The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-08
How the News vas Received nj the
white House.

OF course there was quite as much interest
f.lt Mt tbe White House as elsewhere i'll the
result of the election yesterday, though
from the quiet demcanOr of President Grant
few would have supposed that he was one
of the two persons most directly concerned
in the result. A number Of the persona!
friends of the President, together with mem
hers of his official household, were gathered
in General Porter's room to receive the
news. Among those present were Secretary
Robcson, Attorney General Williams, Judge
Cartier, Judge Macarthur, Justice Swayne
Admiral Porter, Governor Cooke, j. X
Jones united States minister at Br1sselsl A,
s. Solomons. ESD, Colonel Webster, General
Babcock, Senator Morri! (Mainc), General
Dent. and Others. General Grant occupied
General Porter's seat, while his son, Lieu
tenant Fred Grant, had seat next him.
Telegrams were brought in almost mo-
mcntarily, and the excitement i'll the
Gathering got up to fever heat as the
DISPATCHES were read announcing that
State after State had wheeled into
line with colossal Republican majorities; but
through all the enthusiasm the President
pulled TRANQUILITY away ut his cigar. pauSine
ONLY TO knock the ashes off and insure good
light. He was by all odds the coolest man
in the room. His inquiries and suggestions
at various times showed, however, that he
was well informed in regard to the political
situation in the different States. Several odd
incidents occurred to create laugh. Al
most every dispatch from the East had the
words appended Banks defeated by 1000
majority" and the dispatches from other
quarters began to have the inevitable item
about Banks. varied to say" Banks reported
defeated by 5000 majority" Finally the lie.
ration was so continuous that when the Pre-
sidcnt read Il dispatch and the expected
words did not appear, it was suggested 10
him TO turn the page over and make sure
there was not something about Banks on
the other side. just in the crisis OF the eN.
element, and when all were on the ga cire
for decisive news from New York, a bulky
and most promiSing-loOking telegram OF sew
eral pages was received, directed to Prcsi-
dent Grant, marked "Dcliycr immediately"
1t was torn open instanter, and the Scni-cir-
Gle drew in closer with batcd breath, while
the President, after glancing ut the opening
lines, proceeded, with a twinkle of some
thing very much like fun in the corner of his
eve, to read it for the cditication of the eager
crowd. 1t was a telegram from horse doc.
tor out in Duluth, giving the President an
elaborate pres rp / Ter the trta.mei
of his epizootic horses. OF course this
episode created some fun, and it was
voted that the horse doctor had taken
rather an opportune time to advertise
his remedy for "the prevailing disease
As the dispatches came in from Pennsylya-
MIA there were many hits SHE'D off in regard
to some of the noted politicians of that State
aud there were numerous inquiries about
Curtin, and as to whether he had voted yet
The President listened to the badinagc
with imperturbabc face and gave no sign as
to Just what he thought about this or that
man named in the talk. At hall-pst 10
o'clock, enough returns having been received
TO ensure Grant tWeuty.eight States, and Il
popular majority of not much under 400,'
600, the circle separated, feeling that they
had got glory enough for one night WASH
ington Star.