Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-25

plied to that Government for the payment OF
the claims made against it by his State ior
moneys expended ''in paying and supplying
military forces engaged in suppresslng the re,
beion," he was told that the Department OF
the Interior held a large amount OF slrglnla
State bonds in trust for certain Indian tribes,
on which only small part OF the interest h9d
been paid since January l. 1861, ana that the
Secretary of the Interior had requested that
the PAYMENT of the SUN found due the State or
West Virginia be withheld until, through her
authorities, she should make q settlement with
the Department OF her just proportion OF the
liabilities incurred by the issue OF said bonds
In regard to this request, Gov Foreman says
''The aggregate principal OF these bonds Is
1896. 800 and the unpaid interest accrued, at
the date of the examination March, 1868, was
1894. 656, upon which, as | was officially IN
formed, but about 500, 600 had been paid since
January L, 1861 There are a portion OF these
bonds for which there may be slight ,pretexJ5
to hold the State responsible, on the GROUND
that the corporation which issued them IS
within the State: These are the bonds OF the
city of Wheeling, guaranteed by the State OF
| Virginia, amounting to $l6S,OOO OF prlnclpal,
and on which no interest had been paid since
January, 1861, until recently, as | am informed,
the city authorities have paid about one-half OF
| this matter that should render the Otate llaUe
| for these bonds.
The Governor thinks it may become necessa-
ry to ask Congress to take action III the matter.
| We imagine that Congress will hardly assist
| the new State in repudiating It's just debts
| He says that no commissioners have as yet
| been appointed to treat with Virginia upon the
subject of this debt because the suit between
| the two States as to the counties OF Jefferson
| and Berkeley has not yet been decided by the
Supreme Court OF the United States. This
statement seems to imply that West Virginia
may yet in fit Of honesty, agree to pay Il
small part of the debt In question. -Htca. ms.
How e. A. POLLARD WAS APPOINTED. -
| A member of the Committee on Retrenchment
recently addressed letter to Secretary McCul-
| och inquiring on what recommendation and by
what Influence Il. A. Pollard, OF Virginia, was
appointed as an officer in the n. Y. Custom
| House what his salary was etc. The Sccrc-
tarv replied, the records OF his Department
showed that Mr.. Pollard was nominated by
| Collector Smythe on the 18th OF October, 1868,
as clerk, salary one thousand dollars per an
| mum, and the nomination was approved OctO-
Der 81, 1868 On the Goth Of December last
the Collector nominated another person in the
| l.
proved by the Secretary two days aitcrWard. =
| McCuoch, says that Pollard was appointed to
! Office by him, having Influential endorsement
| in his favor, with good deal of persistence on
| his own part, from which Pollard was removed
as soon as he Collector Smythe) learned some
| thing OF his anlecedents, OF which he had pre-
| viously been in ignorance The name given to
| him in The first instance, and by which he was
nominated to the Secretary OF the Treasury,
was f.. Nj. Pollard, which also msIed him as to
the character OF the individual. The Collector
says che took the test or iron clad oath on en-
tering upon his duties. "-BaH. Am.
FAILURE IN RICHMOND. The Richmond
correspondent OF the Petersburg Express, under
date of Saturday last says:
"Our city was startled this morning by the
report OF the failure Of the large and we'll known
milling frm-Messrs. Warwick K Barksdale .
These gentlemen are we'll known over the
whole State, and during long life spent in
| this city have ever held high positions. At the
evacuation their large CALICO mills were burnt
to the ground and these gentlemen, with tire
| less energy, Immediately went to work to re-
build them. They have just been finished upon
the ola site, and it is understood that the en0r
nous expense attendant upon their cOnstluc-
lion and outfit have so broken the fortunes OF
the firm as TO cause their SUSPENSION vi
course, it is i'm apostolic to get any very accurate
information as to the extent OF their liabilities,
but persons in positions to know say that they
will not fall far short of $500 600. Their assets
are very large too, and it is doubtful whether,
after all, their creditors will be heavy losers.
We have never heard such general expressions
of regret for the misfortunes OF any one as has
been uttered to-day. 1t is hoped that some
arrangement can be had with cred itOrs, which
will allow of continuation OF the business
CONVERSATIONAL DIGESTION. In paper
recently read by DR.. r. J. O'Sullivan, before
the Medical Society Of the county of New YOrk,
he incidentally referred in terms of condemna
ton to the rule OF silence during meals enjoin
ed in many OF our seminaries, particularly those
of religious communities. lie SAID :
at is well-established clinical fact that
cheerful society at meals greatly aids digestion.
The sympathetic influence which exists between
the stomach and brain attests the truth OF the
assertion. Why, then, should so irrational and
Justly censurable custom be observed in these
institutions, knowing as we do that 1t Is COZ
trary to common sense and detrimental to the
physical development and requirements OF those
intrusted to their care p
Americans are generally, we believe, given
to too great taciurnity at meal times. The old
proyerb, "Chatted food is half digested, is |
the expression of an important truth and one
which deserves more attention than ltrecelves.
Let parents and instructors encourage their
children to engage in pleasant conversation at
table, and they will greatly promote their
health
Mr. JENCKE's CIVIL SERVICE bill proposes,
for the efficiency Of the public service, and the
safe keeping Of the public revenue, the creation
of permanent corps Of public servants, APP
proved trustworthyand capable by rigid eXami- |
nation, and to hold Office during good behavior
This is the device Of a civilian to arrest grow
ing evil, which threatens the subversiou Of |
Government by the waste or misrepresentation
of its means OF subsistence. The remedy by
itself will prove wholly Inadequate to the |