Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09

by the hands of my comrades"
Few people realize that President Lincoln vol
UNFAIRLY furnished substitute during the war
but that is just what ne did and this SUBJ
stitute was John s. Staples, at that time O
resident of the District OF Columbia
During the Summer of 1864 the provost mar
shall general commended an expressed desire
made by some prominent citizens to procure
recruits at their own expense and among the
more prominent persons to respond besides
President Lincoln, were Hon. Justin s. NORTH Of
Vermont, Alex AgaSsiZ, Edward Everett H W.
Longfellow, J. Russell Lowell and John G. Pal
frey Of Massachusetts,, r. E. Fenton. J. K
Morehead and David Wimot of New York,
Joshua T. Speed Of Kentucky and William b.
Allison OF Iowa"
MIR. LINCOLN, will be seen by the fol-
~ lowing statement, became quite Interested
in the proposed method of building IN the
Army and communicated to the provost mar
shall his desire that he select the gentleman
who should fulfill his wishes
THE provost marshal sent for Mr.. Noble d.
Larner. father of our well known citizen. John
B. Larner, and stated to him the Presidents
wishes and placed the matter in his hands.
After considerable trouble substitutes being
scarce, he succeeded in getting one and had
him sworn in as the Presidents substitute He
was dressed in his uniform and taken to the
White House and introduced to the President
soldier
President Lincoln subsequently sent Mr..
Larner check on Riggs Bank in this city i'm
payment of the price he had paid for the sub
sttute.
Statements as to the price vary from $500
to 81 GEO. The soldiers father told the man
who erected the soldiers monument that the
soldier received $500 and he himself $50. A
signed statement by the soldier is in existence
giving the amount as $780, which statement
is the best evidence"
just day or so ago gentleman, in speak
ing to the writer about Lincoln expressed the
regret that there little available infoT-
nation regarding the Presidents last day in
the White House-just what he did upon that
fatal Good Friday before going to the theater.
A LONG this line one of the clearest and most
concise accounts appears in the Daily
Morning Chronicle of April IT, 1885, a paper
published in this city from 1862 to 1874 and
as the statement was made but three days after
the assassination there is reason to regard it
as authentic. The following is the account:
His son. Capt. Lincoln, breakfaSted with him
on Friday morning. having just returned froua
the capitulation of Lee, and the President pass
ed q happy hour listening to the details of that
event. While at breakfast he learned that
Speaker COlfax in the house. and sent
word that he wished to see him Immediately
in the reception room. He conVerSed with Mr.
Colfax nearly an hour about his future policy
as to the rebellion, which he was about to SUBJ
nit to the cabinet
'Afterward he had an interview with Mr.
Hale, Minister to Spain, and several Senators
and Representatives.
AT the meeting of the cabinet Gen Grant
was present, and in one of the most satisfac-
tory and important cabinet meetings held since
his first Inauguration the future policy of the
administration was harmoniously and unani-
tipn hare If
cabinet separated Secretary Stanton said he
telt that the Government was stronger than
at any previous period since the rebellion COM
menced. In the afternoon Mr. Lincoln had
long and pleasant interview with Gov OgIes-
BY Senator Yates and other leading citizens OF
his State
In the evening Mr.. Colfax called again. at
MS request, and Mr. Ashmun of Massachusetts,
who presided over the Chicago convention of
1850 was present. To them he spoke of his
visit To Richmond, and when they stated that
there was much uneaSineSs at the North while
he was at the rebel capital for fear some traitor
might shoot him, he replied iocularIy that he
would have been alarmed himself if any other
person had been President and gone there beat
he' himself, did not feel in any danger what
ever
"Conversing q matter of business with
Mr.. Ashmun. he made remark, at which he
saw MIR. AShmun was surprised and imnedi<
ately, with his well known kindness of heart
said: You did not understand me- Ashmlm:
did not mean what you inferred, and win take
it all back and apologies for it
He afterward gave MIR. AShn1un a card to
admit himself and friend early the next norm
ing to converse further about the matter-the
last writing of his life
Turning to Mr.. Colfax he said, You are
going with Mrs Lincoln and me to the theater.
hope; but Mr.. Colfax had other engagements
expecting to leave the city the next morning
He then said to Mr.. Colfax: Senator Sumner
has the gavel Of the Confederate Congress.