The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31
Washington Gossip.
The following is from Washington dispatches
Of the 9th ult:

The following is from Washington dispatches
Of the 9th ult.:
THE SOLDIERS VOTE IN THE DISTRICT.
An application has been made 10 the supreme
court of this District, for a mandamus, command.
ing judges Of elections to appear and show cause
why the names of enlisted soldiers stationed here
should not be erased from the registry list. The
judges had decided that they would retain the
names of those who claimed to have been on duty
in Washington one year prior to the day of cleo
ton. The petitioners charge that the soldiers
have not, and will not have been on the day OF
the next election, residents of the District; that
they were enlisted in Q foreign State, and have
located In the District but a few months-much
less than one year-and that the records of the
war department will show such to be the fact.
The court directed a rule to issue returnable to-.
morrow.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT SITUATION
Is in another middle. Gen. Thomas, secretary of
war dd interim, visited the war department this
morning about O'Clock, and had an interyie W
with Adjutant General Townsend, but made no
demand for the key Of the secretsry's Office. be
then left the department and repaired to the pres.
dents house, where he had an audience of about
an hour with the president. he then returned to
the war department, and had long interview
with General Townsend. The secretary's office,
on the second floor, has been locked during the
day and the key is in the hands of Mr.. Townsend,
who declared his willingness to surrender the
came when the demand was made by General
Thomas, an orderlg iven by the president direct
ing him TO turn over the books and archives of
the department to any one who nav be authorized
TO receive them. General Thomas declines to
make any demand for the key, and declared that
Stanton has not resigned the office, but simply
retired from the same In order TO entrap the pres
dent, and that he 49, still claims to be secretary
of war General Townsend is not discharging
any duties, and consequently the business of the
department is at stand-still.
STATIONS RETREAT
The retreat of Stanton from the war depart.
ment was so secretly accomplished that Gen. Pc
lonz, his confidential clerk did not know il until
be entered the Office this morning and found it va
Gated. He left Stanton there when the Office was
closed yesterday, and observed nothing unusual !;
but he was gone this morning, private papers and
all. Gen. Pelonz thinks this was leaving the in
trenchments between two days.
81 Low TRICK SUSPECTED.
The movement OF Mr.. Stanton is regarded by
the president low trick, designed TO entrap
the executive. Mr.. Stanton had been ordered to
turn over the war department TO Gen. Thomas !;
the order not being obeyed, it was still in force
The law designates the chief clerk as the custo-
dian Of the keys and archives in the absence of
the secretary; yet Mr.. Stanton disregards the law
and the presidents order, and deposits the KEY
with Assistant Adjutant-G General Townsend, muc
10 the annoyance Of the latter. Why he selected
Townsend and kept Pelonz in ignorance, no one is
able to tell.
Mr.. Townsend officially visited the president to.
day, and announced the fact of his possession of
the war department. He asked for some orders.
The president replied that there we're no orders
for him. Stanton signed huself " secretary of
war" in his notes announcing his purpose to
leave. To leave for how long? To return when {!
These are the difficulties surrounding the case to
night.
HOW he LEFT THINGS.
The secretary of war, not being longer able to
stick became itinerate. leaving on the table un-
signed acquisitions for ten millions required for
the army during the present month. The pay
master general is entirely out Of funds. The
quartermasters department is suspended. The
war department will be closed during the pleasure
of the congressional secretary of war