National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-06-07

l
situation, but, beyond that, he
knew nothing of her or OF Mrs.
Washington, and that if he could
be convinced that the character OF
these two women were bad he GER
tainly would not tolerate their pres
cnce at the Executive Mansion a
moment. He thens asked me to
make Il written report, as briefly as
possible, on which he could base
some order directing his subordi-
mates to exclude bad characters
from the White House.
After what ! had said to the Pres
ident respecting Mrs. Cobb and her
operations at the White House, and
after furnishing him with an official
report, at his own request, 1 GER
tainIy thought he would give orders
90 have her kept ont of the EXecu-
tive mansion. On the contrary.
hcaId that she was a more frequent
visitor there than ever, and was
boaSting among her friends that III
spite OF Gen. Bakers interference
she was still a welcome gUeSt.of the
President. could not think this
possible. So in order to bring the
controversy between the President
and myself to an issue. directed
an officer to ascertain whether this
was true, and learned that she was
a constant visitor. Still thinking
the President could not be aware Of
her yiSits.on the 18th Of November /
stationed detective police officer at
the front entrance, with instructions
to prevent Mrs. Cobb'S entering.
\ bout II o'clock, as usual, she pre-
scnted herself. and was told that
she could not 90 IN. She asked the
officer by whose order he was act
ing, and he replied "By order of
Gen. Baker Mrs. Cobb replied !: .
"Wcll, | will see the President in ten
1ninutcS' She went round TO the
rear part of the house, entered the
kitchen, went up to tie Presidents
private room, and told linn that
Gen. Baker had stationed a detect
i've ut the door to prevent her see
ing him. The President sent for
the detective and SAID "Sir, by
whose order do You presume to
guard my door !" The detective
replied: II am not guarding the
door. was sent here by Gen. Ba-
kcr to prevent Ms. Cobb from en-
tcring the house. The President
said: Tell Gen. Baker | want to
see him immediately According.
ly he started for my office, but in
the mean time the President had
sent his private messenger. who ar
rived first. and i'll very excited
manner informed me that the preSi-
dent wished to see me Immediately
| must drop all business and come
at once. went, and entered the
Presidents private room. | found
him alone, pacing the room very cX-
citedly. Furiously he said to me
allow dare You place detectives at
my door = told him that | sup.
posed he dcSued Mrs. Cobb and
other females of like character to be
kept from the house. He answered;
"N hen | want your services | VIII
send for YOU Mrs. Cobb has just
as much right to come here rs Aou
or any other person. This is not
the first time YOU have intcrtered at
the White House. Now ! want it
stopped"
Still pacing the room he repeated
several times what he had before
said concerning Mrs. tohb--that
she had as much right To visit the
/ White House as amy other reSpcCta-
Die person. Walking up to me like
"a pugilist, he shook his fist in my
face, and said again "lloW dare
You presume to exercise amy con
troll over the management of the
/ White House ~ | then said Nr.
President. when such vile charae-
ters rs Mrs. Cobb can visit the
White House at all times of day
or night when She can procure
pardons as she has done in the case
ot Capt. Howell, and deliver them
in person incomplete or without he.
inc recorded when she boasts pub
lcly in the streets, hotels, and Sa-
looms of this city that she is Il par.
don broker, and the President dare
not refuse any Of her applications,
but she has the President of the
United States in her power, think
il is hish time that somebody inter.
f.red., The President replied {:
GLOW dare You talk to me in that
way. Sir! Now, Sir, tell YOU once
for all, YOU must not interfere with
my business neither must YOU III.
tcrfcrc with any person who has bu.
sncss at the Executive mansion"
started to leave the room, when he
followed me to the door, and, with
his fist clenched said "Now, re-
collect what have said to you.
You can go and tell your irleld
Stanton all nave said. say, you
can go and tell your friend stanton
nil have said" With this J lett
the Presidential mansion, ANA nave
never entered it since.
In one of my conversations Win
,hn President, he repeatedly acctlS-
ed me ofbcing n tool OF the kaulc us
IIe said he had been informed that
I vns in the employ of the Radicals,
and had heard that ! detailed de.
tectiycs TO watch the Presidential
mansion, with u view 10 furnish u
list of the prominent coppcrheads
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