Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-22
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
A Malicious Letter by Mrs. Jane sW las
helm.

A Malicious letter by Mrs. Jane SWISS
helm.
Mrs. Swisshelm writes from Washington
TO the Pittsburg Gazette:
A paragraph is going the rounds of the
papers to the effect that Mrs. Sprague, is
bringing her influence to bear on her hus-
band and father in favor Of President John
son and against impeachment. There may
be more in this than a casual observer
would suppose The question of rank or
precedence is not more closely contested in
any European court than in our Republican
capital. Col Benton and Chief Justice
fancy had little feud, which only ended
with their lives, about precedence. Should
a United States Senator rank Judge of
the Supreme Conrt2 That was the ques-
lion which the naughty persistence of the
eagle-faced Colonel but partially settled in
the affirmative; for, although a United
States Senator will not often condescend to
leave his card for ]. s. c., the ]. S. C.'s
are slow to acknowledge their duty 10 pay
the respect of call upon U. S. S. OF
course this is a question in which ladies
take an active interest, and no one has
distinguished herself more in it than Mrs.
Sprague
In the early days Of the war, the young
Governor Of Rhode Island, who raised
regiment at his own risk, and went to sup
press the rebellion, was quite hero of ro-
nance. Loyal ladies were not so album
dant in Washington, as after Lees surren-
der and, what with her wit, beauty, gra-
cious manners, her fathers position, and
the afianced of the Rhode Island million
aire- patriot GovernOr-Colone Miss Chase
occupied a very prominent position, and
believed herself entitled TO precedence as
"iirst lady" in the government. She con-
tested her claim with Mrs. Lincoln, who,
as "Lady of the White House." was by
common consent, awarded that eminence.
There had been several passages at arms
between them, and Mrs. Lincoln felt deeply
aggrieved when Miss Chase was at the
| White House, either by special invitation,
or 10 introduce some friends, | forget
| which, Mrs. Lincoln, in an amiable desire
to promote harmony, reminded her that
she had not seen her for some time, and
| hoped she would call again soon.
| Mrs. Spragne haughtily replied that she
had generally been at home, and that if
Mrs. Lincoln had wished TO see her she
could most probably have done so by re-
turning her previous call. NV informant.
| lady who was present at the time, though
| Miss Chase's manner "a offensive as the
open claim to equal rank was unjust and
| iniudicious, and felt that Mira. Lincoln was
| fully justified in ever afterward refusing to
treat her with any pretense Of Kindness, or
70 attend her wedding. Those who knew
the history of Miss Chase's refusal 20 &C
cord TO Mrs. Lincoln the precedence to
which she was unquestionably entitled, felt
that Mr. Lincoln did wrong in attending
that wedding, and thus giving the naughty
bride a triumph over his wife.
Mrs. Sprsgue's desire 10 be First Lady"
amounts almost to a mania and, no doubt,
has much TO do with her fathers's Presiden-
tial aspirations. While Mr.. johnson is
President she will haze little active oppo-
| sitjon in her claim 70 that dignity in right
20 her treble rank of wealth, wife of Sen
ator and daughter Of the Chief Justice; for
Mrs. Patterson is a woman Of little OF no
seli-assertion.
What with the intemperanee of her hus-
band and brother, the care of her invalid
mother and her four children, she has little
time TO attend to the dignity of her position,
and, with her earnest devotion 70 her IA
Their, would defer TO Mrs. Sprague, by SO
doing she could win any support to that
father. On the other hand Mrs. Wade
wal! hold any position to which she may
be assigned, and which she expects. II
! Mrs. SpragGe has ever undertaken TO assert
any superiority over her, the springly and
aspiring lady no doubt retired from the
confict feeling that she had won no laurels
Mrs Wade is very unpretending in hel
dress and manners, snd 10 see her and hei
husband, in street car, as / have done
returning from hospital visit, after Senate
hours, one might mistake them FOR a vel
10 DO farmer and his hale old wife; bu
there Is a reserved force of good sense an'
dignity in her manner which would maxi,
itself felt in the lowest howell or most bril-
liant drawing room. IL she goes into ih
White House there will he no room 10
dispute as to who Is the First Lady u
this Democratic land.