Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-14

power had more important duties to
perform than 10 crafty the candi-
/ dates for place. The Hon. Luther
Hanchett, a member of congress from
the third district, extending from
Rock county to Ashland, and includ-
ing over half of the state, supported
my appointment for postmaster. The
war clouds in the nations horizon
were thick and ominous. Baltimore
was a beleaguered city. The volun-
teerS from the north were coming in
slowly. l felt that I must return home,
but first l wanted to secure my APP
pointment. 1 said to Mr.. Hanchett
that the question must be settled with
out further delay, and it was decided
that on the morrow, the ever mcmor-
able 10Th of April, we would ut
the attempt.
We had been on duty in the Clay bat
taiion from night till early morning of
that day, nevertheless we repaired
to the white house at the usual hour,
and took positions in the hall out
side the door of the president and his
private s~ecretary's room. A long ses-
sion of the cabinet was the first thing
in order. AS the morning passed away
the visitors dropped out one by one.
Mr.. Hanchett was asleep upon a
lounge in the farther end of the hall.
After II o'clock the cabinet filed out of
the presidents room and passed down
stairs. Immediately Mr.. Seward re-
turned with Stephen A. Douglas up
on his arm and passed into the presi-
dents room. The door was slightly
ajar and the sound OF their voices in
earnest conversation could easily be
heard. Nj. Seward soon left the room,
Mr.. Douglas remaining with the pres
ident for a half hour or more. It was
at this meeting, between these two
great men, that Mr.. Douglas pledged
his support to the war policy of Mr..
Lincoln's administration.
While this interview was going for
ward, there We're but three persons
left in the hall, MI. Hanchett, myself
and another. The stranger approached
me and said, cit is your turn next to
see the president, but 1 am in a great
hurry; | wish to take the train at 3
o'clock for New York. My name is n.
D. Perry, member of congress from
New Jersey. / am a wal democrat,
and when Mr.. Douglas closes his in
terview with the president he has
promised 20 introduce me to him.
OF course | cheerfully waived my
right Of admission, and soon MI.
Douglas came out into the hall, and
with Mr.. Perry returned, to afford
Mr.. 2. a brief audience with the pres
idemt. I saw that the time had come.
l awoke Mr.. H%anchett and informed
him that the coast was clear and that
the time of the president wa unoccu-
pied by any one.
We approached the door of the pres
ident's DON and there he stood with
his son Tad, in his arms, a lad ap-
parently of eight or ten years. Mr..
Hanchett said to the president, "I wish
to see you on a few matters of i'm
~portance." But" said the president,
81 am going to lunch" Mr.. Hanchett
smiled and replied, "You know you
told me the other day to always strike
when the iron was hot I have the
opportunity to do so now, and I can
not miss it." The president smiled
and returned into his room. But a
short time was occupied.
When he had Endorsed upon my pa
pers the words. appoint Elisha w.
Reyes postmaster at Madison. A. L."
he turned to me with that broad,
g~ood-humored smile which character
lied him, saying, "Mr. Keyes, l have
just been making a postmaster of
you" I replied that 1 was glad that
he had done so. We came out of the
room together, passed down the hall,
with Tad's arm still around the neck
of the president, and we separated at
the door of the lunch room 1t was
during this interview with THE presi-
dent that he made use of the express
sion, in speaking of appointments,
'"The fact is, 1 have got more pigs
than 1 have got teats."
Armed with this authority for my
appointment l proceeded to the post
office department, secured a blank of
fetal bond, and was fortunate in find
ing residents of Wisconsin in Wash
ington, who executed it.
At that time the Hon. J. A. Kasson.
of Iowa, afterwards prominent in Off
cial positions, was first assistant post
master general, and his aid to me in
the matter was invaluable. After the
execution and approval of my Off
cial bond l started out the next morn
ing from the p~ostoffice department
with my blank commission, deter
mined to secure the signatures of the
president and Secretary Seward to the
same. With it I first went to the of
flee of the secretary of srate for some
technical acts in relation to it, then it
was ready for the signature of the
president. I went to the white house:
q cabinet meeting was in session, con
Sidering the news of the riotous fight
ing in Baltimore. Every face spoke
apprehension and alarm. The danger
seemed threatening and near at hand.
!! The blood of loyal soldiers had been
shed in the streets of Baltimore. and
the road to Washington had been
blocked by a most disgraceful and
blood-thirsty demonstration. Still the
routine business of the capital went ON
to a certain extent. I watched and
waited for my opportunity. The MEM
bers of the cabinet left in a body. |
entered the room of Secretary Hay. l
could see tine president through an
OMEN doorway SIttiop Of biS tab1o T