Can you help us?" I had devised
the plan, and had got it through the Senate. I went into
the President's Room with General Gordon and said to the President
that I wanted to speak to him about that bill, and began my
story when he broke in upon me, very uncivilly, and said:
"We cannot pass laws to take care of hard individual cases."
I said: "No, Mr. President, we cannot pass laws to take care
of individual cases, but where a general law is just and proper,
it is no objection to it that it also affords relief in a
case of individual injustice." The President made some remark
to the effect that the people of the North would not like
that we should go out of our way to help the widow of Jefferson
Davis. I had not told my story, nor stated my reasons. I
said quite angrily: "Well, Mr. President, if you will not
hear me, I will stop now." I made my bow and withdrew from
the circle. The President called after me: "Mr. Hoar, I
will hear you." Whereupon I told my story. But there was
no sign of relenting upon his grim countenance. I went back
to my seat with General Gordon, who had accompanied me.
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