Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-02-20

WASHINGTON ITEMS --From the Washing
ton papers We learn that there was decided in
The Supreme Court yesterday, the case of
Michael Thompson vs. Thomas T. Bowie
The suit was on promissory notes Of the deten-
ant, given, as alleged, for gaming considera-
ton On the trial the defendant Was
unable to prove his defence directly, and was
allowed by the court to show that on the date
OF the notes he was grossly intoxicated; that
when under the influence of liquor, he was
inclined TO gamble, and that the payee Of the
notes, one Steers, kept at the time gaming
house in the city, where the notes were made
pom this evidence the verdict was for the
defendant, and the plaintiff appealed The
court now, per Mr. Justice Davis, rendered
opinion reversing that judgment, holding that
to allow such defence to be SO proven would
BIZ to oveIturn all the established rules OF
evidence.
Last week man was arrested in Alexandra
Tor the larceny of a pair Of mules, the proper
ty of John W. Mohler, of Centreville, Va.
From information received the mules were
= supposed to be in this city. An officer came
to Washington, and, with detectives Miller
and Coomes, went in search of the stolen am
mails, and found one Of them at Mr. James
u
Shreeves very cheerfully surrendered the ami
NAL to the officer, to be taken to Alexandria,
to await the result of the trial there.
The Mayor in late communication to the
City Council says: There Is great probablll-
ty that Congress will djourn without making q
provision for the speedy reparatlon OF the Long
Bridge. The importance OF that thoroughtare
to this city is such as to render 1t necessary
that some steps in relation thereto should be
taken by you.
At meeting of the Board of Trade, on
Monday, it was resolved that all additional
appropriation to the bill, now pending before
Congress, providing for sundry harbor and
internal improvements, for the improvement OF
the channel of the Potomac river, be asked tor.
The EVILS OF EXTRAvAGANCE. The New
York Tribune is moralizing on the extravagan-
ces and tollies of our social life. There is album
dance of reason tor doing 50, but it is to be
feared that the extravagances and tollles will
80 OIL just as usual until something happens
that will compel our people suddenly to halt.
Nothing is truer than that I'VE Americans are
not only an extravagant, but an OStentatl0us
people We habitually spend to much on our
own stomachs and our neig hbors' eyes. We are
continually in hot water, not because We cannot
livein comfort on our MEANS but because we per
slst in spending more than we need or can of,
ford. Our youth squander in extra food and
drinks, in frolic and dissipation. which does
Them harm instead Of good, the means which
should be the nest-egg of their future compe-
tenc,. When cares and children cluster ABOUT
them, they grumble at their hard fortune,
forgetful that they wasted the years and the
means which might and should have saved
them from present and future poverty. Let
hcyoung men of our cities especially profit by
such reflections as tbese-Bal. San.
ATl-The Washington Chronicle says -
Although much disappointment and consd-
cradle controversy resulted from the failure OF
the two houses to harmonic upon the Senate
Military Force bill, yet the fact that the dit
ference can at the worst only postpone the ad-
)ustment into the new and more Radical Con-
gress, which meets in thirteen days. and that
this postponement would secure closer protec-
ton TO the Union millions of the South, is a
supreme and constant satisfaction" They
prefer to wait: for satiyaction, until the next
Congress-.