The New York herald., 1864-02-20

FEBRUARY 20, I84.-TR
the Secretary Of the Treasury to cell his sur
plus gold (some nineteen millions In all being
on hand, or asurplus of twelve millions beyond
the current necessities Of the public debit,
several OF tho members from this city partici-
pated. Hon. Fernando Wood satisfied him
self with calling the attention Of the House to
the subject, and stopped there, for fear, per-
haps, OF making q botch OF it In expounding
his peculiar views upon the question. The
Hon. James Brooks, in roundabout way,
sided with Lamar and the gold gamblers In
keeping up the price of gold. But there was
one of our Representatives, Mr.. Stebbins, who
fairly, fully, and like practical statesman,
met the question In favor of the proposed
authority to sell. He did not hesitate to take
square and decided position In favor of the
Treasury and the people, against the gold
gamblers lie regarded the question as one in
which the community were interested with the
Treasury and the necessities of the nation
Mr.. Stebbins thus faithfully represents the in
terests Of his constituents in this matter, and
deserves especial mention as the solitary mem
ber from this city possessing sense enough and
courage enough in spite Of party, to do his
duty to the country.
PRIVATE MILES O'REILLY-LrTERARY AND
POLrTIcAL-A BIG JoKE.-Private Miles
O'Reilly of the United States Army, has found
publisher in Carleton. Of this city. and is to
- kbo 10
some day soon, collection Of bis jokes and
funny stories with some "modern instances"
that have happened in Secessia, and the de-
scription Of which has not yet seen the light.
By this publication Miles will enter into dis
tinguished competition with our worthy Pre-
sident himself as q teller Of funny stories. If
Mr.. Lincoln comes before the country as can
didate for the Presidency on the platform on
which he has been placed by our fellow citi-
zen and contemporary, Mr. Bryant, Of the
Evening Post, he comes forward clearly and
distinctly as a joker, and O'Reilly would, on
the same platform be a very formidable can
didate against him. This reminds us Of story
about Old Abe and the first year Of the war.
In that year there was in the Union service in
Missouri straightforward. sturdy, honest and
somewhat blunt soldier Of the old army.
known to the country as General Sturgis.
Sturgis was engaged in fighting the
rebels with all his might. He was in the thick
Of the Western melee, aud wherever the rebel
lion showed its head he hit it. One day he was
waited upon by some politicians, who asked
him sundry questions about the war, and finally
about the ngger. "Ngger!" said Sturgis,
"nigeer Pm busy here fighting the rebels.
don't know anything about the niger. Damn
the nigger!' From this reply the politicians at
once guessed that Sturgis was not sound on
what is called the goose; and, as they had infu-
ence with the War Department, and used it.
Sturgis was soon after removed and put out OF
active service His crime was that he "didn't
care a damn about the nigger;" but he did not
know the nature OF his crime. and he went to
Washington to learn the cause OF his sudden re-
moval, and to ask for justice; for there is
popular deiuson that Justice is to be had in
that city He called at the War Department;
but Stanton felt large and important; like the
frog that tried to be a bull. he was embarrassed
by his greatness was in a bad temper, and was
not to be seen. AS Sturgs told his story
to some one, he was asked il he had seen
the President He replied that he knew his po
stion too well to 60 to the White House, the
etiquette OF the service, he thought required
that he should not look beyond the War De-
partment. But, as he was strongly urged to 60
at once TO Old Abe. be went He was received.
by Old Abe and began to tell his grievance; but
while he was in the very preface he was inter-
rupted with the Presidents usual phrase
"That,r said Lincoln, ''reminds me Of story"
and thereupon out came story from Old Abe.
Now this story was rather broad. and Sturgis
was at first rather astonishe by it; bat, like a
true soldier lre soon rallied, aud then he in his
turn told a story Of the same character, aud
little broader than Old Abe's. THAT'S good"
said Abe; and then he told another and broader
still. Thcreupon Sturgis came out with a two
hundred .pounder-a regular old sockdologer Of
a camp story-beyond which there is nothing.
Abe at once gave up and came down, and
made frank and free acknowledgment, as he
sometimes can, that he was beaten. Sturgis
was told to call on the next day, and assured
that, whatever his grievance was. it should be
made all right, and that whatever he wanted he
should have.
Now, snce Old Abe's idea is that he who can
tell the best story is the best man, aud that one
who can tell real old side splitter and skull
cracker is ft for any position, it is not impos-
sible that the people may adopt this idea, and
begin to measure men In this same way; and il
they should thus chance to put Miles O'Reilly
and Abe Lincoln in comparison as jokers and
story telcrs, it is our opinion that Miles will
be found very formidable candidate for Abe
to run against
SIGNS or THE TINES SOLDIERS AND PoLrrT-
crANs.-There was a reception given on Thurs