The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-01-25
How Buchanan Stopped Pleasure Trips
et Government Expense

The Washington correspondent OF the
New Orleans Times, who has recently in
terviewed Jerry Black, says
Among other "reminiscences illustrating
the changes of time he related one con-
Cerning a man that it is common at the
North now to abuse as a traitor to his
country in its hour of extreme peril-and
that is James Buchanan. We were talk
ing about the present Administration using
all that is left of our navy for pleasure
trips, and having messengers of the de-
partments as domestics, private soldiers
as coachmen. and officers of the army as
doorkeepers and clerks.
Times have sadly changed" said the
old man. looking into his glass Of hook
wine As if striving to read the reason TOR
the change. like an old astrologer with bis
drop of water. remember once while
was in the Cabinet of Mr.. Buchanan, the
Harriet Lane was finished and furnished.
and her captain, very proud of his beauti
ful boa. called on Cobb. and proposed
that on her trial trip party should be
made up Of distinguished people, includ-
ing Miss Lane, and he, the captain, would
see to the entertainment. Cobb thought
this was superb notion, and the party
was invited 1t included the members OF
the Cabinet, their wives, Miss Lane and
others 1t was thought beneath the dig
nifty of the President TO go on such
spree; was invited but declined The
day before the vessel sailed Mr. Buchanan
said to me, in his querulol.s, complaining
tone:
We'll, Black, are YOU going to leave
me ?"
mo. said, cant 60; but I'll make
merit of necessity, and stick to you
II doubt it. I'll tell you what I'll do
make you come here and sleep with me
then Ill have you"
| did as requested. The next day the
papers had an account of the affair At
least of the departure Of the party. with
all the preparations, and the President
reading il asked me who was to pay for
that party. told him that in my private
opinion the Secretary would have the trial
ot the Harriet Lane paid for by the gov
ernment. ''He shan't do it, III stop that "
he exclaimed, I'm issue an order Al
once | demonstrated, telling him that
such an order was entirely out OF the linz
OF his duty, would create scandal, and he
had better let Cobb alone had some
difficulty in queting him down Bnt he
came around at last, and declared that he
would pay the bill himself told him
that the strictest construction OF the Con
stitution did not prohibit that.
Some days atter-indeed Al thr next
Cabinet meet ng the President asked
Cobb ii he could give him bill OF therA-
ira expenses attending the trial trip nt the.
Harriet Lane. Cobb said promptly that
be could. After separating, Cobb follow
ed me out, and touching my elbow sand,
what in the devil does the Squire mean
by that bill of expenses ?" told him OF
what had passed. He INDUCED in pro-
longed whistle, and departed At our
next NEE ing OF the Cabinet the bill wa.
produced. "What's this, whats this ."
asked the President, why it'S receipt
ed. Certainly" responded Cobb;
paid il, of conrse-who w>ld pay il but
meo' The President smiled may sav.
the Administration smiled. all save the
Secretary Of the Treasury for we all
knew that Cobb hadn't anticipated treat
ing himself to such a disagreeable sur
prise. 1t ended excursions on the Harriet
Lane, and in every other way