The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-11
Mr. Lincolh---A nay at the .i.e

w ull6 on Fl5Lb 10 W h6AAu Soui " st6r-
day, we dropped in at the White House,
and instead Of being surprised at The num-
Der Of visitors, we're rather - ,stonished TO
find so few in waiting in tbCs snte-room for
interviews with the Pres dent. When We
remembered the thror rs that swArmsd the
building In Demo, I,;ratic times, during the
first month r.er an Inauguration, and
counting not over twenty-five persons now
in sttendsElce, many Of them accompanied
BY meplDers Of Congress, We came to the
conclusion that the Washington correspOn-
dents had exaggerated the facts. Most of
these visitors, as we subsequently, had an
opportunity Of witnessing, were there for
entirely different purposes than that of
ofice-seeking.
The President commenced TO receive
visitors st ten O'Clock, but at hsf-psst
eleven o'clock the Cabinet session COM
menced, and continued until nearly two
o'clock. So soon as the Cabinet members
had withdrawn, the reception of visitors
was resumed, those having members of
Congress with them taking precedence.
At two o'clock, however, the doors were
thrown open, and all that remained in the
snte-room were invited 70 enter and take
dispose of them in his frank, cordial and
candid manner, and thepresence of He cloud
of witnesses" enabled him TO 60 though
with them more rapidly than if each had
been granted q private interview.
The first case was that of an old gentle
man whose sons had been killed in battle,
and who had come TO Washington in the
hope Of being able 70 obtain some kind of
employment. The President replied that
Washington was the worst plsce in the
world for any one to seek to better his con-
dition, and advised him to go home again
| by the first train. He wished some species
| of ssffron tss could be administered 70 pro-
duce an eruption Of those already in Wash
| iugton and make this migration fever strike
our instead Of striking in. The Euppi-
cant replied that he had not the means to
90, and hoped that the President would
| give him note to one Of the quartermAs-
ters, who might probably give him soma
kind of employment After thinking 8
minute he wrote something on 3 piece OF
paper and gave it to him, when the old
mans countenAnceL frightened and with
prOfuse thanks he left.
A gentleman largely engaged In bring
ing out cotton, sc, from the rebel States,
inquired of the President whether it was
his intention to sustain the recent order
issued by General Grant, putting q stop TO
the whole business. The President replied
| that in no case would he interfere with the
wishes Of General Grant. He held him re-
sponsible for inAictiug the hardest blows
possible on the enemy, and as desirable sl
it was to possess the cotton, if be thought
that bacon was of more importance TO the
enemy st this moment than cotton was to
US, why we must do without the cotton
General Grant was no lawyer and eonse-
quently used no unnecessary words to am.
plify his order; but the President under
stood him to mean that this trade was Civ.
ing aid and comfort to the enemy, and con
ssQuently it must stop. HUnder no cir.
cumstanceA" concluded the President
will interfere with the orders Of Gen
eral Cant"
The 'Hext was an applicant for 3 small
country post Office, accompanied by {
Democratic member of Congress. Or
reading his application, he responded a
once, You shAll have it." and endorsed
his approval on the back. The member
remarked, Il presume, Mr., President, thA
it is because ] trouble you SO little that yOJ
so promptly grant my request ?" Th'
President responded, "ThRt reminds mt
Of my own experience as an old Whis
member of Congress. was always in thI
opposition, and had 40 troubles of thii
kind st all It wss the easiest thing i'm
sginable TO be an opposition member-nt
running TO the Departments and Whit
House."
Next came sh old gentleman who wish
ed to get a man pardoned from the Peni
I pHntsiO0ns and pair OF shoes, belOngtnJ
to the government, frsm 8 box he wa
hauling on drsy. A statement Of tn
case from the States Attorney Was pre-
sented, which admitted that one wltnes
had testified that he had sold him pair o
shoes. Yes" said the President, GsC
much for tbs ehoes, but nothing about tn,
pantsloOns, The jury had the whole fact
before them, and convicted the man, and
am bound to regard him as guilty. an
sorry for his wife and children, but thl
man must be punished"
Next was the csse Of youth who hai
been arrested IS deserter in Baltimore
having pass for enc day, the time having
expired. he stated that he was on hi
way home TO see q sick sister, who had
subsequently died; he had no intention o.
deserving, but merely intended to overstay
his time on his pass and return to camp
He was now at the Dry TOrtugas under 3
three years sentence with a ball and
chain on his leg. The President in view
of his reoGnt proclamation to deserterl
who had not been arrested, promptly par
doned him.
A young widow, the mother of three
children, whose husband had been killed in
battle, presented an application for the Ap-
pointment Of posImistress Of small town
PIN Orange county, New York. The Presi-
dent received her very kindly-told her TO
leave ali her papers with him, and that he
would examine she matter thoroughly, and
do the best he could for her case She was
advised to return home and trust her case
in his hands, as he would tend to it as well
in her absence as if she were present. He
icould not act on it at once, for, although
he was President, she must remember that
he was but one horse in the team, and if the
others pulled in q different direction, it
would be hsrd matter for him TO oul-pull
them." The lady left much pleased with
her interview.
A wounded officer was an applicant for
an Office, and presented 8 memorial signed
by large number of citizsns of his dis
trict- The President replied that he was
disposed to favor the application, but that
he must wait TO hear from the member of
Codgress from that dietrict. He would be
forever in hot water if he did not pay
some Difference 10 the wishes of members
on these appointments.
An applicant for the discharge Of q mi
nor from service, assured him that an
officer, whom he named, had said the case
was onedeserving of Executive interference.
The President immediately remarked,
airing me his opinion to that effect in
writing, and 1 will promptly discharge
him. His word will be sufficient for me;
will require no argument on the subject"
A man who WISHED to escape from the
draft on the plea of being in the employ of
the government, and being physically dis
sbled, was told that the President could
not take sction against the army surgeons,
and he doubted if there were not 6 dozen
gentlemen in the room who would glsoly
relieve him of his government employ
ment.
81 don't know why It is that I am trou-
died with these cases" said the President;
i'but if we're BY interfering, to make
hole through which kitten might pass, it
would soOn be large enough for the Old cat
70 get through also"
Several other applicants for Executive
interference in smAll matters were kindly