Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-13
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Row at the Presidents 10 reception
Mrs. Lincoln and Her Frrends.

Washington letter. giving an account Of the
Presidents levee on New Years. January %, ,
contains the following:
To the right Of the president, the two private
secretaries intervening. stood Mrs Lincoln. with
Hon. b. Il. French, doing the honors. Many
persons, the majority evidently acquaintance,
paid their respects to her. after being presented
70 the president; but the crowd mostly passed her
by with stolen glance or rude stare. Mrs.
Lincoln is not popular either with men or wo-
men: and of the latter she probably has fewer
genuine friends than any lady that has filed her
station before her. Parasites in crinolIne attend
her; but she is not loved by her friends: and she
is hardly respected BY females in society near
enough her own grade 10 know all sbout~her.
Among the crowd assembled in front Of the
portico before the doors were thrown open TO
the people, we're several hundred colored people
who had come to pay their respects to the presi-
dent. AS a general thing they were well and
neatly dressed. come. both male and female, be
ing with their white companions Both in rich
ness aud fashionableness of attire they indirectly
represent the bon ton of negro society in Wash
ington; alleged by smart sprinkling of colored
diyines who think they gain victory over the
devil every time they succeed in obtruding them
selves in white society upon pretended terms of
equality; and corporals guard of negro sol
diers. who. no doubt. thought themselves justly
entitled 10 the privilege OF paying their New
Years compliments to the chief magistrate of
the country they are fighting for.
The white people made no demonstration
whatever on account of their presence, no doubt
supposng they would confne themselves to the
station assigned them by custom. and bring up
the rear of The presidents visitors; but when,
upon the doors being opened, it was discovered
that they intended to seek ingress with the
crowd, by their pressing forward shoulder to
shoulder with the whites, scene OF excitement
followed which did nything but honor to the oc-
casion. Many negroes had reached the portico,
and some had passed the door, when the demon
stration the part of the whites, aroused 10
deep indignation. warned the special police that
trouble was brewing. They are letting the ne
groes in, exclaimed a score of voices. male and
female. Put them out" was roared by as many
men. who looked willing enough to perform the
act themselves. go to the kitchen, Cd d--n
you, yelled rough hewn soldier. who forgot
he wasn't in camp. Yet the negroes pressed
forward, and seemed determined to gain admit
lance Il spite of these significant demonstrations,
and of the interference of the police. who told
them they could not enter.
By this time the disturbance was noticed by
those inside the mansion, and its cause WAS soon
interpreted by the inmates when they became
aware of the presence of score or more of ne
groes among themselves. The nature of the
case was soon made known to Marshal Lamon,
who Immediately instructed his deputies police
mem to eject the negroes and prevent all further
iDgress of the same. After some confusion this
was done, and quiet was restored. but not before
such a hubbub had been created in the reception
room that Mrs. Lincoln thought it consistent
with her dignity TO retire After the reception of
the whites was over such of the negroes
maiHed we're admitted and received by Mrs. Lin
coin These were not many. the majority had
gone off in high dudgeon.