The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-28
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D. G., April DC. 1869
rHE spRAouE.AnBo1r MATTER.


those Senators who are on the ground
agreed that II Sprague refused to apollo
giZ9 Abbott would have to attempt TO
thrash him, and at the first demonstra-
ton in that direction Sprague would
shoot Abbott, and SO the affair OF the
Senate would go from bad to worse. 80
at an carly hour this morning Messrs.
Sumner and Sherman visited Sprague
HS angels of peace, though the long con-
VersuIiun which followed was not IN
any sense angelic. Sprague was pc
sought to have a little regard Tor the
honor of the Senate, and dlsclalm any
intention of insulting Abbott, so that
the latter could see a hole large enough
10 walk out of with head erect. When
in response Sprague informed them
that his puppy dog illustration had
been written over week, ana couIu
not by any possibility have been In
tended for Abbott, both peace makers
saw daylight. After arranging that
Sprague should write this to Abbott II
the latter addressed a moderate note OF
inquiry, they posted off to Abbott's
and helped him to Tx up an epistle
which should read as gently as POSI-
BILE. This was dispatched to Sprague,
agreed, 10 which Abbott made answer
virtually that he was glad to be out OF
the scrape, and so ends the farce.
This morning Senators Sumner and
Sherman called upon Senator Sprague,
in order to suggest basis OF settle
ment of the difficulty existing between
him and Abbott. In the course OF their
conversation Senator Pool Joined the
Senators above named, and produced "A
letter from Abbott to Senator Sprague,
of which the following is copy:
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2G, 700.
To Hon. Vim. iSprd1ue:
DEAR SIR:-On the 22d inst, in the
| United States Senate, you uttered the
! following language: mr.. President,
| in answer to the TRADE of the Senator
| from Nevada and the Senator from
North Carolina, l Hm reminded OF lit
tie illustration. In my travels 1r ON the
centre here into the rural districts
through the woods and farms of the
surrounding ueighborhOOd, chance at
one time brought me to farm house.
l found on looking up large MI stitf
anu 'EOngrel puppy dog. The little
dog moved on me with rupiditY from
behind, bit ut my heels, and frightened
at his temurily, ran bowling away,
followed by his larger companion. The
SHMWt" will observe the mCugrel Whln-
iuG puppy, encouraged by the mAstitf
and eEOOltltned to attack from the
shadow OF his hacker, ran rapid away
alarmed at his temerily, while the over
grown cur followed, with both ears
Topped and his tail between his legs, to
II place of safety beside his menanCed
com paniOn." This language has been
understood as meant in part to be ap-
piled to me. l am not aware that l
gave any occasion i'll my remarks for
you to be offensive or insulting in your
reply. 1 therefore deem it proper to
ask that yOu state distinctly whether
you intended TO apply any Ofthe above
offensive language to myself.
am, sir, very respectfully,
JOSEPH Z. ABBOTT.
In reply to this communication
Sprague wrote reply, which was
placed i'll the hands of Senator Sumner,
who, together with Sherman and Pool,
proceeded to the residence of Senator
Abbott, with authority to deliver the
letter upon AbbOtt's accsedinS to certain
conditions in the nature of u withdraw
al of certain language applied to Selma
tor Sprague, and involving reply
from Senator Abbott to the letter OF
Senator Sprague, which reply was to be
satisfactory TO Senators Sumner and
sherman. The following reply was
suggested by Senator Sumner and &C
ccpteu by Senator Abbott:
WAsHINGToN, D. c., ~ phil %, 1869.
To Hon. Jos. C. Abbott, U. S. Senate:
SIR: 1 have no hesitation in at once
| replying to your note OF this morning,
| Just received, that the paragraph of my
]
manuscript some time before delivered
in the Senate, and before your partici-
pntiOn in the debate, and. therefore,
WAS not intended to reply to you.
Your OhGdient servant,
w. SPRAGUE.
The following letter in respose 10 the
above closed the correspondence in 81
manner satisfactory TO all concerned:
WAsHINGToN, d. c., April &c, 1863.
Hon. I'm. iSprdguc:
SIR have pleasure in acknowledge
ing your letter of this date, which shows
that had miscOnceived your language.
My own allusion to you afterwards in
the Senate was founded on this miscon-
ception, and l ask you to consider it
uusaid.
am, Sir, very respectfully,
Jos. G. ABBOTT.
1t may be stated that on Friday or
Saturday Senator Anthony called on
Senator Abbott and begged him to de-
slst from committing violence upon
MIR. SpraSue.
CABINET CHANGES.
Rumors are again rife to day of Cab
met changes. 1t is now said by those
who profess to have correct informa-
ton on the subject, that not only Score |
tary Fish will soon retire to private |
lie, but that Secretaries BOrie and |
Hoar have informed President Grant
that they would like at an early dav to |
Withdraw from the Cabinet. From the |
recent aspect of affairs it seems safe to |
assert that probably within thirty DAYS |
there will be changes in these Cabinet |
officers. 1t has been known for |
some time that it was Attorney Gener-
al Hours intention as soon as the rush |
and pressure for Offices incident upon |
the beginning of a new Administration |
was over, that he would return to pri- |
vate life tn practice his profession. |
Secretary Borie finds the Office duties |
Ill suited TO his temperament, and hav-
ing rendered President Grant all the
support in his power to commences his
career AS President, with proper coun.
sells, he will now retire in favor of
some other gentleman. With these
three important changes there NAV be |
an entire change in our foreign policy. |
Whom President Grant will cali to tho
State Department is OF course unknown. |
but there is great reason to believe that
1t VIII be Il person of more decided |
convictions than those possessed bv |
aud which have controlled Secretary
Fish. Further developments on this |
subject nre expected soon.
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
The State:Department is understood 10 |
be preparing letter which has some |
bearing on Cuban affairs. 1t is based |
on an application for protection made |
by certain persons now in Cuba who
were at one time resident in this coun-
tFy' and have taken out American nat
ufail%ation papers. The Department
noIus thAt the Government Is bound to
p 'a. every bona fdc citizen wherever
:, ulnS oe, Out says in substance that
- I regard as citizens those for
XXI Sh ny oltth VINO after naturalization
tan,;or ~ tne Onited States with the in