Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-27

tied = Highly Interesttng COrre-
spOndenee.
WASHINGTON, April 26.-This morn>
ing Senators Sumner and Sherman called
upon Senator Sprague in order TO sug~
esst a basis Of settlement of the difficulty
existing between himself and Senator
Abbott. la the course of their converse
ton, Senator Pool Joined the party above
named and produced letter from Abbott
to Sprague, of which the following is q
copy:
WASHINGTON, ID. G., April 26.-To
Hon. VIM. Sprague: DEAR SIR - On
the 22d inst, in the United States Sen
ate, you uttered the following language:
"Mr. President--In answer TO the
TRADE OF the Senator from Nevada and
the Senator from North Carolina, l am
reminded of little illustration. l my
travels from the Centre House into the
rural districts, through the woods and
farms of the surrounding neighbOrhood,
chance at one time brought me TO iarm~
house. l found, on looking up, large
mastitf and mongrel puppy dog. The
little dog made on with rapidity and
from behind bit at my heels, and then,
frightened at his temerity, ran bowling
away, followed by his larger companion.
The Senate will observe that the NOM
grel, whining puppy, encouraged by the
mastiff, and embOldened to attack from the
shadow Of his hacker, ran rapidly away, |
alarmed at his temerity, while the over
grown cur followed, with both ears Topped
and his tail between his legs, to place
ofsafety beside his menaced companion"
This language has been understood as
meant in part to be applied to me. l am
not aware that gave any occasion in my
remarks for you to wish to be offensive
or insulting in your reply. / therefore
deem it proper to ask that you state dis |
tinctly whether you intended to apply
any Of the above offensive language to
myself
am, sir, very respectfully,
JOSEPH C. ABBOTT.
In reply to this communication Senator |
Sprague wrote a reply, which was placed
in the hands of Senator Sumner, who |
together with Sherman and Pool, pro-
ceeded to the residence of Senator ABBOTT, |
with authority to deliver the letter upon |
Abott's acceding to certain conditions in |
the nature of withdrawal of certain |
language applied to Sprague and in
volving reply from Senator ABBOTT to |
the letter Of Senator Sprague, which re-
ply had to be satisfactory to Senators
Sumner and Sherman. The following
reply was suggested by Senator Sumner |
and accepted by Senator Abott
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 26, 1863
To Hon. j. C. Abbott, U. S. Senator
Sir: have no hesitation in at once re- |
plying TO your note Of this morning just
received, that the paragraph of my speech
referred to was written and in manu- |
script some time before it was delivered
in the Senate, and before you partici~
cipated in the debate, and therefore was
not intended to apply to you.
Your obedient servant,
WIN. SPRAeUE.
The following letter in response to the
above, closed the correspondence in a
manner satisfactory to all concerned
WAsHINGTON, D. c., April Is, 1862
Hon. VIM. Sprague-Sir / have pleas
ure in acknowledging your letter Of this
date, which shows that | had miscOn>
ceived your language. My own alluSion
to you afterwards in the Senate was
founded on this misconception, and ask
YOU to consider it as unsa;d.
am, sir, very respectfully,
J. C. ABoTT.
1t may be stated, that on Friday or
Saturday Senator Anthony called upon
Mr.. ABBOTT and begged him to desist from
committing violence upon Mr.. Spragne.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
ISSUED an order directing that hereafter
all property belonging to the department
offered for sale, shall be sold by public
auction, OF under sealed proposals. Here
tofore it has been the custom TO dispose OF
old furniture, carpets, etc, at private sale,
to chance purchasers.
Horace Greeley has declined the Pacific
Railroad COmmissiOneTship.
Statements have recently been pub
lished that the government was making
extensive preparations to enforce respect
TO American interests in Cuban waters.
1t has now been ascertaiBed from authen
tic sources that the number Of vessels 10
be employed in the public service in that
direction will probably not be more than
two or three less than heretofore in the
squadron, the number being necesS
sSrily limited by the fact that Con>
gress had made very great reduction
IN the personnel Of the navy, but apart
from this, the vessels to be sent to that
coast are deemed sufficient for all leglti>
mate purposes, as no trouble with the
Spanish authorities is apprehended. The
fitting out Of several iron clads has nc
significance but is part Of the plan of the
Navy Department to save those and Othel
similar vessels, and especially the ma
chinery, from decay, 20 which they arr
now exposed from being out of commits
sion.
The public debt statement to bo ISSUED
Saturday next, will, according TO tn
present prospect, exhibit decrease O
S2,OOOOO0.
NEW: YORK..