Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-05
Col. MarmaGEuke JohsoR and Gen.
- y XTicIKharlRs - 80. - =

Gen. Wickham and Col. johnson met al
Ashland, in Hanover, few days ago. Gen.
w. made speech endorsing the reconstruction
cts-afiliating with the Radicals-bnt fight
ing rather shy'' of the proposed constitution
The Richmond Dispatch gives the following
account of the reply of Col. johnson: ~
He commenced by expressing his gratitica-
ton at meeting with his old friend and COM
rade-in-arms, Gen. Wickham. They had fought
many battle together in the ranks Of the old
Wing party in the good old days gone by. Side
by side they had battlcd in the COnve ntion of
Virginia against the dissolution OF the Union.
Side by side they had entered the Confederate
service, and has friend hid won lame there
which many might envy They had always
been friends He supported Gen. Wickham
for the Confederate Congress. Lie read the
Generals letter accepting the nomination, 10
which he pledged "his practical wisdom and
all bis talents to support the fortunes Of our
young Contederacy.' And now he met him in
old Hanover, the birthplace of Clay and
Henry, advocating before his old friends, who
had heretofore honored him, the policy of the
foes against whom he had fought, and calling
that party which is pledged to the humiliation
Of the white people of Virginia, 'our party D.,
He could not understand it. Indeed, he could
not understand what the Gen. intended to Go
here to-day He said that he came to adyise
the colored people, Wen, he had listened, but
he could not tell what specific advice he had
given "What has he told you to do p ~.
II kin tell you," said a solemn colored man
Gle told us to pursue to de trufe, and not to
kick again de brick. "Glory to Ginral
Washington. as. ..1., 49,
THAT is about the substance Of his advice,
| think think you have hit it exactly" said
the Colonel, but it is little indefinite, Gen
eral Wickham would not argue the Constitu-
ton, but he could stand here and express his
admiration of Congressional tyranny, and his
excessive admiration of Gen. u. S. Grant He
could praise him and tell you how kind he was,
and how he interfered to protect General Lee
and others He Colonel Johnson had a pa
role in his pocket, and had, nevertheless, been
arrested on the street soon after the surrender,
and Yankee official cut off his stars.
Gen Wickham: The gentleman ought to
have had the good sense to take the stars off
himself"
GIL. johnson: "Ah fellow. citizens, have
not the good sense OF General Wickham. He
had the good sense to support the Contederacy
when its cause was prosperous, and be Gen
eral in its service to try and defeat Gen. Grant,
and when Grant is successful and in power he
mas INC SOOQ sense 70 praise Dllu auu ucC!aEe
that he is the best man in all the world for
President"
I wish [ could tell you with what terrible
effect Colonel johnson quoted the Stearns let
ter, and the Rives letter, and how General
Wickham twisted and turned and jumped to
his feet and stormed, interrupting Colonel
johnson every FIVE minutes. One sentence [
must give do you mean said Gen Wick
ham, ito censure me for the course pursued
IN the Confederacy ?"
"Censure you ?" said Colonel j. YES
ten thousand censures upon the head of a man
who could think the thoughts, and the hand
that could pen the words that you wrote in
that Stearns letter. A Confederate General,
a member of Congress, to say that the people
his comrades and brethren with whom and
for whom he had fought, had met with deser-
we'd tate. Yes, sir, [ would bury you in
grave of political infamy so deep that you could
never again be found"
And thus he continued to hold his position
up to scorn, convincing all, think, that there
never was more completely used-up man on
earth
Woolley, the Witness has been placed in
confinement in his prison in the Capitol