The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-08-24
BY COLONEL CHARLES G. HALrIsF.


In the fall of 1862 the writer of this
article, being then a member of the staff of
General Halleck, had frequent occasion to
wait upon our recently deceased President,
both during official hours and at other
times.
Once--on what was called "a public
day" when Mr. Lincoln received all appl.
cants in cir turn, tho writer was struck
by observing, as he passed tlIrongh the cor
ridor, the heterogeneous crowd of men an |
women, representing all ranks and classes,
who were gathered in the large waiting
room outside the Presidential suite of Offices.
Being ushered into the Presidents 8 cham
Der by Major Hay, the first thing he saw
Was Mr.. Lincoln bowling to All elderly lady
out of the door, the Presidents remarks to
her being, as she still fingered and appeared
reluctant to go, am really very sorry,
madam, very sorry but your own good
sense muht 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 TO laugh
this being his favorte attitude when much
amused.
"What odd kinds of people come in to
see me-" he said AMI 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 for stopping the pay Of Treasury
clerk, who owes her a board bill of about
seventy dollars2" And the President
rocked himself backward aud forward, aud
appeared intensely amused.
iShs may have come in here loyal
A. 1 l.. -
be bound she has gone away believing that
the worst pictures OF me in the Richmond
press only lack truth in not being half
black and bad enough"
This led to a somewhat general conver-
saton, in which | expressed surprise that
he did not adopt the plan in force at all
military headquarters, under which every
applicant t. see the Generals, anl 50 forth,
who al owed none in to take up the Gen
erals time, save such as they were satisfied
had business of sufficient importance, aud
which could be transacted in no other man
ner than by personal interview.
OF course, of every hundred people who
came to see the Genral-iu-Chief daily" ex-
planned, mot ten have any sufficient bus-
ness with him, nor are they admitted. On
being asked to explain for what purpose
they desire to see him, and stating it, it is
found. in nine cases out of ten, shat the
business properly belongs to some one or
other of the subordinate bureaus They
are then referred, ,-as the case may be, to
the Quartermaster Commissary, Medical
Adjutant General, or other departments,
with an assurance that-even if they saw
the General-in-C -Chief-he would do nothing
more for them than give them the same di-
rection. With these points courteously
explained" ! added, "they go away quite
content, although refused admittance.'
All yes" said Mr.. Lincoln graveIy-
and his words on this matter are impor-
tant as illustrating rule of his action, and
to come extent, perhaps, the essentially
representative character of his mind and Of
his administration. "Ah yes, such things