The Lincoln County herald., 1870-01-13

'e"SJ sA0 nVw"So was uue euuTeiy W Au
exaggerated report of the occurrence
havo narrated, and an unfounded belief
that in the distribution Of the spoils
had voice, potential Is the Dukes"
That night I went, according to ap.
pointmeut, to the Executive Mansion, and
was met by the mulatto usher, who
showed me to reception room, and re-.
quested me to wait few minutes, 40 the
Secretary Of State vas with the President,
but their business would soon be through.
l sat down for q while. Everything was
still no one moving on that side Of the
house, and the time seemed to grow very
long. l rose at length. and faced about
and finally went into the hall. The ser.
want came down the steps which led to the
upper hall, and ssid:
PRAY, don't 90, sir. The. President
hopes you will wait, as he 10 very anxious
to see you" 4
l went back to the room, wondering
what it sll meant. I was no applicant
for Office, and no high parsonage I had
never corresponded with Mr.. Polk, and
had never met him before. The thing
rather pugEled me.
After waiting for what seemed an hour,
at least, though il must have been a short
time, I heard the heavy numbering trea 1
Of Mr.. Buchanan, and, leaving the room,
was met BY Mr.. Polk, who took my hand
in his, a. though l had been an old a..
quaintance, and without reliuquishing his
grasp, led me to his private Office. To
tho left Of the door was fireplace. on
which was a smouldcring wood FIRE, and
in front Of it an old fashioned brass
mounted fender. To tho left of that was
long, ordisrry table, clustered with
books and papers, and on top of these
was-a huge plugof chewing tobacco and
a jack.kuife.
The President hauded me a chair, seated
himself after did, and with great delib.
GRAFTON and dignity, propounded the hos
pltable query
,"Do you chew ?"
l responded in the affirmative, where
upon he handed me the tobacco and the
knife. l cut liberal allowance of the
pressed weed, and inserted it 10 my mouth.
tie did likewise. He placed his feet on
the top Of the fender. With proper grav
ity and due decorum / followed the Pres.
ldential example. He spat in the fire
with the dexterity Of hackney coach
man. l tried to copy this, but failed
miserably. The President elected his
saliva with the precision of . rife.
could only scatter mine after the fashion
Of a blunderbuss.
And then our conversation began. first,
on the weather, that easy introduction to
American dialogue secondly, on general
politics. Then it veered to personal mat.
ters. I soon discovered that Mr.. Polk
would not under any circumstances be q
candidate for reelection; and that he had
picked up good many pleasant stories
Of Tennessee life, while riding circuit as a
lawyer; but what did he want with me ?
"Ahr" said he, suddenly, II wanted to
thank you for the manner in which you
defended the memory Of my grandfather
IN your paper, and when l heard you
we're in the city, ! sent for you to show
vou something. You remember they
'aid grandfather never received second
commission, and never served 10 the cause
'fter be had received protection. Well,
ny uncle, the bishop, found that very
ION mission, sud sentit to me. wished |
1ou particularly to see it," -- .- e"
He went to . cabinet on the opposite
idc of the room, and brou ,ht out the old |
document, yellow with age, and, curious
'nough, we examined it together. After
had congratulated him on the discovery,
md We bad some more conversation, / |
ose to 90, and he said:
"Can you dine with me during the
week 2" ...ar
excused myself, on the ground that
lad delayed necessary departure several
imes, remaining 10 town solely because
4 bis message. FH1 |
"Well, it will DO when you are here
gain. Come to see me when you are iu
I have some other curious
'spers to show you, when l have settled
own .:::le."
But my visits to Washington we're only
!ying ones, until l846. and then though
passed the winter there, two years had
lapsed, and the President having sent me
% formal invitation, either because he
onsidsred the former still in force, or
robably because he had forgotten all
bout me, never called on him Q second
lme, and never even saw him again, ex.
ept one night st . levee, where went to
resent couple Of European friends, and
here the customary platitudes were ex-
hanged. p
- hH.-wILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
l had but one interview with / resident
iarrison, and that was only notable for
ingle remark made. '''
! called on him short while after bis
'auguration--L think it was two days
efore he was taken i'll with the sickness
hich pasalkod IN III. Iooth M.FL.: |