The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-09
A Good Story OF Old B{k.

A Good Story OF Old B9 *.
Judge Jere s. Black tells capital
story of an incident in Presid&t Buch.
anan's administration, to whid lie was
the Attorney General at thd time to
which the narrative relates. be event
has az application which will BE quickly
perceived by readers of intelligence.
Ghe spacious and elegant reYnuc cut.
ter, the Harriet Lane, named iuhonor of
the Presidents stately niece, wlIa did the
honors of the White House, adj who is
pow an honored matron of Hsltimore,
had just been finished. Being brcyenue
steamer the vessel was of coudse under
the control of the Secretary of be Treas.
ury, aon. Howell Cobb, of Georgia.
Very quietly among themselyes the off.
GERS of the Cabinet arranged sor an ex.
cursion down the Potomac in the vessel.
and TO make the occasion the more pleas.
ant they invited Tho diplomatic. CORPS to
be their guests. II was, of coumc. de.
signed to take the President along, but
as his old.fashoned notions against
using public property for private use"
were known all too we'll by the Cabinet,
the members resolved to keep the trip a
secret from "the Squire" as they called
nlr. buchanan among themselves, for as
long time as possible, and then insist
upon his countenance and attendance
when it was too late to prevent the
"frolic, on which the Cabinet was bent
as mischievously as "5oys" who are benz
on keeping "the old man in the dark"
The President, however, who'observed
matters very closely though very quietly
became aware of the design, but said
nothing to "the boys" for some time
about it, AT length, however, he sent
for Judge Black, and quito abruptly said
to him
"Black, what is this 1 hear about
Harriet Lane7"
The Judge started little, and when
he saw the look on the Presidents face
he perceived he was in no trifling mood,
He answered eyasively, however: "I
haven't heard anything very particular
about it. Guess there's nothing in it."
Mr.. Buchanan was not to be deceived by
any such statement. Taking for granted
that Judge Black was indisposed to tell
MS much as he might, the President add
ed: I've sent for yoa 20 tell you that I
won't have this thing. Cobb must stop
it. The government vessels are not to be
used in that or in any other way for pri-
vate purposes. want the arrangement
countermanded at once"
Judge Black directly perceived there
was ga case" The diplomatic corps had
been invited and here "the Squire" had
forbidden the whole thing. So he added
remonstratively, II hope you won't insist
on what you say. The diplomatic corps
have been asked, aud expect 10 TO. 1t
will be very awkward to step It nov"
Realizing the situation, Mr.. Buchanan
rejoined, but very reluctantly, II am ut
terly opposed to taking Government
property for private use. It's n very bad
thing to take this vessel out of the yard
for Cobb's party; but if it is done,
want you to tell him expressly that he's
got to pay all the bills himself for the
use of the vessel, and all the expenses.
The government shall not be made to
lose a cent by this thing" This time
there was no doubt at all that the "Old
Public Functionary's" determination vas
fixed.
81. Black departed, sought Cobb and
SAID u rim Win u face decidedly long !:
Cobb, the 'Squire's' got wind Of your
trip, and he sent for me. I had a id
hard time to get him to let you take the
Lane out at ali He was for stopping
the whole thing, and told me to tell YOU
it couldn't be done. However, when I
showed how far things had gone, he
agreed to let the affair come off, provided
you paid for the whole shot out of your
pocket, and Oh no other condition.
There's no doing il ON any other terms"
For response, Cobb's only act was n
long, low, peculiar whistle, a habit of
his when he was very much surprised.
Nevertheless, the arrangements had gone
too far to recede
The excursion came off, and after. a
day or two had elapsed "the Squire" was
On the lookout to see if his conditions
had been compiled with. At the next
Cabinet meeting, in lull toward the
close, he said: "Cobb, how about the
bills of the Harriet Lane excursion I?
Have they been paid?"
The Secretary of the Treasury, who
knew only too we'll that they chad been
paid" responded: eyes, Mr.. President,
and happen to have the accounts and
receipts with me-" and with that he took
from his vest pocket and laid On the to.
BILE "the accounts and receipts"
On examining them ''thc 'Suuire'
found that this little trip which Cobl
had arranged with "the boys" had cos
the Secretary of the Treasury quit
$4,000 out of his own money.