Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-07

Mas. LfNcoLN's BALL."-A Word from
The Other Side.-The Boston Journal makes
the following extracts fom from a letter re-
Gently received in that city, from one of the
most widely known and distinguished gentle
men in the city of Washington, for many
years resident in that city, and universally
esteemed for his sound judgment as we'll as
for his kindness of his heart:
regret exceedingly that Mrs. Lincoln's
hospitable assiduities to crafty the multitude
OF strangers drawn together in the capital by
the interest of tho war, should have been so
misconsirued by the press. 1t was certainly
not her purpose to turn the deep. earnest
feeling of the nation engaged in the grand
effort of crushing the rebellion and restoring
the republic, into the frivolous pursuit of
pleasure, and to run itself out in dances and
balls. There was no ball or dancing at the
White House, and surely the attempt made
by Mrs. Lincoln to admit the throngs Of brave
and distinguished patriots ard their wives
and daughters TO the civilities of a repast at
the Presidents house, to make the acquain-
lance of each other and the public officers
engaged in the civil administration, under
circumstances making it notable and agreea-
BILE, ought not to be considered as mere frolic
and amusement. Gen. Jackson acted on the
idea that all those who came to Washington,
and were really the representative men Of the
country, whether in or out Of Congrcss-civ-
il or military men--were entitled to the cour-
tesy and hospitality Of the President. These
could not be extended even to the numbers
who came to Washington in his day through
ordinary dinner invitations. He, therefore,
filled his house occasionally with large eve
ming partieA and the large room for dining
was spread for grand repast constantls re-
newng, as the guests filling the table at one
time receded and opened the way for another.
The old man told me he left his farm with an
outfit Of five thousand dollars, and he left for
his Hermitage again with barely enough of
his $500, 600 salary to pay his expenses back
He felt that his salary was meant to enable
him to perform his Executive functions, and
to accompany their discharge with those at
tentions toward the public personages of our
and other nations due to them and those they
represent, according to the customs of all
civilized countries. From Polk down to Blu
chanan the successors of Jackson have thought
their pay meant merely for their own emolu-
ment. PolN quit with three-fo urths of his
salary stuffed in his bags, and so all the rest,
! believe. Old Buck and Tyler speculated in
way to save it all.
Mrs. Lincoln intended TO invite on success
i've occasions all our army officers and their
friends and visitors in Washington, but after
the notes were out for the first, her children
siokened, and she had sat up two nights with
the first wien she had to receive her visitors
on the third night, and then the death Of one
and watching by his side and with the other
has broken ner down. She is indeed a most
NJ ho hrf,I 10.
ell, then, to misropresent and prosecute her in
the newspapers when she made a sacrifice Of
her feelings and exhausted her strength and
means to do what sue thought her duty and
what society expecied-nay, solicited from