Lincoln Story Book, The

<h3>BLOOD-SHEDDING REMITS SINS.</h3> <p>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.</p> <p>"Kellogg," remarked Lincoln quickly, "is there not something in the Bible about the shedding of blood for the remission of sins?"</p> <p>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 <i>the idea</i> correctly.</p> <p>"That's a good point," he brightly said, "and there is no going behind it!"</p> <p>So saying, he wrote the pardon, which Kellogg transmitted to the gladdened father of the culprit.</p> <p>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. <br/> <br/> <br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />