Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-05-20
NEWS OF THE DAY.
"7o s7soao the gerry age andbody etethe TINE

Smith has Just arrived from Virginia. lie
Maid . visit to the War Department during
the day, but finding Secretary Cameron 'bu-
silly engaged, he inquired for and was US
| hered into the presence of Adjutant-Gen.
Thomas, with whom be had long inter
view. He informed Gen. Thomas, after the
legitimate business of the visit had beeu
concluded, that the Administration is posi-
lively mistaken in its assumption that Vir-
GINA has, now, or ever had, any intention OF
attacking Washington. THAT" to use his
own language, Kit was absurd to suppose his
State designed such step before the passage
Of the act of secession, as was commended by
the Northern press, and ridiculous to assert
| that an attack was contemplated, even after
the passage Of the ordinance, without the as
sent and cooperation of Maryland, and that
an attempt to take the capital would not be
made under any circumstances, as it would
involve an utter destruction of everything
valuable in it. All we want is to be let
alone. If you keep your side of the Potomac,
| positively assure You we will keep ours"
He says a military spirit is rife on the en-
tire route over which he passed on his way
to this city, and that Virginia is determined
TO maintain the ground she has taken, al.
though he deeply deplores the necessity
which has brought about the present untor-
tunate condition of affairs.
I President Davis has sent to the Southern
Congress q brief message, accompanying
some documents concerning the negotiations
of the Southern commissioners with the Uni
ted States government. The message shows
that Justice Campbell, while holding po-
sition on the supreme Bench of the United
States, made earnest efforts to promote the
successful issue Of the mission entrusted to
the commissioners The letters OF the
Judge to Mr.. Seward, enclosed in the message,
plainly charge the Secretary Of State with
making specific promises aud pledges that
Fort Sumter should be evacuated. He says
that on one occasion Mr.. Seward read to
him Il letter from Thurlow Weed, and after
wards madea distinct declaration that the fort
should be evacuated before letter could reach
. Mr.. Davis. ....
MIR. George w. Wright, direct from Paris,
Texas, which place he left on Monday, the
9th instant, states that the night previous to
his leaving an express arrived from Col. W II.
G. Young, asking for assistance In besleging
Fort Arbuckle, in the Indian Nation. Col.
Young has already taken Fort Washita, but
found no arms lie had with him five hun
: dred Texans and one thousand Choctaw In
dams. Fifteen hundred United States troops
!, were reported to be in Fort Arbuckle.-
: Northern Texas was volunteering en- masse
to 60 to Young's assistance.
The Northern papers mention that ne W
cannon has been invented, consisting OF d
revolving horizontal cylinder or wheel, con
: tanning ia It's circumference eight chambers
So arranged that they can be fired in success
f sion through the ordinary barrel of q cannon
It's advantages are stated to be that the va
rious operations Of swabbing, loading, ram
ming, and printing can all be done at the
same time, in the disengaged chambers, az
thew are brought to the rear Of the gun by
, the evolution ot the cylinder, thus enabling
the gun to be fired at least thirty times a
minute.
In Washington, on Friday, John Rey,
nolds, private in the Texan cavalry, was
arrested for shooting q fellow soldier
named - DenniSon.' One bail took
effect across the breast, and second shot
, entering between the fourth and fifth ribs
, The parties had been out on sort OF Tree
and easy" INDUCED too freely, quarreled
about some money and pistol, when the
prisoner fred on his comrade. 1t IS not
thought that the wounds are fatal.
Some few of the Union Journals commend
to the attention Of the coming Congress the
interests of peace, and this. suggestion Is
promptly denounced rs next door to trea-
son" There is not, however, the least
foundation for any fear that the interests vi
peace will find d single advocate among the
REPRESENTATIVES from the Northern States,
with the exception possibly of California
That State, remote from the scene Ut EVIL
strife, and having no enmity to either OF the
parties engaged in it, may interpose at least
some measures for capitalization.
We continue to receive the most gratifying
accounts of the prospects for abundant crops
in Texas All the papers represent the sea-
son as the most promising had for many
wears in that State. Stands of cotton and
corn are complete. Most of the crops OF
corn are in the bush, some III the tassel; this
season is sufficient to perfect them. Early
cotton is beginning to square; late is now a
olnplete, stand wnch Is early enough for q
irst-rate crop.
The CINCINNATI Gazette, the organ OF
Salmon p. Chase, Secretary Of the Treasu-
ry, pitches into the administration for its
lack of energy. 1t says:-"lf the govern
ment IS restrained from occupying the posi-
tons necessary to its security by any feel
lnes of delicacy, it is time It's de'icacy was
punctured by another attack and defeat. -
And further, that the government ''inay re-
Quire battle, and perhaps severe defeat,
to establish true dehuitions."
The Baltimore County American states
that Henry Stokely, a negro, has been com.
misted to jail at Towsontown, charged with
attempting to comgn:t an outrage upon e
Mrs. Carback, a white woman, of the 18th
district He was positively Unidentified by
another woman Who was riding with Mrs. e.
at the time in a wagon.
Colonel Oden Bowie President Of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company,
publishes notice requesting general maat-
Ing Of the stockholders OF the company at
| Upper Marlborough, Prince Georges coun-
ty, on the first Wednesday Of June next, to
! choose seven directors for the ensuing wear.