Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-07
ALEXANDRIA.

MIR WAsHBURNE'S SPEECH, in the HOUSE
of Representatives, yesterday, attracted con
siderable attention, both as regards the exposi
ton of financial affairs, and political matters
lie presented comprehensive balance shee
of the receipts and expenditures for the pas
two years, and of the estimates for the mex
fiscal year, and impressed upon Congress tn
necessity of cutting down expenses everywhere
aud of reforming the civil service In ever
branch, In order to enable the new Admins
tratiou to begin its career with prospect o
success. Abiding to Gen. Grant, Mr. Wash
burne said that 1.-THE people elected Genera
Grant to the Presidency not only on account o
the great and inestmable service he has rend
cred the country in subduing the rebellion
not only on account of his devotion to the
great principles of the Republican party, bu
because they believe him to be emphatically
an honest man and enlightened statesman, who
would faithfully administer the laws without
fear, favor or affection. Much is expected oil
the new Administration, and the public expec;-
taton will not be disappointed But as mucn
as Gen. Grant can do, and as much as ne VIII
do in bis own sphere Of action, it is idle to
suppose that he can do everything that the
country requires to be done TO secure those re-
forms in the public service which are so i'm.
peratively demanded. As President, General
Grant must have the earnest and cordial sup
port of the other branches Of the Government,
particularly OF the legislative branch. The re,
sponsibiity of this Congress, so far rs the next
Administration is concerned, Is complete. =
Mr.. Washburne concludeded his speech with
the following important statement "Assum-
- . Ia II III FL
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1870, than the
Secretary of the Treasury estimates we shall
collect for the present fiscal year, and assuming
that our expenditures will not exceed $500,
100000, there will be a surplus of S5l 000, 00C
for the year ending June 30, 1870. But with
an honest collection Of the revenue, and with
out any increase of taxes, | think we can col
lect $3.50, 100000 OF revenue. If this can be
done and our expenditures can be kept even
within $780, 900 we will show surplus Of
the end of the fiscal year 1870 of $75, 000,0
THE PUBLIC GUARD, at Richmond, has been
in existence as an organization tor sixty-eight
years, except for short interval after the
evacuation of Richmond, The cause which
led to its establishment was as follows:
10 the summer of 1900, black man named
Gabriel, slave of Mr.. Thomas Prosser, who
lived few miles from Richmond, along with
another named Jack, the property Of
Mr.. Bowler, in the same neightOrhood formed
a conspiracy, the object Of which was to attack
Richmond at night when the people were asleep
and detenceless, to kill all the white males who
might be dangerous, to divide the white women
amongst themselves, to seize the arms, ammu-
milton and other spois, and to unite In waging
a war OF determination against the whites.
The diabolical plot was defeated by provi
dental warning. On the evening Of day
near the close OF August number OF the con-
spirators had assembled in the county near
Richmond where they proposed to make an
attack on the city during the night. A ire
mendous storm came on, and while it was
raging, slave named Pharoab, owned by
Mr.. William Mosby, escaped from the con
spirators and made his way to the city. He
swan an intervening creek which was then
rising, arrived safely, and communicated his
information, which was Immediately carried
to Mr.. Monroe, who was then Governor Of
the State.
The alarm was forthwith given, the drums
beat, volunteer companies and militia we're
called out, and all things made ready to receive
an attack. The conspirators commenced their
which Pharaoh swan, they found it so swollen
as to be impossible. Some of the most daring
of them plunged in and swan across, some
were drowned, but the main body were foied
in their attempt to reach the city. Having
learned that their plot was discovered, the
whole body of insurgents broke and dispersed
in all directions One of the most important re-
suits OF this insurrection was the establishment
OF the Public Guard On the last day of the
year 1900 the House OF Delegates resolved that
this step was expedient, and on the 22d of
January succeeding, an act was passed for this
purpose. 1t provided for the enlistment of
sixty eight men, who were to be under cap
tain, a lieutenant, and an ensign.
The provisions Of the act were carried into
effect, with very little delay, and the Public
Guard was one of the established institutions
OF the State from that time until the evacua-
ton of Richmond. Its organization was broken
up by that event, and the duties performed by
1t we're done for several months by Federal
soldiers. 1t was revived by the Legislature Of
1866, aud expires now by order of General
Stoneman. The causes which called it INFO
existence have passed away, and the stand
ing army, like many other Virginia institu-
lions, is thing of the past.-Rich. Eng.
According to the Washington correspondent
of the New York World, Gen. Grant is not
only not ''reticent'' but must be very outspoken
and even laxative. He is reported" as ex-
pressing the highest opinion of Fessendeu,
Sumner, Washburne, Mcclellan, Logan,
Rawlins; and to have spoken in the most con
temptuous terms of Senator Morgan, Seward,
Raymond, Weed, Bennett &C. The language
imputed to him is forcible, and much of what
he is said to have said with regard to the last
named personages has much truth. But we