Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-26
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
SPECIAL DISPATCHES no TRE GAZETTE
FROM WASHINGTON.
Virginia-Removal of Disabiliti'

w AShlNGIONJ Jan. AO.-1HOi0
attendance at the rooms of the congressional
Reconstruction Committee this n'otniog
Among those present were judges oheney'
Thomas and Harris, of the present state JUL
ciarv Jndoe Charles E. Sinclair, OF Prince
William, j. f. NeesoD, OF hichmOho' Lewis
McKenzie. of Alexandria, and several other
uontIornen also Charles Whittesey, of Rich
T,ond and Lysander Hill, Of Alexandria
Radicals-and several colored men. Judge
Shelley made concise perspicious, and, 1t IS
thought, an effective statement OF the exalted
and conscientious motives that had governed
his judicial conduct, thoroughly refuted the
charges that had been made against him In
the Caesar Griffin case, paid just tribute to
the rectitude of the other Judges IN the State,
and concluded by reading some extracts from
the able and eloquent charge he delivered to
grand jury in his circuit early in 1866, IN which
he had urged kind treatment toward, and for
bearance with those who had formerly been
slaves.
Mr.. Mckenzie then presented list OF names
of persons whose disabilities he desired to be
removed, and. in few general remarks, urged
upon the committee the importance OF remoV-
ing the disabilities from all the Judges IN the
State. and from the rank and file OF the
people in Virginia, with the exception OF
perhaps a half dozen Of those who
had been foremost in the internal secession
movement. He also denied the right OF, and
considered it the hight of impudence H. the
Radical Executive Committee OF Richmond,
composed of aliens and strangers, to dictate to
life long Virginians, and those too who had
been Republicans for twenty years, who should
and who should not be allowed to be their
judges
He mentioned too as illustrating the loyalty
aud love of equality of some of those now clam
orous for the expulsion of the present Judiciary
of the State, and called upon Gen. Farnsworth
to substantiate his statement, the TACT that
in 1866, after Radical demonstration at Ham
ilton, in Loudoun county, party OF which
Gen. Farnsworth, himself, colored man named
Langston and Mr.. Downey of Loudoun were
members, had been refused a meal at hotel
in Leesburg kept by man from Pennsylvania,
because they wanted Langston to eat with
them, but were accommodated at the hotel
kept by man who had been in the rebel ser
vice, and who willingly let the colored man eat
with them, and that MIR. Downey, now so ex-
tremely loyal, shirked that dinner because
Langston did eat with them.
Mr. Mckenzie was followed by Judge
Thomas, in brief and explicit account of the
honorable and equitable motives which had in
iuenced his conduct while upon the bench, and
referred with just pride to the fact that though
he had decided upon hundreds of cases IN which
the opposing parties had been radicals and con-
servatives his decisions had been affirmed in
nearly all of those in which appeals had been
taken, and desired that the case might be men
toned in which it was asserted that other than
the strictest construction of the law had gov
erned the rulings of his Court, and that the
man who dared to make such charge should
be brought before him.
When Judge Thomas had concluded his re-
marks, he was asked to remain while, IN or
der that he might listen to a charge that was
to be made against him.
Josiah Willard then made a statement con-
corning decision that had been given by Judge
Thomas in o case In which he and the Messrs.
Johnston we're contestants. As he was inform
ed. however, by several members OF the COM
mittee. and by Mr.. Bingham, in particular, IN
By no means an agreeable manner that what he
was saving had no reference to the matter un-
der consideration-th removal of disabilities
and as Judge Thomas, on the instant, explain
ed the case to the satisfaction of the committee,
his remarks were cut short, and his appearance
at least seriously damaged the cause he ad-
vocated.
Charles Whittlesey desired to be heard, but
it was determined that he should wait until to-
morrow, when COL Baldwin, will also be pre-
sent. The signs to-day were evidently IN
favor of the removal of the disabilities from all
the Judges.
The Bradley Fisher Case.
The Supreme Court of the District OF Co.
lumbia decided to day to permit MIR. Bradley
to resume his practice before the Criminal
II n;,4n;ot oP Noi INN HIN mn n g.