To Edward Bates1Jump to section
Dear Sir: Washington, Feb. 16. 1863.
Nathan Darling, Captain of the Capitol Police, was fined forty dollars and charged with costs, for arresting two persons in the Lobby of the Gallery of the H.R. on the occasion of Reading Washington's Farewell Address Feb. 22. 1863.2Jump to section He supposing he was performing his official duty. The fine was imposed in the Criminal Court upon indictment. I have concluded to remit the fine, if considered lawful for me to do so. Please make out the proper paper, if you deem it within my power. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, DNA RG 204, U.S. Pardon Attorney, A 460. On February 22, 1862, Washington's birthday was elaborately observed in Washington. Part of the scheduled ceremony was the presentation to congress of captured Confederate flags, to be followed by the reading of Washington's Farewell Address. Representative John J. Crittenden, however, introduced a resolution opposing acceptance of the flags on the ground that they were flags of pirates and rebels and represented no recognized government. After heated debate his resolution was adopted 70 to 61, to the vast disappointment of the crowd in the gallery, and the pursuant ceremony was disrupted by a commotion in the audience. (Washington Daily Globe, February 22, 1862). Captain Nathan Darling was indicted by a grand jury in March, on the complaint of Milton L. Brosius that he ``with force of arms did make assault did then and there beat and ill treat. . . .'' The case was continued to the June term of the Criminal Court, when Darling entered a plea of guilty, and on July 25 was sentenced to pay a fine of twenty