Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-02
me Pre.laena,. Dang Reutlne.

President johnson is j leading member Of
the working class, and it may be doubted If
any mechanic or any laborer more fairly
earns his bread BY the sweat Of his brow
and brains. Were ii not for the relief Of
two Cabinet days in the week Tuesdays and
Fridsys), when none but the heads Of de-
partments are granted an interview, no
physical constitution, however strong, could
endure the exhansting labor he performs.
The Washington Sar gives the following
interesting sketch Of the daily life and work
Of the President of the United States:
There is no Office Of the Government SO
burdened with responsibility and anxiety,
and no man living required TO listen to such
an endless recital of private griefs, as I'M
sophisticated visitors pour into the Presi-
dents ear at every public interview. Presi-
dent johnson has few equals in industry
He rises at six and until breakfast, at half
past seven, looks over the newspapers.
Immediately after breakfast he goes to the
Executive apartments and commences the
labors Of the day First there are bundles
of letters to be read, and the replies dictated
to the secretaries. Applications for appoint
ments, promotions, discharges from the army
and navy, political advice, petitions for the
Executive clemency, and innumerable other
subjects to be disposed Of but before half
completed the visitors have commenced TO
flock into the ante-rooms and thrust their
cards upon him. Pardon-seekers swarm on
every hand. Former owners of con6scated
property pace up and down before the door
of the Presidents room, and females, with
Undesirable effrontery, insist upon imme-
diate admiftznce.
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 halfpast er 2, sometimes 3
o'clock, when the doors of his apartment are
opened and the whole crowd admitted. At
such times Colonel johnson, son Of the
President, the Private Secretary, stands near
the President and takes memoranda as die
tated by him, on the cases of visitors who
succeed one another with subjects for Execu-
tive 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 to and the halls are once more
empty, the President turns again to papers
on his table, until o'clock, the hour for
dinner. After dining he returns to his Office,
and there generally remains until late hour,
seldom retiring before III o'clock.
In addition to all these duties it must be
remembered that there are distinguished
visitors constantly presenting themselves.
Representatives of foreign Courts Governors,
Senators, Generals, and hundreds of lesser
magnitude, must be received, each having
some important subject requiring care and
deliberation, while above all towers the great
and ever present problem of reconstruction.
Cabinet days and the Sabbath afford threedays
of rest from the petty and exhausting annoy
ances that beset the President; but at no
time is he free from the oppressive weight Of
national difficulties, which now, more than
ever before, obscure the future.