoner was then conduct
ed to an open space. told TO run and
shot down while running.
But Clarence Bate was tried by mill
tary court martial and sentenced to be
shot,
Bate belonged to prominent family
In Louisville. He had been engaged to
be married while in college. but wheth-
er he had been married | don't know.
There was quick consultation among
his friends. His old friend Hay was
close TO the president. the only man
who by exercising the hardening pow
er could save his life. There was one
chance, and only one for Bate, That
was to secure Hays influence for
pardon, But was there tlmey Would
| Hay feel tlat hls conscience would per-
nit him 70 ask such a favorl Would
the presidents conscience permit him
to grant 1t If asked:
| Was not John Hay, as he had hui
morously said. ''the keeper of the pres
idents conscienceT
| A friend of the condemned man sped
to Washington as quick ~ train could
carry him, bearing II request that Hay
would do all in his power to save the
| life OF his old friend and brother in the
fraternity OF which they were both
members.
The messenger on his arrival at the
capital, having secured an interview
with Lay IN his office in the White
House. presented the request.
| What a singular situationi Two stu
| dents have been together In many
college symposium, have played many
prank In company. A few years
pass. Probably they have not met
since those happy college days. Sud
denly one Is handed a request to save
the others life. And more-if he can
not save 1t his friend must die.
Hay took the letter through door
communicating with the presidents pri-
vate Office, leaving the door ajar. The
messenger heard indistinctly some con-
versatlon between the president and
his secretary; then the words. spoken
by Hay, "All can say is that be is
my friend"
go over to the pardoning office" re-
piled the president, have a pardon
made out, and will sign It,"
John Hay at that time could not
have been more than twenty-five or
twenty-three years old. for the Incl
dent happened at the beginning OF the
war-1961 or 1S62-and Hay was grad.
| uated at college In 1858 at the age Of
nineteen. Fancy mau flled with the
generous impulses OF youth receiving
such boon, the gift Of life, and
that the life Of his friend We can
picture the joy beaming in the young
mans countenance as he returns to
the messenger with the welcome news.
the alacrity with which he seeks the
pardon Office and, when the document
is signed. sends 1t. with an affection
ate message. to his college companion,
President Lincoln when a question
came up before him for decision
wherein a strict construction OF duty
forbade clemency never hesitated TO
act on the side OF that kindlIness
which was a part Of his nature, He
did not seem TO dread the blame that
would be heaped upon him for inter
fering with what the world calls jus
tice, or. II be dreaded IT. be never per-
mitted 1t to prevent his sparing a life
that depended upon him. Yet all these
acts Of mercy on account Of which bis
general said that IL was impossible to
maintain discipline in the army were
exercised In cases Of soldiers In the
ranks. Probably the life OF Clarence
Bate was the only one spared at the
request OF one near the president, and
no such act has ever been charged
against Mr. Lincoln for the purpose OF
currying favor with political mag
nate.
His pupil Hay. retained to the dag
Of hfz death that eanna trfpdt5r..,. %,