Gilpin observer., 1916-02-10
NZ,RENAED 0TAN104N [A Jculalu,~ 4r 5oaSeizee7

birthday, February 12, 1865, show that
he was giving especial attention to
these matters. In the month of Febru-
ary alone he sent at least ten tele'
grams suspending or delaying execu.
tions or asking for full reports of the
trials for his personal examination.
In some cases he upheld the decree
Of the military courts, in others he is
sued pardons, and 1t is said that in at
least one case the man who had been
convicted was in reality a government
secret service agent unknown to the
military authorities who had convicted
him for the very acts he committed
IN the service of the Union.
1t has been asserted by some biog-
raphers of Lincoln that he felt pre-
monitions of his death in the months
following his second election and If
shadow over his soul may have caused
him to be more clement than was his
rule. All are agreed that he was al
| ways compassionate and slow to con-
denim, but he was sensible Of the me-
cessity for stern justice and was not
given to mock mercy of the weak
kneed, sentimental kind.
The presidents birthday itself had
no special significance in 1865. 1t is
doubtful If many outside his i'm
mediate family realized when the day
occurred. 1t would be small per-
centage of Americans today who could
state the date of President Wilson's
birth and in the last stages of the Civil
war the nation was too sorely Seset by
pressing, vital problems, sorrow and
anxiety to recognize the birthday Of
the man who himself was the vortex
of all the maelstrom of political, mill
tary and executive activities.
1t is known, however. that Lincoln 8
last birthday season saw the president
more cheerful, more hopeful of q
peace which should save the Union
than he had been at any other time
during the war.
He had recently met commissioners
of the Confederate government on a
steamer at Hampton Roads and al
though the interview had led to moth.
ing, the president felt that the dissen-
sion evident between the commission
ers from the South meant speedy
conclusion of the conflict.
Nicolay and Hay. writing of the
presidents general feeling in Febru-
ary, 1865, says: His interview with
the rebel commissioners doubtless
strengthened his former convictions
that the rebellion was waning in en-
thusiasm and resources, and that the
Union cause must triumph at no dis.
tant day. Secure in his renewal OF
four years personal leadership and
hopefully inspirited by every sign OF
early victory in the war. his only
thought was to shorten by generous
conciliation the period of dreadful
conflict. His temper was not one of
exultation, but of broad, patriotic char
ity and OF keen, sensitive personal
sympathy for the whole country and
all its people. South as we'll as North.
His conversation with Stephens, Hun.
ter and Campbell had probably re-
vealed to him glimpses of the under.
current OF their anxiety that fraternal
bloodshed and the destructive ravages
of war might somehow come to an
end"
Just before the presidents birthday
the house OF representatives passed a
resolution requesting the president to
communicate to 1t such information as
he might deem compatible with the
public interest concerning his inter.
view with the Confederate commits
sioners. The president sent to the
house message summarizing the
transactions on board the steamer,
which actually amounted to nothing