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XI.
The following
Tuesday I spent with
Mr. Lincoln in his study.
The morning was devoted to the
Judge-Advocate-General, who had a large number of court-martial cases to submit to the
President.
Never had I realized what it was to have power, as on this occasion.
As case after case was presented to
Mr. Lincoln, one stroke of his pen confirmed or commuted the sentence of death.
In several instances
Judge Holt referred to extenuating circumstances,--extreme youth, previous good conduct, or recommendations to mercy.
Every excuse of this kind, having a foundation in fact, was instantly seized upon by the
President, who, taking the document containing the sentence, would write upon the back of it the lightest penalty consistent with any degree of justice.
As he added the date to one of these papers, he remarked casually, varying the subject of conversation, “Does your mind,
Judge Holt, associate events with dates?
Every time this morning that I have had occasion to write the day of the month, the thought has come up, ‘This was
General Harrison's birthday.’
” One of the cases brought forward at this time I recollect distinctly.
The man's name was
Burroughs; he had been a notorious spy; convicted and sentenced to death, a strong effort had been made in his behalf by powerful friends.
It was an aggravated case, but an impression had
