A Pardon For A Pistol
A few days ago a very interes! ing rocho touk pluc? at tlie usual erouded eccpüon ot' iho President. Applioants we:'u approachiug Mr. Johnson, each witli his case ready ; alter briuíly statiug whieh, and a renord being made oí it by ho 1'rivalo Hecretary, way wa tundo 'or othei'H. ín tho lino was M JJiinks, un cnterprising youug morchant of New York, and his frinud Mr. Kervan, of .'etersburg, a leading miller, who apilicd for pardon, coming, as 'ho did, witbin tho twenty thousand dollar or hirteoutb cluuse oí tho amnesty proc'anation. As goou afi the President saw flr. Banks he recognized him, asked him lis business, and, hearing that it was to isk a pardon for Mr. Kervan, ho look a note of it, and told him, smilingly, he would hear f'roin him iti the moruing. - Tile reasoí) why the President reeognized ihe young Now Yorker is best oxplained n tho lollowing short narrative : ín April of 18G1, after the Senate of the jnited States had adjourned, Mr. JJanks was going írom Washington to the South, ou the railroad ruuüing to Gordonsvillo aud Petersburg. At his side was a vpry ploasant pnrsQn, who conversod freely on the different topics of tho hour, and fiaally asked him to harige a $2.50 gold piece, which he did. When tho cars stopped at OordoQgvillu there waH a great aud exoitod orowd assenibled. Thoy :it once dcnanded, and sent some of their number n to see, "whether Andy Jolinson was on board ! " " Let's hoar from him ! " 'Drng him out! " At this moment tho gentlemau at the sido of Mr. Banks rose, and was walking to the platiorm tj show himself, when tbo enginer started the train and went off at his bost speed. His cornpanion was Andrc.v Johnson ! As ha took his seat, Mr. Banks askod him wlioro he was going. tl e said, ' To my home in Greenvüle. Tenn." " I am glad we got oíF froai hose gcntlmnuu, Governor," said Jianks 'I a m sorry," snid Johnson ; " I wuutud a teil thein what I thought of st:ccssion." Mr. Banks thon asked the Governor if he was arinod. Tho reply was n the negative ; whon the New Yorker landed one of his fine revolvers to tlio Tenne.ssee Senator, and they soon aflerwards parted to moet a few days ago at iho Presidential mansion. Banks bas üis gold pLce to this day. The next moruing he was sent for, and, as the President met him he said, "I have often thought of you, Mr. Banks. You gave me a pistol that inight have saved my life. I now give your friend Kervau, a pardon to start him in business."
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Old News
Michigan Argus