Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-12
Mr.. sneoi Day af b hite
House.

tn~ i0tOsng article spPthfcAM Ane AZ
more American. of March %. It possesses q
melancholy interest at the present time
While on a visit TO Washington, yesterday, We
dropped In at the White House. and instead OF
being surprised at the number Of visitors. we're
rather astonished to hnd 20 fev 10 waiting In The
ante room for interviews with the president
When we remember The thropgs that svsrmeo
The building 10 democratic times during the hrst
month after an Inauguration, ADD counting not
over twenty-five persons now IN attendance,
many Of them accompanied by members OF con
errse. we came to the conclusion that the Wash
lngton correspondents have greatly exaggerated
the facts. Most of these visitors, as ve subse-
queutly bad an opportunity of Witnessing, we're
,here for entirely different purposes than iha, OF
Office ~seeking.
The president commenced TO receive visitors
at 10 O'Clock, but st half past IL o'clock the
cabinet session commenced. So soon as the
cabinet members bad Withdrawn, the reception
of visitors was resumed, those having member
Of congress with them taking the precedence.
At2 o'clock, however. the doors we're thrown
open, and all who remained in the ante room
were invited TO enter and take seats The pres
ident then commenced TO dispose OF them in his
frank, cordial and candid manner. the presence
of'a cloud of witnesses enabling him TO get
through with them much more rapidly than IL
each bad been granted a private interview.
The fret case was that of an old gentleman
whose sons had been killed in battle. and Who
had come to Washingtou in hope of being able to
obtain some kind Of employment. The presi
dent reDlied that W asbipgton vas the worst place
IN the country for any one 70 seek To better their
condition, and advised him 70 go home again by
the first train. He wished some species OF saffron
tea could be administered TO produce an eruption
Of those already in Washington and make this
migration fever strike out instead of striking in.
The supplicant replied that he had not the means
70 90. and hoped that The president would give
him a note TO one OF the quarterm masters. who
might probably give him som kid Of employ
ment. After thinking a minute, he wrote some
thing on a piece of paper and gave il TO him.
when the old mans cUuhtensnce heightened, and
with profuse thanks be retired.
A gentleman largely engaged IN bringing out
cotton, &c, from the rebel states, inquired OF the
president whether il vas his intention 70 sustain
the recent order issued by Gen Grant putting a
stop to the whole business. The president re
piled that in no case would he interfere with the
wishes Of Gen. Grant. He held him responsible
for i~nficting the hardest blows possible on the
enemy, and as desirable as IL was to possess The
cotton, it he thought that bacon was of more
importance to the enemy at this moment than
cotton was to us, why we must do without the
cotton. Gen. Grant was 10 LAWYER. and c0nse-
quentiy used no unnecessary words 10 ampliiy
Ms OfucT, OUT tue ptt-lueul uuucTstoou him u
mean that this trade was giving aid and comfort
to the enemy, and consequently it must stop.
Under no circumstances. concluded the presl-
dent, ''will | Interfere with the orders of Gen
Grant"
The next was an applicant for a NAL country
postofice, accompanied by a democratic member
of congress. On reading this application be re-
sponded az once. you shall haveit. and indorsed
his approval on the back. The member remark
al 81 prooupa NJ Rraaidant that ~ ia haCauaa
I trouble YOU so little that you so promptly grant
nv request The president responded. That
reminds me of NV own experience as an old whig
member of congress. | was always in the Oppo-
sition, and | had no troubles of this kind at all
IL Was the easiest thing imaginable to be an op
position member-no running to the departments
and the White House
Next came an old gentleman who wished to
get a man pardOned from the penitentiary. con
victed of stealing two pairs of pantaloOns and a
pair of shoes belonging TO the government, from
a box he was hauling on bis drAy. A statement
OF the case from the states attorney was present
ed. which admitted that one witness had testified
that be had sold him a pair of shoes. Yes.
said the president. go much for the shoes. but
nothing about the psntaloons. The jury had the
whole facts before them, and convicted the man
and | am bound to regard him a. guilty. l am
sorry for his wife and children, sir, but the man
must be punished
Next was the case of a youth who had been
arrested as a deserter in Baltimore. having a
pass for one day, the time having expired. he
stated that he was on his way home to see a
sick sister, who had subsequently died; had no
intention of deserving. but merely intended To
overstay his time on his pass and return TO camp.
He was now at the Dry TOrtugas under a three
years Sentence. with a ball and chain on his
leg. The president, in view of his recent proc.
lamation toldeserters who had not been arrested,
promptly pardoned him.
A Young widow, the mother of three children,
whose husband had been killed in battle, pre-
scented an application for the appointment OF
postmistress of a small town in Orange county,
New York. The president received her very
kindly. told her to leave all her papers with him,
and that he would examine the matter thor
oughly. and would do the best he could for her
case. She vas advised to return home and trust
her case in bis hands. as he would attend to il
as we'll in her absence as If she were present
He'could not act on il st once. for. although he
was president, she must remember that he was
but one horse in the team. and if the others
pulled. il would be a hard matter for him to out
pull them The lady left much pleased with
her interview.
A wounded officer was an applicant for an of
fee, and presented q memorial signed by a large
number of citizens OF bis district. The president
replied that he was disposed to favor the appli-
cation. but that he must wait TO hear from the
member of congress from that district. He would
be forever in hot water if he did not pay some
Difference To the wishes OF members on these ap
pOintments.
Ar applicant for the discharge of a minor
from service. assured him that an officer, whom
be named. had said the case was one deserving
OF executive interference. The president i'm
mediately remarked: bring me his opinion TO
that effect in writing. and | will promptly dis
charge him. His word will be sufficient for me
| will require DO argument on the subject
A man who wished to escape from the draft on
the plea of being in the employ Of the govern
ment. and being physically disabled. was told
that the president could not take action against
the army surgeons. and ne doubted if there were
not a dozen gentlemen in the room who would
gladly relieve him of his government employ
ment.
Il don't know why it is that ! am troIbled
with these cases" said the president; but if
were. BY interfering. TO make a hole through
which a kitten might pass. it would soon
be large enough for the old cat to get through
also"
Several other applicants for executive inter
ference in small matters we're kindly received
and their cases promptly disposed of, all re-
tring apparently well pleased with their re
~ception, and in most cases sratihed with the
decision of the president.
A singular case occurred at an early hour 10