Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-04-26

GENERAL ELY 5. PAREER. the new Commits
charge of his duties to-day, relieving Mr.. "
~. Taylor, the former Commissioner.
TEE SALES or GOLD from the Treasury De-
psriment Will be in sums Of not Isss thar five
hundred thousand, nor more than one million
dollars, until otherwise ordered.
DANIEL ID. PACE one or The founders, and
me fiIs; Mayor OF 81. Louis, N,ssour.. ed IN
his city ON Saturday, of congestion OF the
Iungs, aged seventy -nine years.
SECRETAEy FISH, it's reported will, soon re
ure from the state Department at the head OF
which ne has only remained from Difference TO
me personal request OF the President. He de-
-Irss 20 return to private life. Another report
nas II that Secretary Borie will resign the
Navy Department or account Of Ill health.
HON SAMUEL :. FISHER. the new Commis-
sIOner Of Patents, arrived in town yesterday
and entered upon the discharge OF his duties at
he Patent Office TO-DAY. Al moor the clerks
and employers Of the office called upon MN TO
pay their respects. Mr.. James =. GrinnelI, the
Chief Clerk under the former Commissioner
nas oeen retained in that position II Is expected
that some changes will be made in the exam.
Iniss corps and clerical force of the Office
IHE DIFFICULTY BETWEEN SENATORS
ABBoTT AND S"EAGVE.-The dlfnculty be
tween Senstors Abbott and Sprague, growin,
out Of certain abusive comparisons made by
senator Spre-ue on Friday las;, which, IL is
charged, were intended for Senator ABBOTT. of
North Carolina, seems to have assumed some
Importance, FEd Of course was the principa,
theme OF gossip to-day. Various rumors were
r1Ia aNAA 10 ~.
duel or personal encoun.er between the
above named Senators, all OF which were
without any foundation in fact. Sem
ator Abbott quietly receives his friends and
transacts his business at his rooms, No. AS
18th street, while Sena.or Sprsgue finds much
Ratification in perusing the large number of
letters commendatory of his recent speeches
and requesting copies thereof. There seems 70
be a desire on the part OF a number Of ..outside
barbarians'-in the language of the Rhode
Island Senator-to bring about a difficulty,
and all kinds Of sensation stories are circu.
lated, but OF course have no effect upon either
of the gentlemen above named.
II turns out now that Mr. Abbott did NOT
hear the remarks of Nr. Sprague liz the
Senate on Friday concerning the large mastifi'
and mongrel puppy. and was not aware of
such Language having been used until n. ding
u IN The STAR OF that afternoon. He then pro-
cured copy of the remarks Of Mr. Spr1gue
pertaining 10 that subject rom the oficill re.
porter OF the Senate. and endeayored TO have
an explanation in executive session, while the
Rhode Island Senator was in his seat, but re-
framed from saying anything At the urgent
solicitation Of a number OF Senator'S When
'he doors were opened in the evening, ne OBJ
famed the floor to demand an explara-
ton, but Mr.. Sprague was not then IN his
Sea-. Mr.. Abbott then addressed letter
% Mr.. Sprague, but at the request OF a num-
Der Of personal friends did not transmit the
same TO him until this morning.
The North Carolina Senator in the letter
quotes the lang uage used by the Rhode Island
Senator as published in the Globe, and desires
TO know If he intended to apply the term .-mon-
grel puppy" 10 him To this letter no answer
has yet been received, though as Mr.. Sprague
Is understood to have discIaimed, in private IN
terviews, any intention of applying that epi-
thet 20 the North Carolina Senator, il is
probable that he will also do so In
writing IN reply to Mr.. Abbott, and thus
the matter will end. Senstor Sprague declares
hat the language at which exception was In.
Ken by Senator Abbott was In his written
speech prepared before he knew an nythinz of
NJ. Abbott's remarks, and thar II was intend.
ed merely to illustrate how the Senate was the
mastin and the monOpolists In that body the
placing themselves under the protection CT the
senate.
We are adv Ised that Senators sumner and
Sherman have taken the matter in hand for
the purpose OF bringing about an understand
ing between the parties, and IL is said they had
interview with both Messrs. Abbott and
Sprague this afternoon. MI. Abbott does not pro-
pose 10 remain quiet after the language of Mr.
Sprsgue, If II was intended to apply 10 him. as
those who know him best declare that ne would
not suffer his usefulness TO be impaired, and
himself held in contempt by the people OF North
Carolina and the whole country by pocketing
such an insulti though rs both gentlemen are
New Englanders, raised in the puritanicaI
~cnOol, ths code Is not recognized, and should
he difficulty assume an unpleasant shape il
would probably be an attack by Mr. Abbott
snd defence by Mr., Sprague. The courage O.,
r'Ither seems 10 be doubted. and a; is to be
hoped thai friends will oriEg about a salts fac
tory explanation between the parties
LATER.-Since the above was in type we
have come into possession OF the correspond
-Hc. on the SUBJECT which passed b-tween
Nessrs. Abbott and Sprsgae this afternoon. 1t
a. follows:
Mr. ABBOTT TO MR. srRAGUE
WAsHiNGFOS, ID. e., AprIl ~, I-Gg.-II5s.
Wa SPTGgEe-Sir: On the 2sd instant, ia the
United States Senate, you uttered the follow
Ins langusge-
MIR. President In answer 20 the trade of
me Senator from Nevada and the Senator
from North CAROLINA, I am reminded Of a
little illustration. In my travels RON the
center here into the rural districts. through
the " Gods and farms of the surroundJ ng neign-
borhood, cham at one time brought me 10
farm house i found. OH looking up, q large
nasur and a mongrrl puppy dog. The little
dog moved on me with rapidity from behind,
bit ~ my heels, and frightened at his ienerity
ran howling away, followed by his larger
companion. The Senate will obssr We that the
mongrei, whining puppy, ENCOURAGED by The
masuu. anc enboidened 70 attack frocl the
SHADOW OF nis hacker, rapidly away
alarmed at ms temerity, while the oyergrowa
cur followed after, bo;h ears Topped, and tail
between ms legs, TO a place of safety beside HI
This langusge has been understood aS nsant
IN part 10 be applied 10 me. 1 am not avare
thar ] gave any occasion in my r-nIrks fnr
you 10 wish 70 be offensive or Insulting in "a
ply. Therefore deem II proper 10 ask MAI
yOu state distiI city whether you intended tn
sppIy any OF the above offensive language 10
myself.
/ An, sir, very respectfully.
JosErK T.. AEEorT.
Nh. sPRAGUR TO MI. ABBOTT.
WASHINGTON, ID e., April 20. I>O9-JIsH.
J.s. Q. 1i6Lott. U. 3 ssHafs-Sir: i have no hes
i,suon in ~ once replying 10 ycur note OF this
morning, just received. that the paragraph Of
my speech referred 10 was written and IN
nsnuscFlpt some time before u was delivered
n tne Senate and before you p1rtIC p3Ted IN