The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-16
WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY FEBRUARY SIS

The Secretary was then standing beside his
pulpit talking in his earnest, positive way to
some old gentleman; he was so intent on this
business that he never once deigned to look at
my card when it was left on his table. OF
course we did not overhear the conversation
between the Secretary and his visitor, and be-
ing at loss for something to do, turned to
the young officer beside me and said something
to liim as to the prospect for talk with the
Secretary. He replied, in a very polite way
that he had been waiting for hours for single
word that with him it was a question of life
and death, but he couldn't get an audience un-
til the Secretary called his name from tho
cards on his desk.
The young man had so impressed me by his
serious manner that became curious to know
his errand which he explained in a whispered
conversation, to the effect that he was just
from the bedside of dying father, on his way
to rejoin his command; his leave having ex-
pired he bad stopped at Washington, and upon
the Endorsement of influential congressman he
had called to ask the Secretary to extend his
leave so that he might be at his fathers bed
side and perhaps bury him before finally leay-
ing for the army. The officer told me all of
this in a trembling voice, while his eyes were
filled with tears. | felt so much sympathy for
him that ] offered to give him my time if my
name should be called before his. At my ur-
gent suggestion, and perhaps Improperly, when
the old gentleman was about to leave the Sec
retary, the young officer approached Mr.. Stan
ton, who bluntly demanded his name. Then
looking over his file of papers to see his in
dorsers the young fellow, in the most genteel
and effective way, stated his wishes to the Sec
retary. / shall never, never forget the harsh
words Mr.. Stanton spoke on that occasion; they
sank as deeply into my heart" perhaps as
they did also into that of the young officer.
" cannot extend your leave but
WILL ACCEPT YOUR REsIGNATIoN!"
As he said this he handed back to the officer
the papers he had fled in contemptuous sort
of way, as if anxious to have him 20 away.
Glancing him over briefly, the Secretary turned
to look after the next victim on his list.
The officer mildly protested, saying: Why,
Mr.. Secretary, / do not want to leave the serv-
ice; | merely want to spend the last days"
Here he was roughly interrupted by Mr..
Stanton, who repeated in an angry tone, so
that all could hear: I'll accept your resgna-
tion sir; that's ALL"
The poor fellow would not consent to be
driven from the service in this way, even to
attend his fathers last wishes. When he re-
turned to pick up his hat, which had been left
on the chair beside me, his face was white and
his hands trembled so that he could scarcely
take hold of his hat / assisted him, and to-
gether we left the Secretary's Office in deep
disgust. I had had enough for one day. On re-
porting the incident TO Mr.. Covode and others,
they only mildly laughed at my indignation,
while they expressed the eold-blooded opinion
that it was only one of Stanton's ordinary
jokes
After this l was more than ever anxious to
get out of Washington, and began to feel that
would be willing TO take anything at all that
sayored of active service in the field, being
perfectly content to leave my personal business
with Mr. Stanton in the hands of my friends.
1t was decided among them all that I should
be taken to the White House to see Mr.. Lincoln
personally. All the arrangements for this visit
were made, as nearly as l can recollect, with
out consulting me about it in any way at ALL
1t was generally understood, l think, that |
needed somebody to properly present my affairs,
and that it was hardly worth while to bother
with me about what was best for me. l only
know now that / was told by Mr. C0vode to
get ready to accompany him to the White
House.
We are all going up in Gen. Mooreheads
carriage, and want you to be on hand sure as
it is hard to get them all together"
! didn't know who them" were until l
came down TO his room rigged out in gray
jacket. While we were waiting for the car
riage to come around for us Mr.. CoYode ex-
planned further: We're going to make de-
mand on the President for your pay out of the
secret-serviee fund"
had only heard in a general way that any
thing Of this sort was contemplated. can say
here sincerely that my only desire and aim
was for a commission in the Regular Army aud
detail the staff, where | should have
chance for active service in the field. While
we waited Mr. C0yode explained more fully:
You are entitled TO this The fund is being
squandered sbamefuly by certain influences
who are making the President believe that
they are giving him valuable information. We
ali know that your service and experience has
been of some practical use, and you are going
to be paid for it, too, in cash as well as in pro-
motion"
He had way of saying things in very en-
phatic style when he chose, and when / ex-
pressed my thanks for his interest and proffered
a remuneration he began TO talk bad grammar
at me in snch way that had TO beg off
The carriage called in it were Senator C0Wan,
Gen. ]. K. Noorehead, Member Of Congress. of
Pittsburg; Hon. S. S. Blair, of Holidaysburg,
and Hon. John Covode. / jumped up with the
ccachman, and we made a charge on the White
House. Before we started off there was a short
but pointed business consultation among them.
Senator Cowan suggested:
Now, we had better have an understand
ing before we go up there"
Gen Moorehead agreed that this was neces-
sary. and when | undertook to make a sugges-
tion about getting Mr. Lincoln to give me a
commission, COyode said in fatherly way:
Now, you've got to keep quiet"
The rest all thought this quite a funny re-
mark. When CovOde crawled into the carriage
Dir. Moorehead said
WE'LL. WHATS THE PRoGRAM?"
Covode explained that it was to be a demand
for pay from the Presidents secret.service
fund. No Que had even suggested the amount,
and ] reckon Mr.. COvodes idea was to leave
this discretionary with the President; but Mr.
| Blair and Moorehead, who were business men
as well as statesmen, insisted that it would be-
better to settle upon sum in advance.
Make it enough" said Mr.. Blair
fesi We may just as well make it $10000,"
observed the Senator
Mr.. MoOrehead shrewdly suggested, eve
have to appropriate this secret-service money
| anyhow and our votes will 20 for this amountD
Coyode admitted that We have given him
| hundreds of thousands Of dollars for this use
already, which McClelian's detectives are
| squanderipg in Washington"
This, in a general way, was the plan and
| purpose of the visit to Mr. Lincoln on that
/ date.
! 1t failed, not that the claim was rejected by
| the President; it was never presented to him
! or anybody else. When we reached the White
| House we were informed on the threshold
| that the President had that day gone to Fort
! ress Monroe.
That ended 1t for that day and for all time.
Soon after ! left Washington for another wild
! trip. The same crowd was never again brought
! together in this interest. As / have said, was
not good manager, and perhaps neglected my
1 own interests in this resuect