The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-20 00:00:00

L EVE.

'E OF AN AMERICAN SECRETARY

(From the Philadelph7a Inquirer, Jan. 23.)
To-day was the first day that it was generally
understood by the people that any one could get to
see the new Secretary of War, without an intro-
duction or having to wait in the lobby a week or
two, as suited the convenience of some petulant
doorkeeper, or, as a military man would say, the
outer pickets. Mr Stanton occupies the room for-
merly used by the previous administrations, at the
head of the stairs in the second story. The adjoin-
ing room is used by Mr. Watson, assistant-secretary.
In this room Mr. Stanton receives the crowd; in
the centre is a table at which his amanuensis, Mr.
Moore, sits, and in the corner is Mr. Watson at his
desk, The clock strikes ten, the awaiting crowd
rush in as the doors swing open, and, being among
them, we soon find ourselves in the presence of the
Secretary. Now one stands in front of him, and,.
with a smiling countenance, he reaches out his hand
and takes a hearty grip with a grey-haired man.
" Well, sir, what is your wish ?" " My name is --;
my son fought at Springfield, and was wounded in
the arm; he was on Fremont's staff, but is now
without a commission ; I want one for him that' he
may again try his other arm here on the Potomac
or in Missouri." "You shall have it, sir," replied
Mr, Stanton, and turning to his secretary, ordered
him to note the case. " Return home," he added,
" the papers will be sent you ;" and as the man at-
tempted to thank him, he stepped to one side to two
ladies who had j ust come in. " Madam, what can I
do for you ?" " Want a clerkship for my son ; his
father was killed at the battle of Belmont." Turn-
ing again he noted the case, took the address, told
the lady to send to him a sample of her boy's writ-
ing, and he would care for him. The other was
connected with the Minnesota regiment over the
river, and had some complaint about the treatment
she had received in camp from some of the officers.
" Madam, you must go to the headquarters of Ge-
neral M'Clellan." " I have been there, sir, and they
would not read my papers or listen to my case."
" Then give them to me, and I'll see why."
A small, bright-eyed boy, alone, was trying to
work his way through the crowd, and the Secretary
turned to him and asked what he wanted. " I want
my father got out, sir; he was taken at Bull Run,
and has not come home with the rest." He gave
his name and regiment; it was noted, and the Sec-
retary, lifting him up, kissed him upon the fore-
head, and said—" Your father should be proud of
such a noble boy, and I'll see that he is released."
A man with a half military dress says he has
been wronged by the Examining Board, and has
been deprived of the command of his regiment (a
Philadelphia cavalry regiment). " Sorry, sir, if it
is not all right ; I cannot go back to investigate the
acts of my predecessor." The colonel insisted that
his case was a plain one, if he could be heard.
" Well," said the Secretary, "if you will get the
officers to reconsider it, I will then listen to it."
An individual has some new invention for fire-
arms; "Go to the Ordnance Department and get
them to investigate it, and if they will recommend
it, I will be glad to see it adopted." A colonel with
a green uniform on has some passes he wants to
read. " Are you an army officer ? " Yes, sir."
" Then y 312 cannot be heard until to-morrow—come
and see me then."

A large and well-dressed man wanted a word in
private. " What about ?" Some little matter about
a contract he had for horses. " Cannot interfere,
sir—go to Gen. Meigs. If there is anything wrong
he will rectify it." Another succeeds in getting him
off to the side of the room, and the conversation is
inaudible until the Secretary replied,," No, sir, on no
account will I interfere in any contract, while I am
here, for anything from a thimble up. There are
men appointed to attend to that department, and I
shall hold them to a strict accountability for every
action."

