Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-25

Stanton made an investigation of the
case and decided that the sentence of
the accused was deserved and must
be carried out.
Then Senator Henderson appealed to
the president.
MIR. Lincoln during the war was re-
earded by those high in command as a
stumbling block to military discipline.
So tender hearted was he that lie
could not refrain from interfering in
the case of deserters from the Union
army and such persons on the Con-
federnte side as were caught Snug
Cling contraband goods or information
into the south. Often, where the ac-
cusations were clearly proved, the pres
ident would defeat justice by a par
don. 1t is related that Secretary Stan
ton, to whom was given great power
to thwart this interference ON the part
of the president, on presentation OF an
order from Mr.. Lincoln i'll behalf Of
some luckless individual would tear it
up. thus declining to respect it. But in
this Ease the president overruled the
secretary aud ordered a new trial for
the condemned man.
The hopes that were raised in ALI
mon Vaughan by this interference
were doomed to disappointment. The
officers of the court, refusing to per-
nit their feelings to influence them,
returned a second verdict of guilty.
Again the president was appealed to,
again he ordered another trial, and
again the same verdict was returned.
Naturally these three trials con-
sumed a great deal of time, and when
the last verdict vas returned the
spring Of 1865 had opened, and b
end of the war was in sight. Senator
Henderson refused to be discouraged.
There was one means of saving George
Vaughan's life that had not been util-
lied. President Lincoln possessed the
pardoning power in such cases, and
the senator resolved to make an eff
fort in that direction.
Visiting the White House, he OBJ
tanned access to the kind hearted pres
ident and solicited a pardon for the
condemned Confederate, urging the
fact that the war was practically over
and such an act of clemency would
so far to bringing the C~onfederates of
Missouri back into the Union fold.
"See Stanton" said Mr.. Lincoln, "and
tell him that this man must be re-
leased"
II have seen him. replied the sen
ator, 'and he will c. nothing"
See him again." said the president,
"and If he will do nothing come back
to me-
Again Senator Henderson sought the
iron secretary, who set his square
jaws and refused to interfere with the
verdict of the court martial. Had
Allmon Vaughan known of this final
effort to save his brother from an ig-
nominious death and of the shadow
that was then hanging over the only
man who could save him he would
have lost all hope.
1t was the 18th of April, 1866. Sen
ator Henderson called upon the pres
ident to report the issue of his final
effort with the secretary of war. The
senator was shown to Mr.. Lincoln's
private room. where he found him
dressing for the theater.
MIR. Stanton will do nothing" said
Henderson There is no hope"
Mr.. Lincoln shook his head; then
without a word he seated himself at
a desk and, taking up pen and paper,
began to write.
No other such scene fraught with life
and death occurred during those dark
days of war. Placed on canvas by an
artist it would be: The long, gaunt
president, sitting at his desk about to
write a pardon for one of his coun-
try's enemies, his face wearing an ex-
preston Of ~magnanimity. Near by
would stand the senator, silently won
dering what the writing would be and
hoping for victory. Overlooking the
president is the Shadow of Death, wear
ing Il mingled expression of disappoint-
ment and Observation-Disclosures
at being cheated out of one victim,
satisfaction at the certainty of secur-
ing a far more important one in the
mar who was robbing him of the other.
When Mr.. Lincoln had written a few
lines he handed the paper to the SEN
ator. Henderson scanned it with a
look of mingled pleasure and triumph.
1t was a pardon for George Vaughan
and an order for his release.
Having expressed his gratitude to
Mr.. Lincoln the senator hurried to the
telegraph to flash the good news to
Missouri, relieving the strain on the
condemned Confederate and gladden.
the hearts of his brother and others
who loved him.
But the president, shortly after this
act of mercy, descended to a car
rage and was driven to the theater
and while sitting in his chair, possibly
thinking rather of the life he had spar
ed than the play, was sent to his long
home by one who thought he served
the same cause as the man he had par
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