Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12


Free" Honorc Willsie MorroT made an
exhaustive research into all OF the ma
feridl that is available on Lincoln Per-
soma, letters. state documents. Journals
ci prominent men Uere studied Eucry
record that could yield trace OF in
formation regarding Lincoin's character.
his daily life, his thoughts. his habits.
his joys and his SORROWS rds gone opcr.
Onf OF her research she Tds able to re-
construct several entire days from Lin
COINS hfe-includino rirtualiy the crdct
'cords nc USED In the folloUind article
&C has told the story o. one Of those
oaysD
BY HONORE WILLSIE MORROW.
Author of Forever Free" and "Snll jim
7 T was early in January. 1868 Lin
eoln had been in his Office since S
O'Clock IN the morning, trying to
i &c. his desk work done before the
Interruptions of the day began.
About $50 the night Waterman had
discovered him huddled over his papers.
Amos. cXtinguished By the folds of his
gray shawl. The Waterman had routed
out James. the colored factotum. who
had built a fire of oak chunks-coal
was scarce in these war dayS-and had
brought the President a cup Of coffee
from the servants early breakfast III
the Kitchen
About the warmth pierced the
shaw and Lincoln cast il aside. and.
rising, began to pace the floor. hands
clasped behind him. He wore over his
dress suit pantaloons the new and hand
some padded SIX dressing gown that
Mary had brought him from New York.
II was OF rich wine color but his feet
we're not so smart. They were thruTt
into rpir of old ry,et S1ipn~rS colCr-
less and shapeless.
Up and down he paced. up and down,
sometimes staring with unseeing eyes at
the shabby Office. with the picture Of
Gen. Jackson over the fireplace and the
great oak cabinet table with Its ink
stained felt covering shoulderins his
own tall desk at the window. md some
times paus:ns TO look out into the VIM
ter darkness. He was checking over
what he called his big troubles. The
lesser ones must take care of them
selves. He occasionally uttered a sruut
or rueful laugh as he realized that he
really didn't know which we're the big
and which the little.
THERE was the matter Of retaliation.
The South was bitter over the edict
OF freedom which on the first of the
month he had issued. following the
proclamation Of emancipation. Jeffer-
enn Davis. commenting thereon. had
said: Our own LEGISLATION of those
who have attempted the most execrabie
measure recorded in the history of
guilty man is tempered by profound
contempt for the impotcnt rage which
It d!scloses." The Confederate Congress
was declaring that white officers Of
negro Union soldiers shall II captured
tn ,tclaa
al the discretion Of the court" The
Confederate Secretary of War had de-
clared that a marked distinction would
b. made between the negro troops and
the white men leading them The
white men were to be dealt with red
handed on the field or Immediately
thereafter, the negroes we're to be- taken
back into slavery.
The North was as much excited over
these threats as the South was over the
eoict itself. Tremendous pressure was
being brought on Lincoln TO issue
threat of retaliation Whether or not to
do so was one Of the matters that had
given the President sleepless night
And at that. as he told himself this
morning. he didn't know whether 1t
vas major or a minor matter
Fred Douglass. the negro leader. had
called on him to plead for retaliation
he mao refuses TO bind himself 10
Douglass. Once begun. don't know
where il would stop. / can't take men
oui and kill them In cold blood for
what was done by others. If could
get hold OF the persons who are guilty
OF killing colored prisoners I'm cold |
blood. the case would be different But /
] can't kill the innocent for the guilty" |
Nevertheless. TO get the matter. minor /
o. major. of his mind he made a men,
orsndum 10 tbs effect that to sell or
en5iave any captured person on accoun.
OF his color. and for no offense agains.
The laws OF war. Is a relapse into bar
bariSn and crime against the civiliza-
ton OF the age. =. II Is therefore
ordered that for every soldier of the
United States killed In violation Of
the laws Of war q rebel soldier shah be
executed. and for every one ensiayed b.
the enemy or sold into slavery a rebel
solder shall BE- placed at hard labor on
the public works and continued at such
labor until the other shall be released
and receive the treatment due 10 q
prisoner of war"
He scratched this of vigorously and
put IL into his chief secretary's tray.
There he said aloud. we'll issue
ths, little later. and I'll bet my new
dressing gown against Jeffie Davis beat
stosepipe hat I'll never have 10 carry
on. its threat. -.