Two soldiers wanted to be paid for the time they
were in confinement at Richmond, having just been
released, and presented a furlough they had received
a week ago, and also an order for their pay for time
and rations. "Why do you not take this to Major
Beck with, and have him attend to it ?" " We did,
air, mud lie anye he has no miler that will cover our
case, and for want of 'forms' we are afraid we will
be kept here until our time is up, and we want to
go home and see the folks before going at it again."
Turning to his secretary, he ordered him to write
to Major Beckwith, and order him to report forth-
with in writing why these men were not paid up,
instead of being kept waiting. It was done ; he
signed it himself, and said, " Here, take that to him
and bring an answer."
A Western man, who said he hailed from the Re-
serve in Ohio, had about a dozen quires of paper
written over two or three times, which he said was
an " Essay on Cheese." The Secretary laughed.
"You mist go to the Commissary-General; he has
charge of the feeding of the army." " I have been
at first one and another all summer, and somehow
or other I do not get any further ahead, and that is
why I want you to investigate it ;" and he com-

menced to unroll his papers. " Indeed, Sir, I do
not know how cheese would agree with the soldierS."
"That's just why I want you to read these papers
and examine these certificates." " But I have not
time, Sir." All hands commenced laughing, but the
Ohio man stuck it out bravely. " I assure you there
is not a soldier in the army who does not like
crackers and cheese, and I can make it for three
cents a pound." " Now, I tell you what you had
better do—go to Senator Wilson and tell him to put
it in his bill; it will then pass the Senate and be-
come an army regulation to give out cheese rations."
" Well, could you not endorse it, and then it would
be sure to be passed ?" " No, I cannot endorse it,
becduse I know nothing about it." " Oh, well, I
will leave these papers," and he made for the table.
" I will never read them if you do, until the \sax is
"over." With a look of despair Ohio made for the ,
door, inquiring of every one he met if they kneW
where Senator Wilson lived ?
Judge Wilkins, of Pittsburg, here came in, re-
ceived a hearty shake of the hand, and a number of
congratulations passed between them. The door-
keeper of the little room announced the President,
and off the Secretary went to see him. He soon
returned, however. In came Major Beckwith, with
the note sent by the returned prisoners. " Why
are those men kept waiting "Because I have no
order for their special case." " Mr. Wilson, issue
an order that will cover all prisoners that may be
released in future, and allow them full pay for
every day they are confined in rebel prisons.
Major, I have just learned there are over 150 now
waiting for their pay; every man must be paid to-
day, and speed them on to their homes."
A tall man wants a commission in the regular
army. " Have you been in any battle yet, Sir ?"
" I was in the Mexican war." " That won't do,
that is too far back." " I was at Great Bethel."
" That is better. I will examine your record my-
self and inform you if you are appointed."
A stout healthy young man wanted a commission
or clerkship. " Have you been in any battle ?"
" No, Sir." " Then it will be of no use to apply,
for I shall make all my appointments from the list
of heroes ; those who fight the country's battles
must be cared for first."
Another wanted an appointment as quartermas-
ter. " There are my recommendations, Sir, and I
would be glad if you can read them." " I cannot
do it now, I have not the time ; but I 'will examine
them." " Very well," replied the would-be quar.
termastcr ; " just read them. If you have any
better man, according to those pap ers, let him have
,the office ; in that case I don't want it."
A gentleman stepped up who appeared to be an
intimate friend of the Secretary. Ah !" said the
Secretary, " I am glad to see you ; I have not seen
you since we met at Wheeling a ferw years ago."
Tile replied that he had been enzi tged upon the
North-West Boundary question, and would like to
have some conversation about it. "Ah !" said the Se-
cretary, " I will appoint a time to Fsee' you, and have
the whole matter talked over, for I vi ish to know
all about it."
A man in citizen's clothes want ed an appointment
in the army. " Well," said the Becretary of War,

"what arc your claims" " I wax bride-de-camp to
Colonel Geary at the fight of Bolir ar,
and I am re-
commended for the appointment •
the President."
b•"
All right," said Mr. Stanton, I will attend to
your case." Individual insisted upon having a pro-
mise, inasmuch as he " had got the indorsement of