Seated at his desk in the White House, he received daily the great and
the humble, and no man or woman came and left without a patient hearing.
There were over thirty thousand cases of trial and condemnations by
court-martial every year now--only a small portion with the death
penalty attached--but all had the right to appeal. They were not slow in
finding the road to the loving heart.
Stanton, worn out by vain protests against his pardons, sent Attorney
General Bates at last.
The great lawyer was very stern as he faced his Chief:
"I regret to say it, Mr. President, but you are not fit to be trusted
with the pardoning power, sir!"
A smile played about the corner of the big kindly mouth as he glanced
over his spectacles at his Attorney General:
"It's my private opinion, Bates, that you're just as pigeon-hearted as I
am!"
Judge Advocate General Holt was sent to labor with him and insist that
he enforce the law imposing the death penalty.
"Your reasons are good, Holt," he answered kindly, "but I can't promise
to do it. You see, so many of my boys have to be shot anyhow. I don't
want to add another one to that lot if I can help it----"
He paused and went on whimsically:
"I don't see how it's going to make a man better to shoot him,
anyhow--give them another trial."
In spite of all Holt's protests he steadfastly refused to sanction any
death warrant against a man for cowardice under fire.
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