Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-08-11
a Good s.orr ID oId Ruek.

GOOD story OF Old Buck
Judge Jere s. Black tells a capt.
tai story of an incident in President
Buchanan's Administration, to
which he was the Attorney General
at the time to which the narrative
relates. The event has an appliea-
ton which will be quickly perceived
by readers of intelligence.
The spacious and elegant revenue
cutter, the Harriet Lane, named in
honor of the Presidents stately
niece, who did the honors of the
White House, and who is now an
honOred matron of Baltimore, had
just been finished. Being a revenue
steamer the vessel was of course un-
der the control of the Secretary of
the Treasury, Hon. Howell Cobb, of
Georgia. Very quietly among them
selves the officers of the Cabinet ar
ranged for an excursion down the
Potomac in the vessel, and to make
the occasion more pleasant they in
vited the diplomatic corps to be
their guests. 1t was, of course, de-
signed to take the President along,
but as his Old-fashioned notions
against "using public property for
private use" were known all too well
by the Cabinet, the members re-
solved to keep the trip a secret from
"the Squire" as they called Mr..
Buchanan among themselves, for
as long time as possible, and then
insist upon his countenance and at
tendance, when it was too late to
prevent the "frolic" on which the
Cabinet was bent, as mischievOusly
as "bOys" who are bent on keeping
1.-THE old man in the dark"
The President, however, who OBJ
served 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 quite abruptly said to
him: "Black, what's this / hear
about Cobb's getting Cup an excursion
on the Harriet Lane ?'
The Judge started a little, and
when he saw the look ON the Presi-
dents face he perceived he was in
no trifiing mood. He answered eva
sively, however: ~ haven't heard
anything particular about it. Guess
there's nothing init"
Mr.. Buchanan was not TO be de-
ceiVed by any such statement. TAX
ing for granted that Judge Black
was indispOsed to tell as much as
he might, the President added, ~
have sent for you to tell you that |
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 private purposes. l
want the arrangement cOunterman-
ded at once"
Judge Black directly perceived
there was "a case" The diplomatic
corps had been invited and here
"the Squire" had forbidden the
whole thing. So he added relnOn-
stratively, II hope you won't insist
on what you say. The diplomatic
corps have been asked. and expect
to go. 1t will be very awkward to
stop it now"
Realizing the situation, Mr.. Buch-
anan rejOined, but very reluctantly,
81 am utterly opposed to taking
Government property for private
use. It's a 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 eXpen-
ses. The Government shall not be
made to lose a cent by this thing"
This time there was no doubt at all
that the cold Public FunctiOnary's"
determination was fixed.
Mr.. Black departed, sought Cobb
and said to him, with Il face deci-
dedly long: "Cobb, the Squire's got
wind of your trip, and he sent for
me. | had a ID hard time to get
him to let you take the Lane out at
all. He was for stopping the whole
thing and told me to tell you it
couldn't be done. However, when
/ showed how far things had gone,
he agreed toslet the affair come off,
provided you paid for the whole
shot out of your pocket, and on no
other condition. There is no doing
it on any other TERMS"
For response, CObb's only act was
q long, low, peculiar whistle, a habit
of his when he was very much sur
prised. Nevertheless, the arrange
ments 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 complied
with. At the next Cabinet meet
ing, in 4 lull toward the close, he
said: "CObb, how about the bills of
the Harriet Lane excursion? Have
thnT- lna7, F,aiI ~
The Secretary of the Treasury,
who knew only too well that they
chad been paid, )" responded: eyes,
Mr.. President, and I happen to have
the accounts and receipts with me-"
and with that he took from his vest
pocket and laid on the table "the ac-
counts and receipts"
On examining them "the Squire"
found that this little trip which Cobb
had arranged with "the boys" had
cost the Secretary Of the Treasury
quite s., 900 out Of his own money.
-Br0ohLyR Eagle.