Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-23
OID-FASlrIONED SCRUPLES.

aIclDnla lllUeS lCialCs NV io''o"'oS AoS ~
tlrcly new story
Howell Cobb, then Secretary Of the Treas
ury, without CONSULTATION with the President or
auv of his colleagues, concluded that the occa.
sion of the trial trip of toe Harriet Lane would
be fue opportunity to invite his friends OF
the Cabinet, Of the foreign legations and his
acquaDtaDces generally TO ENJOY with hun
short sail down the Potomac. The prepare.
tons were made accordingly and the lnvltatlous
issued and all arrangements completed With
out the knowledge Of the President When
Mr. Buchanan learned Of this - trollc, as
he characterz:d it, be was very wroth and sent
for his Attorney General. That officer found
HIM fuming and swearing, and the first greet
ing he received was a dyuole. barrecd interrog
a,ory. Are you" said the President, going
on this - trolic? ?" What do you think OF
such conversion Of public property TO private
usc?' As soon as the Attorney General could
get his breath, he replied that be was not 60
ing on the Harriet Llue, and further, that
while he felt a delicacy III criticlsiug the acts OF
his colleagues, he nevertheless could not hes-
tate iu expressing his emphatic disapproval Of
the whole affair. but, said be, Mr.. Pres
ident what are you going to do about it.
"Do about it, exclaimed oldyBuck, IN q
great passion-'Do about it Why Of course
| will stop it. It's all wrong 1T is scaudalous,
and | will be held responsible for it. Of course
| will not suffer it to 90 on "Bu!." said the
Attorney General "the invitations have been
issued !; foreign Ministers have been invited
and have ACCEPTED. They, of course, thought
it was all right and proper, and if you Interfere
now it will be to u certain extent reflection on
them moreover, a great maDy good people
have thoughtlessly agreed to accompany the
Secretary of the Treasury, and 1t will cause
them useless and causeless modification 1t you
make row about it now have 90 idea that
MIR. Cobb has thought anything about the
morality Of making use OF Government vessel
in this way | am sure that if he had ref :cted
moment he would have been the last man in
the world to take such step, but he has taken
it. and can see 20 way In which you eau inter-
terc now without causing great deal ol scan
dal, and doing moro harm than good. Is there
no way of rcmedylpg the wrong after 1t Is
done p
Mr.. Buchanan, after little reflection, said
yes there Was way. lie would pay the
expenses Of the trip himself out Of bis own
pocket.
At the uext meeting of the Cabinet after the
excursion, Mr. Buchanan, just before the confer
ence concluded, turned TO Mr.. Cobb, and said
mir. Secretary, | want you to bring me an
itemized bill OF the expenses Incurred during
the trial trip of the Harriet Lane. want
full aud detailed statement of everyt hng-the
coal consumed, the salaries Of the officers, the
wages Of the scamen, and the cost of supplies
OF every nature and description.
Cobb was thundersruck. He could not con-
ceive what such demand meant, but he knew
Mr. Buchauau too we'll 10 manifest any sur
prise or ask any questions. He replied Ger
tainly, MIR. 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
lnc distance, he suddenly stopped, and ex-
claimed: "What 10 the thunder does the old
Squire mean! :"
The Attorney General made 20 reply, and
Cobb said, looking him square in the face =
You know what he means, l know you do;
and now think you owe it to me to tell me
frankly what he is up to-
The Attorney General, thus appealed to, OF
course could not refuse, and explained the mat.
ter to him in detail, and concluded by saying:
"He has asked yGu for the bill because he
means to pay it out Of his own pocket
Cobb gave long. continued whistle, as was
his habit when he wished to manifest great
surprise, and said That's what the old
Squire is up to, is lit? Well, III see whether
| cant surprise him
The conversation on this point dropped,
but every once and awhile as they con-
tiuued their walk to the Treasury. Cobb
would utter prolonged whistle. At the next
regular Cabinet meeting Cobb was as bright
and cheerful as lark on sunny morning. tie
was iu extraordinary humor, and kept cracking
bis jokes at everybody. The business of the day
was coocludcd, aud the usual friendly chat 90
current topics was indulged in, and still 90 al
lusiou was made to that bill But the in
slant there was move made by some one TO
take his departure, Mr.. Buchanan, who had
been rather taciluro during the meeting, turn
ed to Cobb aud said dhcr sharply, MI. Sec
retary, where is that bill? ?" Cobb, assuming
an Innocent air, answered, "What bill do you
mean, Mr.. President ?" mean the bill of
expenses tor the trial trip Of the Harriet Lane
replied Mr.. Buchanan. very sternly :" have
you got it with you p
20. that bill. :" said Cobb, Yes, l believe
| have it somewhere about my clothes, aud
be tumbled first 10 one pocket aud then anoth
er, and finally drew out crumpled paper,
which he handed careessly to the President
saying: Il guess that's it. Mr.. Buchanan
took it and carefully read 1t, scrutlnlzlng each
item closely until he reached the eod, when be
exclaimed Why it is receiptei-pald 10
full by Howell Cobb. " And who in the
thunder should lave paid it but Howell
Cobb?' broke in that individual with an air
Of Injured innocence 1t was my fl oIic; who
should have paid for it?" "Sure uough, sure
enough; who should, " was all that Buck said:
But he frightened up immediately and joined
IN the conversation with that peculi ar gusto
which he couli so we'll add to freu dly chat.
aud it was hours before the meeting broke up.
As the Attorney General was taking his leave,
Cobb caught him by the arm, aud as they we're
gnlne down the steps into the yard, be said
INT come it over the old Squire that
time p
That was the first and only time the Harriet
Lane was used durng Mr.. Buohanan's admin
lslratlon as pleasure yacht.
man cannot expect half loaf when he