Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-04
PERsoNAL REOOLLECTIONs on MR. ~.

PERSONAL. RECOLLECTI0Ns OF MR.. LIN
COMA VERY CURIOUS CONVERSE
TION-WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT CON.
SPIRACIES TO ASSASSlNATE HIN THREE
YEARS AGO-WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE IN lis kEl.A'
TIONS TO THE PEOPLE.
In the fall of 1852 the writer Of this article, be-
ing then q member Of the stan Of General Hal
leck. had freuuent occasion 10 wait upon our he
cently.deceased President, both during official
hours and at other tines.
Once-ou what was called "a public day."
when Mr.. Lincoln received all applicants in
their turn-the Wri,er was struck by observing, as
he passed through the corridor the hetel ogeneOus
crowd of men and women, representing all ranks
and classes who were gathered in the la,ge wait
ng.room outside the presidential offices.
Being ushered into the Presidents chamber by
Major Hay, the first thing he saw was Mr.. Lin
coin bowling an elderly lady cut of the door-the
President 8 remarks to her being as she still lin
gered and appeared reluctant to go am really
sorry madam very sorry. But your own good
sense must tell you that am not here to collect
small debts. You must appeal TO the courts IN
regular order.
When she was gone, Mr.. Lincoln sat down,
crossed his legs locked his hands over his knees,
and commenced 10 laugh-this being his iayOrite
att tude when much amused.
"Mhst odd kinds OF people come IN 70 see me,
he said; and what odd ideas they must have
about my Office! Would you believe, Major that
the Old lady who has Just left came in here to
Get from me an order Tor stopping the pay Of
Treasury clerk, who 'O%es her board bill Of
about $40" and the President rocked himself
backward and forward, and appeared intensely
amused.
= She NAV have come in here loyal woman"
continued SIR. Lincoln "but I'll be bound she
has gone away believing that the worst pictures
In Dt.hu mis- Ia trutb IN,
not be ne half black ard bad enough"
This led to a somewhat general conversation,
in which | expressed surprise that he did not
ADOPT the plan in force at al military headquar.
tiers under which every applicant TO see the geGe-
raj commanding bad 10 be filtered through
sieve of uficers-sssistaut adjutant generals and
50 forth who allowed none in 10 take ~ the
generals time save ouch as they were sd listed
lad business OF sufficient Importance, and which
COLD be transacted IN no other manner than by
q personal interview.
aOi every hundred people who came to see the
Genersl-in.Chier daily ! explained not ten
hayc sufficient business with him nor are they
Admitted. On boi0g asked - explain for what
purpose they desire to see HIM and stating II, it
Is iouGd, 10 niue cases OOt OF ten that the bust.
ness properly belcng5 10 some ono or other cl the
subordinate buIcauN. They Gre then referred rs
the case may DC 10 The Quarlernaster, Commits.
sary, medical, Adjutans General, or other depart.
the General in. Chiei-he could do nothing more
ior them than give them the same dire iiOn.-
With these points cautiously explained y add.
cd. they so away quite content although refused
admittanCe."
"Ah yes So said Mr.. Lincoln, gravcly-and his
words on this matter aie important as iuuAtra.
ting a rule Of his action, aud ~ some extent per.
hans, the essentially representative character OF
his mind and OF his administration All, yes
such things do very we'll for your military people,
with YOUR arbitrary rulo, and in yOlr camps. But
the office OF the President is essentially civil
one, and tue affair is very different. For myself,
teel-though the tax on my time is heRvy-that
no hours Of my day are better employed than
those which thus bring me again within
the direct contact and atmosphere Of the
average Of our whole people. Men moving
only in an official circle are apt to become
merely oiicial-nOt TO say arbitrary-in theic
ideas and are apter and apter, with each
passing day 70 forget that they Only hold power
In a representative capacity. Now this is all
wrong. 60 into these propliscuous receptions
OF ali who claim TO have business with me twice
each week, and every applicant for audience has
20 taks his turn as II waiting to be shaved ia
BARRIERS shop. Many o! the matters brought to
nv notice are utterly frivolous but others are OF
more or less importance, aud all serve to renew
me in q clearer and more vivid image Of that
great popular assemblage out Of which spraIg,
and 10 which at the end OF two years | must re.
turn. ~ tell you, Major" he SAID az peafiDg OF
this point 70 reeollect was il the room, for the
former part Of these remarks hsd besn made with
half shut eyes as il in soliloquy-" tell you that
call these receptions my public opinion baths
for have but little tine 70 read the papers ana
gather public opinion that way; and though they
NAV not be pleasant in ell their particulars, the
effect. as a whole Is renOFSting aud inYgorSting
10 nv perceptions OF responsibility and duty. IL
would never do for o President 10 have guards
with drawn sabres at his door, as II he fsnced he
we're, or were irving TO be, or were assuming to
be. IN emperor.
The remark a1Out guards with drawn sabres
At his door" called my attention afresh to what
ma remarked to myself almost every lima e.
tered the White House, both then and since and
u which a. id very frequently called the atten-
ZION both of Major Hay and General Halleck-
the utterly unprotected condition of the Presi.
dents person. and the fact that any assassin or
maniac seeking his life, could enter his presence
without the interference of Il single armed man
TO hold hi in back. The entrance DOORS and all
doors on the official side of the building, were
open at all hours Of the day and very late into tue
evening and have many times entered the
mansion ana walked up 10 the roo Is Of the two pri
yate secretaries as late as or ~ o'clock at night,
without seeing or being challenged by single
soul There were, indeed, two attendants-One
for the outer door, and the other for the door of
the official chamber; but these, thinking l sup
persons who were personally acquainted or had
the right of official entry-weie not unirequently,
somewhat remiss in their duties.
To this fact / now ventured 10 call the Presi-
dents attention, saying that to me-perhaps from
nv European educ ltion-it appeared deliberate
counting of danger, even If the country were in q
state OF the prUfOundest peace, for the person at
the head Of the nation TO remain so unprotected.
EVEN granting Mr.. Lincoln" / said, that no
assassin should seek your life, the large number
OF lunatics always in com unity, and always
larger in times like these and the tendency which
insanity has TO strike at shining objects, or
whomsoever is most talked about should lead
| submit-to some guards about the place, and TO
some permanent officers with the power and duty
of questioning all who seek to entsr." To this |
added come brief sketch OF the all but innumer.
able crazy letters and projects which were con-
tinualy being received at General hallecks head
quarters, and which he had one day laughingly
turned over 10 me, on the ground that now and
sThere arc two dangers, therefore" wOuud up
by saying: the danger CT deliberate political
assassination, and the mere brute violence Of in
sanity"
Mr.. Lincoln had heard me with q smile, his
hands locked across his knees, and his body still
rocking back and fOrth-thc common Indication
Now. as 10 political assassination" he said
"do you think the Richmond people would like
TO l. ave Hannibal Hsnlin here any better than
nySalfl In that one alternative, have an in
Snrance on nv life worth halt the prairie land OF
Illinois. And besides"-this more gravely--n
there were such plot. and they wanted to get at
me, no vigilance could keep them out We are
Gr much mixed up in our affairs, that-no matter
what the system establishcd-a conspiracy TO as'
sasslnate, If such there were, could easily OBTAIN
pass 10 Sc me for any ono OF mole VI Ito IN
struments.
40 betray fear of this by placing guards or 50
forth, wouid only be to put the idea into their
heads, and perhaps lead to the very result II Was
intended to prevent. AS to the crazy ioiks, Ma.
jor, why must only take my chances-the worst
crazy people ct present fear being some Oh my
suoh dAnRara that vou and manV others have