Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-16


give pleasure to those who sustained Governor
Walker to know that in all that he may now
say and do, he will say and do nothing that will
lessen their confidence in him, tor they have
every desire to uphold and support him, AMI
to make his administration of State affairs, rs
far as the Executive is concerned, honorable to
himself, creditab,e to bis abilities, and Satlslac
tory to the people.
The great fnancial topic in New York city,
now, is the last depredations OF the wall
street Corsairs, and their frauds in New York
bounty loan stock, in which the firm OF W. f
Gray 4 Go. are reported as figuring 50 cXten'
svely. This firm consists of Gray and I. ii.
Pratt Gray, it is stated, was formerly OF WaSl-
ington, ID. &. The New York Journal of
Commerce says the amount thus far discover
ed is said to be $4,000, and more develop
ments are expected" Gray and Pratt have
not yet been arrested.
Yesterday four genteely dressed men enter
cd the store OF Cook 4 Adrich, in Boston,
While enc Of the men engaged the clerk In
conversation about the prices of some goods,
the other three managed to secure some va!U-
able FUR capes, worth about 5000, in va'isc.
The robbery was not discovered until they had
al left the store This is called, in view Of
cold weather, and the high price OF iurS, "a
seasolable' robbery.
Mr. Sumner says Spain is a laggard in the
matter of slavery" If his voice could reach her
she would make haste-be quick to abolish
slavery in Cuba and in Porto Rico. About
Cuba, he said before We recognize her as beig-
crent, or as independents We should be assur-
ed about slavery being abolished, They were,
as he understood carrying on guerilla war,
aud we're without Legislature"
Attorney General IIoar was yesterday aou-
mated by the President to be an Associate Jus
tice of the Supreme Court OF the u. s. This
appointment is made necessary By the law OF
Congress creating au additional Judge OF this
Court. Attorney General Hoar' successor has
not vet been named. Possibly, he may be Mr..
Stanton.
Mr.. Brownlows personal explanation" in
the Senate yesterday, was 4 review OF affairs IN
Tennessee, defence of his own political course
aud reply to remarks made about him by
letter writer's, &c. 1t was read at the clerk 5
table. The Senate ought not to have been
troubled with it, or allowed 1t.
Mr.. Nathaniel Brent, an old and esteemed
citizen of Winchester, died in chat towo, on
Saturday last. For years he was Teller ia the
Valley Bank, and since its establishment,
Cashier OF the Shenandoah Valley National
Bank.
The "clt in the meal tub, % 10 which the
Washington News REFERS in an article We have
copied, is, simply, the effort to throw an obsta-
sentative to Congress- from this district an
effort which will be failure.
X. U. Sherman, of Utica, New York, Tor
ten years past, Yeas and Nays Clerk OF the
House Of Representatives has resigned his po.
sitou to take effect January LIST, and Geo w
Pratt. OF Corning, New \ ork, has been APP
pointed hts successor
ALEXANDRIA, We copy with much pleasure
the following well expressed articles from the
Washington Morning News.
1.-The cOuStitutionallty OF the rctroccsSion Of
Alexandria by the United States 10 Virginia i
day, and we cannot help thinking there must
he cat under the meal. 1t was mere local
question at best, when it was discussed nearly
thirty years ago. The Congress which passed
the act discussed the technical point of conSti
tutionalIty, and probably decided it according
To their best Judgment. 1t it were question
Of 4 national character, or Of kind to affect
large classes of individual rights or personal
liberty, it would be the duty of Congress to in
siSt, in season and out OF season. on its being
opened, discussed, and finally settled Blu. il
has no such bearing; it is simply Il question
whether the people in and about Alexandria
prefer to live in the State of Virginia or the
District OF Columbia. The acquiescence of a
whole generation In the decision OF the cues.
ton OF retroceSSion ought to settle the matter
for IL is 4 good maxim OF law that it is unwise
to reopen questions which time aud the com
mon sense of mankind have agreed to consider
as finally decided, and it is unsafe to NEEDLE
With rights which have, by the sanction OF
time, acquired the character of vested rights. |
Twenty years OF undisputed possession gives TO
one who was originally no more nor less than
trespasser or q squatter, pre$criptive title to |
the land he may have chosen to occupy, |
although his title will be in direct conflict with |
the rights OF the true owner of the land The |
people OF Alexandria have enjoyed their rights,
such of them, at least, as circumstances would |
permit them TO enjoy, as citiZnoS Of Virginia,
for considerable time. 4 generation has
passed away since the change was effected.
No objection has been made. No fault has
been found with the latest order of things.
According to analogy, equity and common sense,
have they not right to remain undisturbed in
the enjoyment OF tina. civil status which they
have accepted and adopted Tor whole genera.
ton? This would seem to be fair. At apy
rate, what advantage to the Distrc. or to
Alexandria will be gained by the change?
What Is the NAME nature and designation of
the cat under the meal?'