The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-28
LOCAL MATTERS

last session of Congress the Hon. George Briggs,
member of the House of Representatives from
the city of New York. made assault in the
Capitol upon the Hon. s. d. Hubbard who was at
that time Postmaster General under Mr. Fill
more's administration, unpleasant words having
previously pa ssed between those digntaries in the
room of the Postmaster at the Department. Mr..
Briggs was directly after the assault held to bail
for his appearance at court.
Yesterday morning the case was taken up, but
neither complainant defendant was present.
Mr.. Radcliffe, the counsel for Mr.. Briggs, pro-
posed to submit the matter to the discretion of the
court saying that be supposed the offence was
committed in the heat of passion, but doing no
damage, and that he had letter from Mr.. Briggs,
detailing all the circumstances, which he wished
to communicate.
Mr. Fenda, for the United States, agreed with
the gentleman on the other side that the occur
renee was much to be regretted; and was author
lied by sIr. Hubbard to say the assault was CON-
mitted on him by Mr. Briggs while the frat named
was attending at the Capitol by invitation of
committee of Congress.
Mr.. Radcliffe remarked that Mr.. Briggs had
presented to the Postmaster General a memorial
from merchants of New York in relation to q GER
tain matter, and thought that the Postmaster had
treated him rather indignantly. He went to Con-
the Postmaster General shook hands with him.
Mr.. Briggs did not recognise him particularly at
the time. but afterwards sought out MIR Hubbard,
and said to him, 81 take that back;' TO which Mr..
Hubbard replied, "Gou're beneath my contempt"
And on repeating this, Mr.. Briggs struck him.
Mr.. Radcliffe thought that the remark of Mr..
Hubbard severe as the blow of Mr.. Briggs.
James NolSes Zone of the police of the Capitol,)
having been sworn, said he was not there at the
beginning of the affair, but saw the first blow
struck. He had Just come from the top of the Ca
pitol, whittier he had been with party Of stran
| gers, and going out at the south door, be saw
| Mr.. Briggs strike Mr.. Hubbard overland blow,
an awkward one He Just touched MIR. Hubbard
over the left eye.
The Court. How long ago was that?
Mr.. Nokes. think 1t was in February last.
| am not positive. Some of the bystanders rushed
up to separate them. | took hold of MIR. Briggs
and demanded peace, and told him was sorry he
fought. He said he only wanted to chastise Mr..
Hubbard for ungeutlemanly conduct. He did not
resist; was little vexed at first, but afterwards in
| perfectly good humor
Mr.. Fendall asked several questions, to which
the witness responded that he did not know where
Mr.. Hubbard had been, bad not seen him on that
day before the occurrence, did not zee him going
to any committee room, and knew nothing about
his being sent for.
Mr.. Feudall remarked he wished the court to
know that Mr.. Hubbard went to the Capitol, by
invitation, as public officer.
Mr.. Nokes in reply to a question by Mr.. Rat
cliffe, said he had known Mr.. Briggs for long
time, and that he peaceable and quie: a
| fellow as ever lived.
Mr.. Robert P. Anderson, sworn, said that he
coming from the Senate to the House Of Rep
| resentatives, having business there. Passing
through the small vestibule, the door of the
House, be heard a noise and turning round quick
ly he saw Mr.. Nokes close by MIR. Briggs, holding
him back, and Mr. Hubbard standing up in the
corner, saying, al have no fear of you" He did
not see the blow given. Having no business in
the crowd he left. The character of Mr.. Briggs,
49,. fkaf1 q ola
Mr.. Radcliffe remarked that the letter of Mr..
Briggs explained the whole matter, and he should
like to present IT.
Mr. Fendal had no objection. But there was,
previous TO the assault, difficulty between the
parties in the Department. Mr.. Hubbard, 1t APP
peared, had made contract which Mr.. Briggs
wanted to get for one of his constituents.
Mr.. Radcliffe said that Mr. Briggs was now in
Europe, and had presented a memorial to the
Postmaster General, from constituents represent
ing five or elk millions of dollars.
The Court reckoned there were disappointments
on both sides; and IT seemed to be agreed that all
this had nothing to do with the assault.
The case was not disposed of yesterday, but
sentence will probably be pronounced to. day.
CORPORATION OFFIoEss.-The Mayor on yester-
day nominated the folio wing named persons who
were confirmed by the Board of Aldermen for the
offices respectively appended to their names, with
the two exceptions noted
Thomas Hutchingson, tax clerk.
James II. Clark, bookkeeper,
James NJ. Carlisle, corporation attorney.
Jacob Kleiber, for messenger in the Mayors and
Registers offices.
Charles A. Davis, Theodore Wheeler, and G gorge
II. Fulmer, for commissioners of the asylum.
DR.. George NJ. Dove, physician to the asy lum.
Edward Moore, resident student at the asylum
Benjamin E. Cuttings, intendent of the asylum.
William Nj. McCauley, sealer of weights and
measures.
Jacob KIeiber insnector of four md sailed nro
visions
franklin Little commissioner of the western
section of the Washington canal
Joseph Cross, commissioner Of the eastern Sec
tion of the Washington canal.
Caleb Buckingha am, inspector of fire apparatus.
George w. Hardness, for commissioner of i'm
provements for the First and Second Wards; Fran
| els b. Lord, for the Third and Fourth Wards;
| Thompson Van Reswick, for the Fifth and Sixth
Wards; Henry D. Gunnell, for the Seventh Ward
| Horato n. Steele, chief of police.
| Samuel Mcpherson and John Dewdney, police
| officers for the first district.
VIM. H. Barnaclo and VIM A. Boss, for the
| second.
]. F. Wollard and Edward G. Handy, for the
! third.
Richard r. Burr, William Martin, and John
| Davis, for the fourth.
John H. Wise, for the fifth. 1.-THE nominations
of William A. Mulloy and James NJ. Busher,
| for the same ward, were laid over.l
| Josiah Adams and John A. Willett, for the sixth
Isaac Stoddard and Uriah b. MITCHELL for the
| seventh.
William Orme, Stephen P. Franklin, and John
| H. GODDARD, commissioners OF the centre market
! Edward F. Queen and Benjamin l.. Began,
| commissioners of the northern market.
| Benedict Random and Thomas Oxley, commits
| sioners of the western market.
| Lemuel Barnes and George II. Fulmer, commits
| siouers of the eastern market.
| Fielder b Poston, clerk OF the western market.
| John Waters, clerk of the centre market.
| Henry b Robertson, assistant clerk of the same.
| William B. Wilson, clerk of the northern ma r.
| ket.
Peter Little, clerk of the eastern market.
William G. Deale, Benjamin Bean, William
| Burroughs. John G.. Robinson, Henry s. Davis,
and John w Ferguson, inspectors and measurers
| of lumber.
| Robert NJ Harrison, for wood-corder and coal
measurer for the Rock Creek district.
John p. Hilton, for the first canal district
Henry Halliday, for the second canal district
William p. Ferguson, for the Anacostia dis
| trict.
Richard Wimsstt, for the Potomac district
Elexius Simms, for gauger and inspector OF
liquor for the First and Second Wards; Floran
Hitz, for the Third and Fourth Wards.
James Gather, measurer of grain, bran, and
shorts for the first district; William P. Ferguson
for the second district.
William Wilson, John G.. Harkness, and John
Wilson, commissioners, and Guy Graham sexton
for the west burial ground.
Francis Y. Naylor and John P. Ingle commits