Judge Kellogg, having an application for condoning a death sentence
against a soldier, urged that he had served well hitherto, having been
badly wounded under fire.
"Kellogg," remarked Lincoln quickly, "is there not something in the
Bible about the shedding of blood for the remission of sins?"
As the judge was not familiar with ecclesiastical law, he merely bowed.
In fact, the blood-offerings of the ancients was of animals, and it was
deemed profane to offer one's own. Still, the offering of blood is
dedication to a friend or the country. Lincoln had _the idea_ correctly.
"That's a good point," he brightly said, "and there is no going behind
it!"
So saying, he wrote the pardon, which Kellogg transmitted to the
gladdened father of the culprit.
Mr. Lincoln had no need to go back to Scripture for his defense. It is
martial law, unwritten but valid, that if a delinquent soldier,
fugitive from justice, or breaking prison, reaches the battle-field and
takes his place gallantly, no more would be said about the hanging
charge, even though it were literally a hanging one.
* * * * *