On the 9th of April, 1865, Lee accepted Grant's easy conditions, and
practically everything was completed but the formal signing of the
capitulation. The wide rejoicing covered the earth, the eye-witnesses
may say, with one smile of relief and gladness. Washington looked gay
with bunting, like New York City on the day of "Show your flag!" Above
all, the President, whose words at Springfield, in 1860, to the
Illinois school superintendent, Newton Bateman, were justified: "I may
not see the end, but it will come, and I shall be vindicated (in
condemning slavery)."
It was, therefore, in a receptive mood that he was found by Senator J.
B. Henderson, of Missouri. This gentleman came for the third time on an
errand of pity.
At the close of the war, one Colonel Green, brother to United States
Senator James S. Green, crossed into Mississippi with his friend and
brother in arms, George E. Vaughan. He gave Vaughan letters for home
and started him to carry news to his family. Captured within the
Federal lines, he was held as a spy. Mr. Henderson succeeded in getting
a retrial, and even a third hearing, but still the man was under
sentence of death. On the afternoon of April 14, he called at the White
House, and insisted that the pardon should be granted now if ever, "in
the interest of peace and consideration."
The gladsome chief agreed with him, and directed him to go to Secretary
Stanton and have the prisoner released. But the inflexible official, on
whom the general glee had no softening, refused, and the man had but
two days to live. When the intermediary hurried back to the Executive
Mansion, the President was dressed to go to Ford's Theater, with his
wife, his son, and a young couple of friends.
Nevertheless, he stopped, went into the study, and wrote an
unconditional release and pardon for Vaughan, saying:
"I think this will have precedence over Stanton!"
It was his last official act--one of mercy and forgiveness.
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