The daily gazette., 1875-04-17

way in which you can interfere now
without causing great deal of scan
dal, ,and doingHmore harm than good. Is
there no way of remedying the wrong
after it is dones"
Mr.. Buchanan, after little re6ec.
tion, said yes there was a way. He
would pay the expenses of the trip
himself out of his own pocket.
At the next meeting of the Cabinet
after the excursion, Mr. Buchanan, just
before the conference concluded, turn
cd to Mr.. Cobb, and said: "Mr. Secre-
tary, / want you to bring me an item
lied bill of the expenses incurred dur
ing the trial trip of the Harriet Lane.
l want full and detailed statement of
everything-the coal consumed, the
salaries of the officers, the wages OF
the seamen, and the cost of supplies of
every nature and description.
Cobb was thunderstruck. He could
not conceive what such demand
meant, but he knew Mr.. Buchanan too
well to manifest any surprise or ask
any question. He replied: "Certaiu.
ly, Mr.. President, will do So" But
as the members of the Cabinet retired
Cobb took the Attorney. General by the
arm, and walked along toward the
Treasury, without saying word
When they had traversed about half
the distance, he suddenly stopped, and
exclaimed: "What in the thunder
does the old Squire mean'"
The Attorney General made no re.
ply, and Cobb said, looking him square
in the face:"Y OF know what he means
l know you do; and now I think you
owe to me to tolls me frankly what he
The Attorney-General, thus appeal
ed to, of course could not refuse, and
explained the matter to him in detail,
and concluded by saying: "He has
asked you for the bill because he
means to pay it out of his own pock-
et."
Cobb gave long.continued whistle
as was his habit when he wished to
manifest great surprise, and said:--
That's what the old Squire 10 UP to
is itP Well, I'll see whether can't
surprise him."
The conversation on this point drop
ped, but every once and awhile, as
they continued their walk to the Trea.
sury; Cobb would utter a prolonged
whistle. At the next regular Cabinet
meeting Cobb was as brightand cheer
full as a lark on a sunny morning. He
was in extraordinary humor, and kept
cracking his jokes at everybody, The
business OF the day was concluded.
and the usuel friendly chat on cum ent
topics was INDUCED in and still no al
| In rr-nc a a.. I.
the instant there was move made by
some ono 10 take his departure. Mi.
Buchanan, who had been rather taci.
turn during the meeting, turned to
Cobb and said rather sharply, "Mr,
Secretary, where is that bill?" Cobb,
assuming an innocent air, answered,
"What bill do you mean MIR. Pres:-
dent?" II mean the bill of expenses
for the trial-trip of the Harriet. Lane"
replied Mr.. Buchanan, very sternly;
"have you got it with your"
20, that BILL" said Cobb, eyes,
believe | have it somewhere about my
clothes" and he fumbled first in one
pocket and then another, and finally
drew out crumpled paper which he
handed carelessly to the President,
saying: II guess that's it," Mr..
Buchanan took 1t and carefully read
it, scrutinizing each item closely un-
til he reached the end, when lie ex.
claimed; "Why, 1t Is receipted-paid
In full. by Howell Cobb" And who
in the thunder should have paid it but
Howell Cobb?" broke in that individ-
ual with an air of injured innocense.
'It was my frolic; who should have
paid for it?' "Sure enough, sure
enough; who should" was ali that old
Buck said. But he frightened UP I'm
mediately and joined in the converse.
tion with that peculiar gusto which
he could SO well add to friendly chat
and it was hours before the meeting
broke up. AS the Attorney.General
was taking his leave, Cobb caught,
him by the arm, and as they were
going down the steps into the yard, he
said: Didn't I come it over the old
Squire that timer"
That was the first and only time the
Harriet Lane was used during Mr..
Buchanan's administration as plea.
rure yacht. But those were homes times
technically and every other way, and
Mr.. Buchanan'w was consistent seeker
admirer of and believer in honesty. As
the kitchen organ truly says, 1--WE live
in technically honest times then" and
the present Administration is a good
example of technical honesty. From
the first to the last. from the highest
to the lowest, they all think of how
they can cover their stealings under
some thin pretextso they will not stand
out boldly and vulgarly as common
thieves: In this respect they certain
ly "seek and admire consistency"
A. NJ. G..