Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-10-09
An Audience with the secretary OF
War.
IPrOm a letter In the Philadelphia PrssAI
WAsHINaroN, October 4, 1852.


There is but u small idea abroad of the
real mode of performing the practical bu-
siness OF the Government. From dis
tauce, it seems that the President and heads
of departments are like so many oracles.
constantly surrounded by an almost i'm.
passable barrier, aud only to be consulted
by favored few. Each is imagined TO be
dressed 10 fine clothes, seated on throne
OF state, and being approached in the most
Sbject manner by the half dozen who are
| admitted TO bis presence, talking. TO them
with the mein of king, Until Washing.
ton is entered, and the Secretary it visited,
such an Impression prevails, but after the
suitor has had his interview, he walks
away thinking what ninny he had been
to believe anything of the sort
| Since the rebellion began, the War De.
partment has been the Mecca of nearly MI
who bow at the shrine of power, aud every
day hundreds of visitors enter its doors -
The great majority stop on the lower floor.
their business being with the Adjutant
General, or Surgeon General, or Quarter
master General, or Chief Commissary, or.
Others of the subordinates. Very few
ascend the stairs 10 the holy of holies above
The Seeretary'S reception room-and
there they are again sifted, many calling
on the clerks, or that genial gentleman Of
most arbitrary authority, Mr.. Sanford, the
Military Supervisor of Army Intelligence.
fair proportion, however, crosses the
Threshold of Mr.. Stanton's audience
chamber.
Wonderful as has been the business
transacted there, still the room is Of the
most ordinary style. The floor is of plain
boards, the edges rounded. and me nails
shining from the multitude that have
passed over them. 1t is small place.
about twenty feet by sixteen. The walls
are of no describable color, being, however,
anything but ornate. The paint is dingy
from age. and the ceiling stained by the
rain leaking through from above. On
either side, door leads into the private
rooms of the Secretary and his clerks, aud
two unwaShed windows, at the end, let in
the light. On the left, is an old fashioned
CRATE and mantelpiecs, the former filed
with cruRehed paper and tobacco guilds,
and stone ink-bottle, doubtless empty,
standing alone on the latter. The furniture
Is about worthy the character of the room.
Ten plain straight- backed chairs, such as
can be readily made for two dollars apiece.
and q bookcase of the plsinest character.
are distributed about the floor, and over 10
one corner is a secretary, with an armchair
before Il, the seat of the chief clerk. a
tall desk IN the centte, ia the Secretary's
post, and behind one of the doors hangs an
aged straw hat and rusty coat. All bears
an air OF the seyerest economy, and, we're
il not for four beautiful pictures, Of Veto
ries achieved in the Mexican war. one
might think such to be the fnteution.
Behind bis desk Mr.. Stanton stands.
with round face and heavy black beard.
HIS clothes are loose and plain, and his
snoes pear evidence OF. walk upon, the
dusty Avenue. AT bis left hand stands Mr..
Potts, the chief clerk, large man, with
spectacles, and neutrality-suspicious. in his
moustaehe and Whiskers. he seems to
thoroughly understand the routine of the
place, and speaks kindly to all who con-
suit him. In front OF the desk are a crowd.
each one awaiting an audience, and AK
iously scanning the whispering sutton who
has attained the privilege, aud is telling his
story at the Seeretary's right hand.
To each one Mr. Stanton listens, SAYS a
word sometimes of explanation or approval,
but often Of disapproval or rejection, aud,
patiently hearing him out, stands read ' for
the next. They are from all patts OF the
country, many being, Of the military
line, and not q few disappointed
contractors some are dressed in their
verybest clothes, whilst others do moi
seem to have paid the Seeastary that
honor. Que man, with the longest ana
ngliest pair Of boots ever seen in,polite So
eiety, brings out q large bundle or letters
OF recommendation presenting them to
y