Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-18
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Car Gus of Rad cal seBatOrs-Unex-
pected Change I'm Omcers-A Hitch
abOut Appoihtments-Th POstOf6C Q
and Treasury Departments.

| NaNtuS VI Eehu CteA
Pected Change In Omcers-A HItc
abOut Appoihtmenis-The POstOBC
and Treasury Departments.
WAsHISGToN, March l5.-ThiS ha
been an exciting day at the Capitol, ow
ing to .he action Of the Senatorial eau
Gus, this morning, in the selection of off
GERS of the Senate for the present Con
gress, and the announcement Of the com
mittees in the House. The result Of tn,
caucus was surprise to everybody
even the candidates themselves. There
has been, for several sessions, a wide
spread dissatisfaction felt toward Mr.
Brown, who has held the lucrative Office
of Sergeant>at-arms Of the Senate for the
past eight years, and several efforts have
been made to defeat him for re- election
but they have always failed, owing TO the
fact that the opposition have been unfor-
tunate in the selection of candidates. 1t
was thought the present effort would fail,
it not being generally known that Mr..
French was candidate. Upon the first
ballot, George T. Brown, the incumbent,
had twenty votes, and John r. French
ten, the balance being scattered. Mr..
French wes nominated on the third bal
lot, and will be elected on Monday next.
lie was originally from New Hamp<
shire, but claimed Ohio as his home. He
was for many years an editor, and during
the war was appointed to Office in North
Carolina, from which State he was elected
to the Fortieth Congress. He has al
ways been Republican, and his selec-
ton by the Senate is looked upon with
universal favor.
j. NJ. Morris, of Connecticut, was
chosen Executive Clerk Of the Senate, in
place of D. FL. C.. Clark, who has held the
Office for several years. Mr.. Morris was
also an editor.
The removal Of Mr.. Defrees, as Con-
gressional Printer, was surprise and dis,
appointment, as it was supposed that he
had no opposition. Mr.. A. NJ. ClapD, of
Buffalo, was nominated, after a severe
struggle, and will be elected on Monday.
He is one of the oldest publishers in the
country, and nobody doubts his ability
to make a good officer in that important
position.
There was general surprise expressed
to-day that SO few nominations were sent
to the Senate by the President, as it was
expected that large number Of foreign
appointments were to be sent in for con-
firmation. The explanation is, that this
class Of cases is held until the arrival Of
Mr.. Fish, the new Secretary Of State,
who was expected here tonight. 1t is
probable, also, that none will be made |
tomorrow, as the subject Of the foreign |
missions will be brought up before the |
regular cabinet meeting on that day, at |
which it is expected Mr.. Fish will be |
present, although he will not so soon as
sumo the regular duties of his office.
The House Committee on Elections
held meeting tOnday, and agreed upon /
the rules which are to govern them in
their consideration of cases They also |
decided to consider the primd tGcie cases
sidered, and then viii follow the two
South Carolina eases. No action will be
taken on the Georgia seats by the COM
mittee until the question is disposed of
by the two Houses as to whether the
State is entitled to representation. A poI-
ton of the Judiciary Committee of the
Senate favor the project of creating a
provisional government in Georgia, as
the best means Of getting rid of the pre-
sent embarrassments.
There is a report tonight ia circula-
ton that Hiram Walbridge stands the
best chance Of being appointed Collec tor
of the Port of New York. President
Grant replied to an application by an
Ohio Representative for the appointment
of the Hon. j. NJ Ashley, who has the
Endorsement of the entire Republican
delegation, as Governor of Montana, that
it was his intention to select the nominees
for that and other like positions from the
residents OF the Territories they seek 10
govern, when proper men can be found.
This decision, however, is not expected /
TO interfere in the case of Gen Campbell |
Governor Of Wyoming
The Postmaster General is determin
ed upon thorough reform in the p in
cipal Offices in his department here.
Many Congressman have tOsday urged |
the retention of various persons, but Mr..
Creswell told them the President would
hold him strictly accountable for thOr-
efficiency and an honest ex-
penditure, and 80 he must surround him
self with men he had personal knowledge
Of, and must be left free TO make such
changes as he saw fit He is having a
balance sheet prepared showing an ex-
act condition Of the department on the
9th of March, the day he took charge
Also a list Of all the principal contracts
which have not expired, with the sums
paid and the time they have to run The
whole system of special agents will be
and efforts made to secure
much more efficient corps
Secretary Boutwell, was overwhelmed
again to.day with applications fer Office
He has not yet made many appointments
His Private Secretary is Bartlett, former
ly clerk Of the Reconstruction Commits
tee. He has received the resignation Of
Third Auditor John Wilson, and Regis
ter Noah f. Jeffries, but has not decided |
whom to recommend for the vacancies
J. b. Allison, of Pennsylvania, is an ap~
plicant for the latter place. The Seere-
tary has called on all heads OF Bureaus
for list OF the clerks and a statement
of expenses, and has directed a suspena
sion Of work in the Printing Bureau till
an account of stock can be taken He
is strongly impressed with the belief that
the cost of running the Department can
be reduced. He gives two hours daily to
the reception of callers There are said |
to be several applicants for the vacant
Assistant Secretaryship.