Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-02
VIRGINIA NEWS.
he Richmond Wing says:

1.-THE Legislature should revise and perfect
the general Election Law. Several clauses OF
the act which were inserted to conform to the
system of numbering ballots, subsequently re-
iected by the Legislature, should now be strck
en- out sc. The election law nowhere provides
that any ballot cast with the voter name witt
ten on the back thereof, shall! be rejected nor
does it expressly prohibit any voter from writ
inc his name on his ballot if he is so inclined
The notion that it does is probably derived
from the sixteenth section of General Canby's
election order Of May Dist, 1869.
On last Sunday afternoon Mr.. Woodson
Worbrghton, farmer, residing near Hun
ea1y, in Henrico country, left his house to look
up missing cow and not having returned at
late hour that night his family feared that ne
had met with some serious mlshap. search
was instituted, and on the next morning his
dead body was found in Dickens woods by his
nephew, Mr.. WoodGn. There were tnger'
marks on his throat, and his head was badly
| bruised.
Beverly Thomas OF Russell county, deal
mute at the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution
of Staunton, on Friday morning last, fell from
the fourth story window of the house TO the
gravel walk beneath, breaking his neck, and
knocking his brains out 1t is not known what
time in the night he fell
COL f. Y. White raised last year, on the
"Exetcr' lorm near Lecsburg, from 100 acres
of falIow land, 81 bushes and "A pounds OF
wheat to the acre, and on $50 acres OF cortland,
IS bushels and 80 pounds to the acre.
1t is stated that Col. P. r. Richcson, elected
to the Legislature from Amherst county, on
Thursday last, is disqualified and that another
election will have to be held.
TIE INDIANS IN WASHINGTON. The chiefs,
warriors and head men of Red Clouds band OF
Sioux, arrived yesterday, weary With the
trip from the unsettled regions Of TIE West to
the Capital. They were accompanied by Gen.
John f. Smith. u. s. A.; G. B. Bandais, OF
st. Louis COL W. G. Tullock, of Fort Lar
annie, and Ohm Richard. The following pro
minent Indians compose the delegation he'd
Cloud Red Dog, Brave Bear, Little Bear,
yellow Bear, Setting Bear, Bearskn, Black
that runs through. Red Fly, Rock Bear, He
Crow, Living Bear aud Red Shirt 10 addi-
ton to these, several squaws accompany the
delegation. They express themselves as more
tired than ever before, the little exercise they
have had for the past ten days having completely
wearied them A number of Indians belong
ing to the Cherokee, Creek and ChickasaW
; Nations, who are here on business conncctd,
with their tribes, called on The visitors yester-
day. COL Dowoing, Chief Of the ChcrokeeS
made few remarks to Red Cloud, cxtendog
the Inequalities Of the Cherokee delegation to
the party while they remain IN the city. he'd
Cloud, was stoical and Indifferent to everything
going on around him. and evidently feels that
| l.
OF position or influence in the country. AL
though occupying quarters in the same ho'e
with Spotted fail and his associates, and on
the same floor, there has been no meet
ing between the two chiettains, which IS owing
more to an aversion on the part oil Spotted,
Tail, who is BruIc Sioux, than to that OF
Red Cloud. Other members OF the party have
fracrniZed and enjoyed the felicity OF putting
the pipe of friendship.
Spotted Tail brought his party to the Indian
Yesterday aGd had n to co %th we're see noor
and wanted something done for their relief.
rhcv also wanted to be removed to the White
Earth reservation and to have the privilege OF
{ spreading out and hunting the buffalo. They
have several other wants which the Indian
thought should be attended to, such as the
sondiG9 among them stock, sheep, horses,
chickens. etc lie also said that he came here
ia n hurry, and had told his people he would
not be long away from them, and was therefore
anxious to settle his business as soon as posi-
bic and return to his home. Commissioner
Parker made speech in response, assuring
Spotted Tail and his companions that he IN
derstood fully all that had been spoken lie
| wanted them to know that the u. :. are
great Government The President has to take
care Of both whites and Indians, and he is anxl.
Gus 10 have all at peace and remain friends.
Spottcd Tail must see that the whites are
numerous, and that the Indians could never
kill them off. The Commissioner explained al
some length to the red men the power or the
Government and its ability to protect It's PEG.
ole. The remarks evidently made an impress
sion Oh the Indians, who persist in assurances
that they have no desire to be other than at
peace with the pale faces.
The Spotted Tail party dined with the Dele
gate from Dakota this afternoon.
10 q few days there will be grand council.
Red Cloud and band are very digDlfied in their
demeanor, They are arrayed IN thorough In
dian costumes, and the squaWs are becomlngy
attircd 10 short dresses made OF red blankets,
ornamented with beads and feathers. They
do not seem SO much wearled as the men,
Letter from Washington.
| DEATH OF Mr.. MURDAUGH.-Th people OF
our two communities were saddened yesterday
morning on learning of the sudden death Of
that distinguished lawyer, James Murdaugh,
OF Portsmouth, who dropped dead at about six
o'clock in the morning. 1t appears Mr.. Muir
daugh got up and opened the door to allow the
servant to enter his room, and after opening
the door be dropped down on the floor and ex-
pire Immediately.
Mr. James Murdaugh was seventy two years
Of age. In early life he graduated at William
and Mary College in Virginia, after which he
taught school for some time in his native
county, Nansemond. He then moved to Ports.
mouth aad commenced the practice of law,
which he has steadily pursued ever since. He
Was, at the time of his death, the oldest prac-
ticng member Of the bar hereabouts, unless
We except Judge Richard Fl. Baker, who has
recently resumed practice. Contemporary with
i i q L - LII