The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-10
TOOmbs slt the White House.
Washington Letter to Cincinnati CONNER


The visit of Mr.. Toombs to the Presi-
dent has naturally attracted much at
tention, and in conversation with some
friends last evening we were told how
it happened Mr.. Toombs was on a visit
TO his intimate friend, Augustus Perry,
Esq, merchant of considerable promi-
nence. The morning after the arrival of
his guest, Mr.. Perry drove with him to
see their mutual friend, VIM. Corcoran,
Esq. In passing the White House Perry
loosely remarked
'Toombs, you had better go in and see
Grant"
ooh, no; / am not a citizen of this
country" retorted the fiery Southern
General.
Nothing more was said, and they drove
around the beautiful Lafayette square,
alive with the chattering of children and
chirping of birds, and filled with the fra
GRANGE from the hearts of hundred
blossoms, past it all to the quaint, irreg-
ular pile of bricks forming the picturesque
home of Corcoran, the banker There
they were cordially received, and spent
several hours in pleasant chat with the
venerable host, who can be the most
agreeable and then again the curtest
II an in Washington. On leaving. the
driver, who wished to avoid the cobble
stones covering the roadway of n, from
Eighteenth street to Vermont avenue,
turned his horses and again drove down
the avenue. AS they were nearing the
Presidents Toombs said:
Perry, ifI were to go to a foreign
country I'd surely, if practicable, pay my
respects to the potentate of that coun-
try why not. 60 to see your Presi-
1an49' Tho III L.
horses were soon refined in front of the
Executive mansion. Alighting, they go
in--up the long flight of steps and into
the room where so much weary, heart.
wearying, soul-killing patient-waiting Is
done-wbere they found the usual crowd,
some on idle business. some on matters
pertaining to life and death. There was
sad faced woman come here for the
pardon of her son, convicted of forgery
and sent to the Albany penitentiary-
with her is the grandfather of the erring
man, who strives in every way known to
his rough nature to soothe the distressed
mother. The cards of Mr.. Perry and
General Toombs are taken in, but the
bearer expressed that his Excellency could
see no one until after O'Clock Scarce
ly a moment had elapsed when the mes
senger returned and called:
The President will see General Toombs
and Mr.. Perry
On entering the room General Grant
rose to receive them, and General Toombs
said,
~ am not a citizen of this country,
General Grant, but being in town have
called to pay my respects to you as the
ruler of this nation
"Oh, never mind about that, Gen.
Toombs," answered Grant, sit down.
! am glad to see you at last, for hunted
very unsuecessfuily after you during the
war
The interview lasted nearly two hours.
and was characterized by the greatest
jollity imaginable. At one time the con-
versation turned on cotton, and General
Toombs was amazed to find that the
President knew almost as much on that
subject as he did General Grant has
been uniformly kind to all Southern peo-
pie who have sought favors at his hands
and among the people of that desirable
country he has many warm. staunch
friends.