The Despot.
--The editor of the Chicago
Post recently visited
Washington.
He thus writes to his journal of the protection of
Lincoln from the danger of assassination:
‘
We spent a few days recently in
Washington city, and while there saw many things and heard many thing which to us seemed very suggestive evidence of the extraordinary progress with which the nation is rushing onward in its history.
The presence of an armed guard at the gates of the
Executive mansion every morning, and the care taken to keep strangers outside of the approaches to the building, was to us something new. The President's arrival and departure from the
Executive mansion are, notwithstanding the melancholy suggestions they render, peculiarly remarkable.
We saw him leave the building once, and though the sight may be witnessed every day, it was of a character too wretched to invite a second visit.
We saw him leave on Sunday afternoon, and the manner, was as follows: About half-past 5 in the afternoon a mounted guard, numbering some thirty or more troopers, all armed with drawn sabres, extensive spears, dangling and rattling scabbards, fierce beards, and revolvers stuck in their hoisters, dashed furiously through the streets, and entered the ground north of the
President's house.
At the steps in front of the door, and under the archway, was a carriage.
The officer, or one of the officers of the mounted guard, alighted and entered the house.
In about ten minutes he appeared at the door, and giving the signal, the carriage door was opened, the guards put themselves in martial attitudes, commands were given, and then the
President appeared with a portfolio under his arm, and with one or more soldiers at each side, walked rapidly to the carriage and entered it. Two officers jumped in also the door was slammed, the guard galloped into position, and the carriage, containing the
President of the
United States, was driven, preceded by troopers, followed by troopers.
At a very rapid pace the party left the ground, and upon reaching the avenue, proceeded at a hard gallop out Fourteenth street.
’
