Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-11-05

FOREIGN NEws.-The proposition to settle
the Roman question by popular vote was
not Napoleon's idea, but is spoken of as a sug-
gestion of Ita'y Prussia and France. Late dis
patches Just received from Florence, say the vote
in the towns. and provinces of Rome was unan-
imous for Italy. 1t is now reported IN .Fior-
ence that Emperor Napoleon requires hlng
| Victor Emmanuel to expel Garibaidl. Ii that
is done, he (Napoleon) will retire.
The Paris Moniteur says, Mouslcr r. has sent
81 note to the French Charge hIallcs az
Florence in which be says the Italian advance
wasa violation of law and treaty, and Naro-
leon will not approve it by word or silence,
and asks an explanation of Italy. There are
only two French regiments 10 Rome Troops
! are continually leaving.
The Papal forces, it is sid, will Immediately
assume the offensive.
Count Bsmark says officially, that the Gov.
| ernment of Prussia is neutral at present on the
! Roman question.
i The war vessels and transports with troops
on board, for the first squadron OF the Abyss
! mia expedition, have left Alden for the coast OF
7 Abyssina. The Viceroy of Egypt has offered
assista nee to England, ard dispatched a corps
of native troops to Abysslula to join the ex-
4 petition.
The Journal de St. Petersburg prints an Of
fetal copy of joint note from Russia, France,
i Prussia and Italy to the Sultan OF Turkey on
\ the Eastern question After rehearslng the
! nnheeded representations which have from
/ time to- time been made by European Powers
in favor of granting the demands Of the Gre
l tans. and for the general amelioratlon OF the
condition Of Christians in the Ottoman Empire,
the note declares the Great Powers Will hold
the Sultan responsible for whatever conse
quenccs may follow.
The alarm about the Feniabs in Liverpool
does not subside Troops have been sent there
and others are arriving Sir Alfred Horsford,
, who was so active and efficient in suppressing
the outbreak in the South of Ireland, is in
command 1t is probable that all the prison,
!. ers condemned to death before the Special
Commission will have their sentences commu-
ted, except Allen, Gould and lIarkcn, who are
known, by the evidence, to be the actual muir
lerers Of Policeman Brett.
Mono MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. Some
two weeks ago the Chronicle Of this city stated,
cditorially, that there were nearly two full negro
regiments in The District Of Columbia, and
that many OF the members Of these military
, companies had purchased arms from the Gov
} ernment at the close OF the war suggesting
that the time may come when they will DC ne
) ccssary to preserve the public peace here. -
The attention OF the Administration having
been called to this statement, and many COM
munications having been received by the Exec
utive from different sections OF the country,
particularly from The South, setting forth that
q, ci
in their localities, and in some instances threat
ening the lives of the whites; that negro com
panics were drilling near the Chain Bridge, on
: the Potomac river, and other places in he State
of Virginia and elsewhere, Tor the aV0wGh rur
RI nose of supporting Congress in the enforcement
of the laws TO tc enacted for the purpose oil
dcposng thcPrcsidcnt during his impeachment,
the whole matter was referred to the 81 crctary
: of War ad interim Tor consideration and inlor-
NATION respecting those organizations, and the
: laws under which they were raised From IN
official report it is learned by the Government
g that no authority has been given by the War
. Department for the formation OF these c0mpa-
mics, nhtouqh too applications hare been ne
ceical, which were disapprovCd OF by General
: Grant, who deemed it nexpcdicnt toauIhorlzc
!, such organizations in this District As such
> unauthorized military combinations nave il
n to their real and ultimate designs, and as they
arc deemed unnecessary, if not dangerous; II
is understood the President has directed Gen
& ant to take steps for dishanding and sup
pressing them. -NotionaI LatehIgcnccr
t TIE r. s. ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. Tho
Ordnance Bureau Ct the War Dcpartm'n
: some time since ordered the Springfield amoly
to prepare machinery for the purpose Of chang
t ing the S. ringicld rifled musket-with which
: the army was equipped during the late war.
e into brcech loading piece, with smaller cali
: brc The Ordnance Committee, on lnvestl
l eating the matter, found that the cost Of re
! modelling amounted almost to the price Of the
t original piece. and accordingly recommended
the suspension Of the work until they had made
$ further Investigations The Joint Committee
on Ordnance has appointed a sub committee,
consisting of Senator Cameron, Gen. Schenck,
!, and Gen. Logan, to complete the examination
G of the contracts made by the Ordnance Bureau
Of the Navy Department. An investigation
into the ,st and scrvic,abiity of the heavy
ordnance on our forts and war vessels Is a SO
c ,ntemplated A difficulty has arisen between
, Gen. Dyer, chief of ordnance in the War De-
< rartment and Thomas Taylor, late Il master
, mechanic in the arsenal 10 Washington, about
the invention Of the proectila now in use Tor
heavy artillery. A few weeks since Taylor Was
discharged from employment for refusing to as
sign his patent to the Government without
compensation He sshas petiioned the Ord
nance Committee for redress.
The Washington correspondent of the Bati-
more Sun says: o..
evidence was adduccd before the ordnance
committee to-day to the effect that Mr.. Fox,
late Assistant Secretary of the Navy awarded
a contract for brass guns to bis brother at pri-
ces much above the bids of other parties that
the arms were useless and were melted and
worked into other forms"