Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-11
letter from Washington.
7ro+tor n tho Alevandri g. Gazette.

towards her hinges not only her future polltl--
cal status. but that of her unfeconstructed
sister States. After all, she is the great, grand
old Commonwealth that she always was; ac-
knovedeing 10 superior; true to her traditions,
and so far above reproach, that her sons ever
iealous Of her honor would sacrifice everything
rather than by any act OF their her priglt
escutcheon should receive the shghtest oieniish,
| It is this jealousy for her honor that causes
every step taken towards return to her FORMER
political rights to be watched so closely anu
eanyassed with such minuteness and freedom,
and which has made so conspicuous the con! com
mittee Of gentlemen low here to CONFER WIN
| "the mowers that be-" and upon whom are
turned the eyes of the whole State, some with
hope, some with fear, and some with feelings
which, | am sorry to say, are not those when
should actuate men whose brethren, acting un'
der conviction of right, if they err, err IN
Judgment only; but whose desire Tor the well
| fare of the mother State is as earnest ana pure
as animates the bosoms of any OF her sons Ii
is the fact that they are acting with consclen-
tious motives, that should induce those who
differ from them in opinion, to await the result
Of their mission, and give them an unprecedented
hearing. If they fail it will be attributable to
causes over which they have no control 1t Is
! in no spirit of presumptuous arrogance, nor
trucking to power, which brings them mere;
when men act from good motives, they should
be Judged accordingly. This committee can 90
| no harm may do good: They have been
cordially welcomed, politely, nay, anxiously
| listened to- and if they accomplish no Otner
end, they will leave good influence behind
them. and an example of honesty, uprlghtness,
and true gentlemanly department that brings
to mind the better and brighter days OF the
Rapubic, when fraud and corruption were
| froWned upon and punished, and honesty and
uerjt met their reward. OF one thing be as
sured, thatin the hands of Baldwin, Stuart,
Nccson, Marye, Robertson, and their col
leagues, the honor of the State is safe. These
gentlemen came here not as representatives,
but to ascertain what can be done to restore
the State to her political equality in the Union;
to disabuse the minds of the Radical leaders OF
the false ideas entertained of the people OF the
South; and to alleviate the condition OF the
white people of their State. If in doing this
they shall have to yield to negro suffrage. they
submit to IN fat dcc0mph, and, with as good a
g1ace as possible, bow to mandate that they
cannot diSobey. So far nothing has been done,
save an interchange of views between lndlvld.
ual members of the committee, and some or
the prominent men in power here, free and I'M
reserved and Of very satisfactory character.
conditions upon which the State may be read
mitted and may then submita plan which they
hone will meet with the concurrence of the
people of their State. The main object
is the defeat OF the proposed socalled Con-
stitution.
The question OF the removal of the dlsablll-
ties of the judges of the State is now before
the Reconstruction Committee Of the House Of
Representatives, and | am pleased to learn
that the prospect for its accomplishment IS ia
vorable indeed it is thought that, at an early
day bill will be reported to the House placing
them all ''rectus in curia" In this connection
| may relate an incident which occurred a day
or two since 1t is known that Judge Under
wood has been opposed to removing Judge
Sheffey's disabilities while Mr. Joseph Seear,
elected by the Alexandra Legislature United
States Senator with Judge Underwood, has
been and is, warm personal friend OF Judge
Shelley; and learning that his case was to come
before the Reconstruction Committee wrote an
exceedingly complimentary letter In his behalf,
which he handed to friend to place IN the
hands oil Mr.. Farnsworth. The gentleman
having the letter met Judge Underwood on the
avenue produced the letter, and insisted on
reading it to the Judge. After thus show
ing the opinion Of Mr.. Segar with re-
gard to Judge S., he next desired Judge
Underwood's opinion as to the letter and
supposed Judge Shelley was very clever man,
and that he would interpose no further objec-
ton 10 the removal Of his disabilities. Z.
WASHINGTON ITEMS Yesterday the Me-
tnodist Missionary Anniversary was duly OBJ
served by services in the different Methodist
churches.
A gang of burglars and thieves are at work
ia this city, breaking into and robbing houses.
The mail wagon at the City Postofice was
robbed on Saturday night Of several mail bags
and boxes-which were broken open. The
boxes we're mailed from Richmond on Satur-
day-one for Baltimore, the other tor Phila-
dephia-and must have been taken from the
wagon which conveys the Southern mail from
the Potomac boat 10 the City Postotbce and
Baltimore depot.
Henry Thompson, colored man employed
in the family OF MIR. Clement L. Heshly,
gardener, living in the suburbs OF the District
was arrested on Friday on the charge OF at
tempting TO poison the entire family of Mr..
Heshley, By placing arsenic in the tea used Tor
supper on Thursday evening last
About twelve o'clock Saturday night man
named Arson Gale died very suddenly, it is
supposed from the effects of poison admins
tered by himself. He had been detected the
night before in robbng a store.
Mr.. Boswell, the Register of the. city, has
not yet rendered his resignation as he had IN
tended, and will at least withhold IL for lew
days. Ia the meantime delegations from some
of the Radical ward clubs have waited on him
to ask that he shall not resign, and Conserva-
tive members of the Council have united In
the request, and it is believed that he will be
induced to recon slider his intention.
At a meeting of the board of directors OF
the G. Il o. canal, held on Friday, resolu-
ton was adopted removing the Office of the
directors from this city to Georgetown:
The Rockville Sentinel says We learn
that contractor McKab has commenced work
on the lands OF NJ. Blair, in this county, on
the line OF the Point of Rocks railroad, and is
at present working some fifty hands.
The body snatchers have made their appear,
ance here to the great horror and trouble OF
1 / l, y g. ,l, tlx,1 pto