The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-04-26
Washington Sketches,
l869-lS79.
GLEANlNGS FROM THE NOTE BOOKS AND SCRAl
BOOKS OLE A I.SPECIAI. CORRESPONn ENr :,

L..
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1862 DEATH OF
THE SECRETARY OF WAR. THE FUNERAL.
SENATOR FESSENDEN'S DEATH. THE PRESI-
DENTS CIGARS. INNOVATIONS AT THE WHITE
HOUSE. THE NEGLECTED GROUNDS. THE
STATUE OF JEFFERSON. SAN DOMINGO
DEATH OF EX-PRESIDENT PIERCE. THE
PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO ELECTIONS. GEN.
BELKNAP. THE FINANCIAL QUESTION THE
BRITISH BLONDES.
The President returned to Washington Aug
31st and was soon overrun with visitors-rival
delegations from contending factionsn Tennes-
see and Texas, otfice-seekers etc. Among
those who called at the White House Sept. 1st
were Messrs Stokes and BrownloN (son of
Gov. Brownlow) and j. J. Noah 1t was re-
ported that the President sent word to Messrs.
Stokes, Brownlow and Noah that he would see
them together, but Brownlow said that. sstokes
would go to lying about the old man. and he
would have to get up and lick him like d--n,
and he wouldn't 60 in with him. And he did
not Sept. 2nd the President again departed
from Washington. While he was absent Gen
Rawlins, Secretary of War, died Sept. - and
though notified bv telegraph that his friend
was dying the President did not return Until all
was over. The dying man spoke frequently of
Gen. Grant and onged for bis coming Of
Secretary Rawins it was truly said that he
died universally regretted" He was the re-
clplent of universal sympathy during his ILL
ness, and no man spoke ill of him when he had
gone. His influence over the President was
very strong, and was eNerted for the public
good. His creed was conservative His efforts
Were directed towards obteratng mast cnmi-
ties and TO restoring peace and good will
throughout the land. At the last Cabinet meet
ing he attended he protested against keeping
the South under military and carpet bag dom
nation, and on his death bed EXPRESSED the
hope that all the Southern States would be adj
mtted into the Union at AN early day upon
terms that would not be humiliating and that
would leave no regrets behind.
The funeral ceremonies took place Sept. >.
under the direction of the General of the Army
and were most impressive. although The milf
tary display was not so imposing as was eN-
pected. The hearse was drawn by X white
horses. richly caparisoned each led bN color
ed groom i'll black dress. Following tile hearse
was led Gen. RaWlins favoritc horse. with the
trappings of a MaiorGeneral. Thdn came
some two hundred carriages. containing mem
bers Of the family Of the deceased Mrs. Raw
Inns. her mother. and three children) army and
navy officers, the President and Cubindt mem
bers of the Diplomatic Corps. government Off
cials and City Council Of Washington. and
these We're followed by number of political
associations and citizens on foot. Funfral ser
vices were held at the War Department and at
the tomb, where the usual military hondrs We're
paid. \ beautiful tribute was that Of the pu-
pills Of the Waack Public school. Thh build
ING was handsomely drapcd in mourning and
as the funeral cortege passed. the children.
numbering over two hundred, all drd s>cd in
white united in singing 1.-The Soldiers Grave"
The effect was electric. Business was wholly
suspended, flags haf-ma>ted and man y resi-
dences and business houses We're drdped in
mourning. Nearly all the people in 4he city
turned out to witness the procession al the
decorum was remarkable. The deep 80 emnity
Of the spectators indicated that thev W ere not
merely lockers on, but mourners over the I'M
timely 5aking OFF of good man
\ letter Of Ills date says: "The ann ounce
ment of the death Of Senator Fessendcn has
not created so great "A sensation here as i'll would
have done but for the recent death and obsc-
quies of Secretary Rawlins. lie is nevert hclcss
sincerely mourned hy 4 large number Of think
ing men, and time will but enhance the lustre
of bis reputation" The Treasury Depart ment,
and offices under its control Were closed out Of
respect to the late Senator and former Secre-
tary Of the Treasury.
The New Orleans custom house frauds news
from the war in Cuba, the approaching elcc
tons in Tennessee, Alabama. Texas and Miss
i>sippi and preparations for the winter season
comprise all the items of interest for the month
of September. On the last day of the month ii
is recorded THE city is filling up. Tho float
ing population is drifting back to its fPrmer
haunts. Lobbyists, black-legs and advcnturer~
of all kinds are swooping down upon tht Ma
tional Capital like buzzards upon a carrie On"
An item that long AGO ''ended in smoke"
reads as follows: During a recent visit td New
York President Grant wanted to purchase
some cigars. and called at quite number of e.
Establishments for the purpose of testing their
brands, etc. The result was that unknown to
each other, the several dealers resolved to make
the President present. and he received ND less
than Sereaty MonSua0 prime IIavanas.
good many people We're shocked by the
innovations President Grant introduced ID the
White House, one of which is thus recorded
The apartment in the White House known as
the Presidents office, where the Cabinet lheet-
ings are held, was furnished in the time Of
President jackson. The room had be- rome
tlme-honored for its associations. Every arti-
Gle of furniture was fraught with recocctons
Of the past. Succeeding Presidents had Farc
fully preserved the furniture and fittings intact.
Especially was this true of President JOIN son,
who regarded the old furniture a, sacred and
would allow nothing removed or changed. But
President Grant was not satisfied with these
antiquated surroundings and had the room done
up in style that was pronounced "eXtreIhely
nobby.' The White House grounds were at this
time (Oct.) i'll shamefuly neglected condi ion.
The walks and drives are furrowed and un-
even, overgrOwn with grass and weeds land
streWn with bits of paper, empty bottle, sticks
and other debyts. The turf is rougl dotted
Ni'h HPltdllllS NuCh-Ntcu, SHOWS ptlCHtH Oh
bare ground, and is heaped with fallen cakes
The payements about the house are filthy. One
portion Of the grounds fronting on the ave nue.
Is used as pasturage for the Presidents hon ses
\ corner within a few feet Of the cntrance Of
the White House is the fayorte resort Of the
four-footed animals. But worse than all iSlthe
neglect which has given over the statue of JEFF
ferson, in front of the Executive Mansion, to
utter ruin This statue is unquestionabIv the
finest work of art in Washington. and was very
unWisely removed from its original position in
the rounda of the Capitol to where 1t now
stands. 1t is of exact life size, striking like
ness of the illustrious statesman and was eNedut-
ed by the great French sculptor, David The
statue was presented to the Government Iby
Com. Uriah p. Levy of the L. S. Navy, Mir
gnian, and at the time he made the gift Lieu-
tenant. Its cost is unknown, but must have
been very great Now it is covered with V er-
digris, which is fast effacng the fine lines and
consigniDg this magnificent work to speedy and
sure Destruction"
The statue was subsequently cIeansed md
placed in the old Hall of the House of Rep re-
Sentatiyas in the CanitOl buildino