The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-16
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
GENERAL LoNGsTKEET AND HIS OFFICE.
The Worlds Washington II writer says:

GENERAL LONGsTREET AND HIS OFFICE
The Worlds Washington writer says:
General Longstreet is said to be pre-
pairing for a step which will astonish
| the country. This step, if the statement
of those who have been the best inform
| ed friends and most ardent admirers Ol
the great Confederate be true, is none
other than the peremptOry declination
| of the SurveyOrship of Customs at New
| Orleans, to which he was nominated on
Wednesday. The reason for this action
is stated to be the desire on the part OF
Gen. Longstreet to demonstrate, as he
esteemS only Il declination can, that his
adhesion to radicalism has not been
due to any expectation of recOmpense
| or reward. General LOngstreet feels
| keenly that his recent adoption OF the
creed OF the Republican party alone
| among all his eminent comrades and
among the people who used to worship
his fame and name, should be shown to
arise from principle and not from inte-
rest, Moreover, he does not wish his
| constant interviews with radical poll
ticians, here for two months past, his
| rreQuent closet conferences with Gener-
al Grant, or the accident of his being a
blood relation to the Dents, to be con-
strued into even a Willingness to have
his change of sentiment attributed to
| .0uivocai motives. Hence, it is under
stood, he will decline with thanks, and
insist that, being in no need of the re-
ceipts of the Office, his circumstances
being easy, that its duties can be better
and more appropriately given to some
other gentleman, whose appointment
| would not compromise himself or re-
fleet upon the too affectionate Kindness
of his illuStriOus kinsman and late an
tagoEist, the President of the United
States.
CHANGES IN OFFICE.
The New York HcrGld'S correspon-
dent vouches for the following:
a gentleman whose word is as good
as a bond relates something of short
conversation that occurred between the
President and an otticious bureau ott1-
Ger a day or two since, which may
serve to throw some light on the Presl-
dents views in regard to changes IN
office. While speaking of the heads o.
bureaus and divisions and chleI clerks
of the Government departments mere
the volunteer counsellor Asked
"What ought to be done, General
with those officers who have held theil
positions for the last eight years?"
"If they have discharged the duties o
their offices for eight years." replleC
the President, "they should be con
tinued in office eight years longer"
The officious individual laughed
pleasantly, looked at his watch, ant
said. II see you are very busy, Mr.
President, so will not detain you"
CRUSH AND RUSH FOR OFFICE.
The pressure for office issbeyond con
ception. II is far beyond that of 1863
and fully equal to the pressure of 1861
when there WAS q radical change In the
administration from Democratic TO he
publican. Members of Congress arr
besieged in the most unmerciful man
ner. They bar their doors against the
army OF corners, they approach thei
lodgings through alley ways and bacl
staircases, to avoid the applicants
They seek refuge in out.of-the-waI
places, and pass sleepless nights De-
cause of the anxious throng who Desleg
Them at all hours and upon all occa
sions. A.,
chaotic upheaval of things politlca
here, it Is impossible, even for member
of Congress, to tell, with anything !1k
certainty, what they may expect. NeV
ar was a worse time for calculations 10
patronage based solely on political ser
vice. States are at dtscount-they ar
made and unmade daily. Recommen
dations for Office are little better. Moth
ing is efficacious except strong persons
influence, which carries with IL soIlI
conviction of worth ana merlt: iupe
cuniOus of1ice-seekers are rapidly loSlni
| their patience Their resources ar
rapidly becoming exhausted, and in
4 few days hundreds of them Will depaf
I sadder if not wiser men. Very !lttl
: progress can be made on any supJec
o until this Office pressure abates II oc
L cupies three-fourths of the President
;. time and the time of his Secretary
President Grant is growing weary an
exhausted under it, and he is dali.
drawing the lines closer as to the mum
ber and character of visitors. This h
must do, or cease to be anything NOR
:, than a mere listener to the wants, claim
2 and desires of thousands OF people
without power to act. 1t will take abou
thirty days for this state of things t
abate. An early adjournment of Con
gress will greatly facilitate it.
WANTS AN OFFICE.
Mr.. Butler, on Saturday, introduce
to Secretary Boutwell, colored ma
from New Orleans named Jouoert, an
recommended him for appointment
Assessor of Internal Revenue IN tht
city. Joubert said he did not desire I'll
e office from pecuniary consideration q
y but merely to test the disposition OF q
S party in power as to the rights OF
u race.
T SECRETARY F1sH's STATUS 1NsTHE RI
Y PUBLICAN PARTY.
Both OF the New York Republica
factions are claimiuga a victory in Fish