The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-11-30
A Day at the White House : How the
President Dispatches Business.

The Washington Star says:a
Were il not for the relief from duily an
noyances afforded by The Cabinet meetings
on Tuesdoys and Fridays, no physical con
stiluiion, however strong, could endure The
txhauslng labor performed BY the Presi
dent OF the United States. There is no
Office Of the Government so bnrdened with
responsibility and anxiety and no man liv
ing required to listen 10 such an endless
recital Of private griefs; as unsophiIicaled
visitors pour into the Presidents ear at ev
cry public interview. President johnson
has few equals IN industry. He rises It
six, and until breakfast, which is served
at hali.past seven, looks over the newspa.
pers. Immediately after breakfast he goes
10 the Executive apartments and commences
the labor of the day. First, there are bun
dies Of letters TO be read, and the replies
dictated TO the Secretaries. Applications
for appointments, promotions, discharges
from the army and navy, political advice,
petitions for Executive clemency, and in
Vulnerable oher subjects are disposed of;
before hall completed the visitors have
commenced TO flock into the anti rooms aud
thrust their cards upon him. Pardon seek
ers swarm on every hand. Former owners
Of conhscated property pace up and down
before the door of the Prsfideni's room,
and females with indese11 ks4 ffrontery
I insist upon immediate admiltance.
After the most important business Of the
morning has been disposed Of the visitors
are admitted one by one, and The President
submits himself TO the artesian process.
This lasts till about half past one or two,
sometimes three o'clock, when the doors Of
his apartment are opened, and The whole
crowd admitted AT such times, Colonel
johnson, son of the President or Colonel
Browning, private Secretary, stands near
the President and takes memoranda asdic-
tated by him on the cases Of the visitors
who succeed one another with subjects for
Executive action, like the dense throng at
} the Post Office window. The Presidents
. manner at such times is always pleasant, and
gives confidence TO the most timid. His
decisions are quick, and each individual
who lays his case before the President
learns in half dozen courteous words The
final decision. When all have been listened
10, and the halls are once more empty, the
President turns again TO papers on his table
until four o'clock The hour for dinner. AT
ter dining he returns to his Office, and there
generally remains until late hour, seldom
, retiring before eleven o'clock.
In addition 10 all these duties il must b.
: remembered that there are distinguished
visitors constantly presenting themselves
Representatives Of foreign courts, Govern
Ors, Senators, Generals, and hundreds o
/: lesser magnitude must be received, eucl
i having some important subject requiring
care and deliberstion, while over all tower
, the great and ever present problem OF re
construction. Cabinet days and the Sab
: bath afford three days of rest from the petit
r and exhausting annoyances that beset III
President, but at no time is he free fror
r the oppressive weight of national dilficultie
- which now, more than ever before, obscur
l. the future.